The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-09
And Greeted by a Throng of People at
Los Angeles, the Metropolis OF
Southern California's Paradise.
B0EBARDED WITH FLOWERS
STREETS LINED WITH PALMS AND
PATHWAY sTREwN WITH ROSES.
Speeches i'm which the President Eu-
Floral Parade This Afternoon.

LOS ANGELES, Cal, May S-ro-day the
President and his party had their first taste
OF the hospitality of California. The wealth
er was beautiful and nature seemed TO
have put on her brightest colors. Cover
nor Gage and the California congressional
delegation this morning met the President
at Redlands, I'm the San Bernardino valley,
and welcomed him to the State Through
an avenue lined with palms and venetian
masts the President drove over beds of
roses beneath triumpha arch of flowers
and fruit 10 the Casa Iona Hotel on the
balcony of which the speaking took place.
A drive through the orange groves and
parks followed. All along the route ladies
showered the President and Mrs. Mckinley
with flowers, and through the streets they
bombarded him from the windows with
confetti until the air was perfect maze Of
color.
From Redlands TO Los Angeles every
station was crowded, children with wreaths
OF flowers in their hands. The approach
10 the city OF Los Angeles was heralded by
cannon and whistles. The noisy welcome
could be heard for miles. AS the train
passed through the Chinese quarter of the
city long strings of firecrackers, hung from
awnings exploded like the continuous rat
tie of musketry. The city had been beauti-
fully decorated. The streets were avenues
of masts festooned with yellow bunting
and crowned with palm leaves and wreaths
of laurel. At the station the party was met
by the citizens committee and many dis
tinguished people from all over California.
General Shafter, commander of the Depart
ment of the Pacific with his entire staff in
full uniform. had come down from the Pre-
sidio Secretary OF the Navy Long. who
was to have met the party at San Fran
CISCO also came here to meet the President.
and at the station The party was
driven in carriages 10 the Vannuys Hotel
An escort of artillery and several COM
panies of militia had been provided to es-
cort them, but the military and police had
TO fight their way through the enormous
crowds which had swarmed into the city,
drawn by the double attraction of the Pres
ident's visit and the carnival now going
on. At the hotel the President met Cover
nor Nash. of Ohio, and the Ohio congress
sional delegation. who arrived an hour be-
fore.
REPLY TO GREETING.
In the rotunda OF the hotel the mayor of
Los Angeles formally greeted the chief ex-
ecutive and extended TO him the freedom
lows:
"Mr Mayor and my Fellow-citizens-I am
glad to be in this great State. Its popusa-
ton to-day is more than one-tenth of the
entire population of the United States over
which the first President presided during
those years
'I cannot stand in this presence without
recalling those splendid pioneers of Amer
lean acknowledgements, Stockton and
Fremont-who led In the paths of progress
and civilization and dedicated this mighty
empire OF the coast 10 liberty and union
forever. You have now. residing in your
beautiful city. that aged woman who
shared with General Fremont in his early
and later trials and triumphs, and for her.
am sure, you will all join with me in rev.
erent and affectionate regard.
I congratulate you upon the happiness
and prosperity. not only of the people OF
your city and OF your State but the people
OF the whole country, and 10 felicitate with
you that now this Nation of ours is strong
er and more firmly cemented than Ii has
ever been before In all its history. There
are more men and women loving our flag
to-day than ever loved IL before. and there
Is more respect paid To it at home and
abroad than ever before.
There Is one thing about our national
character-it Is not spoiled when II is trans
planted. IL loses none of its strength or its
virtue or its liberty under any sun or be-
meath any stars. They say liberty does not
thrive under tropical skies Did liberty
ever thrive more grandly than I'm the State
OF California and throughout our South
land?"
The President then held a short publi,
reception in the parlors of the hotel Mean
time. Mrs Mckinley and the ladies of the
party had driven 10 the Woman's Club
where they met the ladies of Los Angeles
This evening the President and Mrs Nc
Kinley dined at ''Bivouac. the handsome
residence OF General Harrison Grey Otis
where. after dinner. private reception
was held. He spent the night at the
Bivouac. Governor Nash held public re-
ception at the Chamber OF Commerce.
Late in the afternoon some OF the men,
bers OF the Presidents party ascended
Mount Low, 5000 feet high. whence they
had bird's-eye view OF seventy miles of
southern California and the Pacific ocean.
twenty miles out TO sea. Tonight the MEM
bers OF the Cabinet and other members of
the party witnessed the brilliant illumina-
tion OF the city streets
Tomorrow the President and party will
witness the floral parade and in the after
noon a visit will be made 10 the Soldiers
Home at Santa Monica. The train will
leave Los Angeles early Friday morning
SPEECH AT REDLANDS