The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-03
M'KINLEY IN THE SOUTH
A DAYLIGHT TRIP THROUGH THE
HEART OF THIS SECTION.
FIRST RESTING PLACE REACHED
Passing Through Several States the
President and Party Reach the Mis-
sissippf, stopping at Memphis-short
stops and Speeches at Huntsville and
Decatur. Ala.-Crowds Everywhere
Greet the President with Hearty
Welcome.
Welcome.

Huntsville. Ala, April 3O.-Scenes
attending the passage Of the presiden-
tial train along the route today were a
repetition of those of yesterday.
Crowds at every station cheered and
waved to the passing train and every
farm house n cross roads had its
group Of eager watchers.
AT Huntsville. a stop of ten minutes
was made. Apparently the entire pop
ulation of the town turned out to well
come the president. A big cotton mill
is located here and hundreds of the
operatives were in the crowd. The
station was decorated with American
flags and a band was playing as the
train drew up to the station.
The president was introduced by
Judge Richardson, General Wheeler's
successor in congress. The president
respondent in part as follows:
II very greatly appreciate and re-
turn to all Of you my thanks for this
welcome. so warm and so generous,
upon the part of the people and the
members of the Grand Army of the
Republic. h Loyal Legion of Confed-
crate Veterans who speak their greet
lngs to us as we pass through your
beautiful city. If 1 have been in any
sense the instrument in the hands of the
people to bring together the north and
n south, it is the highest distinction
that L could covet. We have never
gone to war for conquest, for exploita-
ton or for territory, but always for lib
erty n humanity. and in our recent
war with Spain the people of the
whole United States as one man
marched with the flag for the honor of
the nation to relieve the oppressed PEG
pie in Cuba The United States has
never acquired a foot of territory that
has not been forever dedicated to
liberty.
Il feel almost like ~apologizing for
having taken from o Genera Wheel
er. but my compensation is found in
the fact that you nave elected a dis
tinguished successor to represent you
Decatur. Ala. April 30.-AIl the steam
whistles screamed a greeting at De-
catur. the home of Genera Joseph
Wheeler, as the presidents train en-
tered the city and the fellow townsmen
Of the redoutable old veteran gave the
executive a particularly enthusiastic
reception. The train passed under two
big American flags hung % the
track.
One of h pretty incidents of the
stop here was the presentation on be-
half of the ladies of Decatur of a low
ing cup and basket of trout to Mrs.
Mckinley by Andrew and Miss Mary
Frye. two of her old school friend at
Canton. Colonel r. H. Adams, as the
personal representative Of Governor
Sanford. who is ill. boarded the train
here to escort the president to the
Mississippi line.
Corinth, Miss, April 30.-At Corinth
a tattered old confederate flag below
the stars and stripes was the feature
of the decoration.
Memphis. Tenn, April 30.-The pres
idential train passed through the heart
of Dixie today and at 4:30 o'clock this
afternoon reached Memphis on the
banks Of the Mississippi. This was the
first resting place of the tour. After
descending the mountains last night
the train today SKINNED along through
northern Alabama and the valley OF
the Tennessee river and touched at
Corinth. Miss.
During the morning at the regular
hour for the cabinet to assemble the
| president m his advisers into
the observation car and there, behind
closed doors, the first cabinet meeting
was held. No important advices has
Il bCCh CSClNCo lIOhl " LID
required action, but the foreign dis.
patches in the papers were talked over
and some of the details as yet unde
| termined were discussed.
At Memphis the party received &
wonderfully impressive welcome. A
| committee headed by Senator Car
mack, met the train at Corinth, anC
escorted the party to this city. A ma
tional salute of twenty-one gunS sig
nailed h approach to the city. At thu
station Governor McMillin and other.
met the party. A military parade, will
a company of grizzled confederate vet
Grams in their old uniforms acting a.
the guard of honor, escorted the part.
in carriages through the principa
streets.
In Court Square, where the open al
reception occurred, the platform wa
SO hedged round with roses and othe
blossoms as to make it a flower show
Over 10000 people were packed int
h square when the president was in
troduced by Major Williams.
In response to the cheers whic
greeted the President he made the frs
rally notable speech of his trip
His theme was the resistless power @
a great united people and was deliver
ed in his best vein. When he referre
in closing to the noble record of tn
Tennessee volunteers in the SPANS
and Philippine wars, Governor McMil
lin led the cheering.
After his speech the party was drive
to the Twentieth Century Clug, a ladie.
organization of this city. Here ther
was a veritable beauty show. Abou
thirty charming southern bellies hel
cour in a bower of roses. After greet
ing each of the young aides PERSONAL
in turn. he was introduced by w.
Crawford, of the Commercial Appea
n made a speech.
After this function the ladies Of til
party were taken in hand by the ladie
of Memphis. A reception was held
their n and later a banquet W.
given them at the Peabody hotel. A
the same time on the floor above til
President and the gentlemen of h
party. with about 200 prominent busi
ness men Of the city sat down to a
elaborate dinner.
At 1:30 in the morning the presider
tial train resumed its journey for Ne
Orleans, which will be reached at f.;
o'clock Wednesday afternoon.