Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1891 — MAKING SOCIAL CALLS. [ARTICLE]

MAKING SOCIAL CALLS.

PRESIDENT HARRISON WARMLY GREETED EVERYWHERE. A Galveston Procession in H s Honor— Some Enthusiasts at Atlanta Give Him a Bousing Recaption—Los Angeles Streets Carpeted with Slower*. Uncle Sam; in-the person of President Harrison, has been making a few social calls upon some of his tenants. When the Presidential party reached Chattanooga, Tenn.. fully 3,000 people were assembled at the station. A salute of thirteen guns was fired as the President descended from the steps of the train in the Union Depot The pillars of the depot were draped with the national colors, and weaved in evergreens; above the main exit to the street were the words, “Welcome to President Harrison. ” The reception committee numbered fifty, and was composed of leading citizens and representative colored men. The party visited Lookout Mountain and, returning, were driven through the principal streets. The business houses along the line of the President’s route were handsomely decorated, flags and bunting floating from every window. President Harrison was introduced by Hon. H. Clay Evans, and was greeted with deafeaning cheers. The President spoke a quarter of an hour. He was followed by Secretaries Wanamaker and Proctor. A reception upon the stand followed, a mass of people passing hurriedly forward to shake hands with Mr. Harrison. The President during his speech said: My fellow-citizens, I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity of seeing Chattanooga again. I saw it last as the camp of a great army. Its only industries were military, its stores were munitions of war, its pleasant hill-tops were torn with rifle-pits, Its civic 1 population the attendants of an army campaign. I see it to-day a great city, a prosperous city. To-day I see these hill-tops, then bristling with guns, crowned with happy 'homes; I see these streets, through which the worn veterans of many campaigns then marched, made glad with the presence of happy children. Everything is changed. The wand of an enchantress has touched these hills, and old Lookout, that frowned over the valley from which the plow had been withdrawn, now looks upon the peace- ' *ul industries of country life. All things are changed, except that the flag that then floated over Chattanooga floats here still, {Cheers.] It has passed from the hands of the veterans who bore It to victory in battle into the hands of the children, who lift it as an emblem of peace. [Cheers.] Then Chattanooga was war’s gateway to the South. Now it is the gateway to peace, commerce i and prosperity, [Cheers. 1 There have been two conquests, one with arms, the other with the gentle influence of peace, and the last is gi-eater than the first. [Cheers.] The first is only great as it made way for that which fallowed, and now, one again in our devotion to the constitution and the laws, one again in the determination that the severance of the Federal relations of these States shall never again be raised, we have started together upon a career of prosperity and development that has as yet given only the signs of what is to Come. I congratulate Tennessee, l congratulate this prosperous city, I congratulate all those who, through this gateway, give and receive the Interchanges of friendly commerce that there is being wrought throughout our country, a X'ftcation by commerce, a unification by llasty of Iftstjittjtlons,. apd habits that shall in time erase every vestige of difference, and shall make us not only in contemplation of the law, but In heart and sympathy, one people. [Cheers.] I thank you for your cordial greeting to-day. and hope for the development of the Industries of our. country and for the settling of our Institutions upon the firm basis of a respect for the laws. Ip this glad springtime, while the gardens are full of blossoms and the fields give the promlge of another harvest, and your homes are full of happy children, let ns thank God for whpt He has wrought for us as a people, and each in our place resolutely maintain the great Idea upon which every thing is bullded—the rule of the majority constitutionally expressed and the absolute equality .pf all men before the „ law. [Cheers. ] Rolling south, the train pulled into Cartersville, Ga., where a great crowd welcomed the party. The President spake as follows: •»-

My friends, I have had great pleasure to-day la passing over s >tno parts of the old route that I took once before uuder very different and distressing circumstances, to find how eatx it is, when we are all agreed, to travel between Chattanooga and Atlanta. 1 am glad to see the evidences of prosperity that Abound through your coumry, and [ wish you in all your relations every human good. (Cheers.] At Marietta the party was joined by a Reception Committee from Atlanta* consisting of Mayor Hemphill, Ex-Governor Bullock, Capt. John Milledge, Gen. J. R. Lewis, S. M. Inman, Col. W. L. Calhoun, President of the Confederate Veterans’ Association: Col. A J. West, of Governor Northen’s staff, and seventeen members of the City Council. They came from Atlanta in a special train. At Atlanta, Ga., an accident occurred at the time of the President's arrival that might have resulted in injury to the President and Mrs. Harrison had it hapt eoed a few (minutes sooner. It resulted from tbe military sa’ute fired in honor of the President. The cannon .used for this service Was mounted on a flatcar at a siding near the track over which the Presidential car ran. In order to give emphasis to their work the soldidrs having charge of the cannon discharged it just as the President's train was passing on an adjoining track. The concussion was tremendous, and shattered three thick plate-glass window panes in the dining car Coronado, immediately next the seats assigned to the special use of the President aud Mrs. Harrison. Luckily these seats were unoccupied at the time. A colored waiter who was standing in the aisle of the car was thrown down by the explosion. He was, however, more frightened than hurt. The Presidential party was at the other end of the train at the time and knew nothing of the accident until informed of it afterward. When the Presidential train entered At'anta Governor Northen advanced and received the party. The Governor said: I am glad to welcome your excellency to the State of Georgia. You will find among us a loyal and hospitable people, and. Id their name, 1 welcome you to the btate. Replying, the President said it gave him great pleasure to visit the Empire State of the South. The Presidential party was then driven around the city. At the State Capitol the President was given a public reception. At the Executive Mansion, at 9 o’clock, the Presidential party saw the social side of Atlanta life. Here Mrs. Nqrthen had invited about one hundred of Atlanta’s leading society ladies to assftt her in the reception to the ladies of the party. The President had a royal Reception at Galveston, Texas, and the people turned. out en masse. On the *r¥ival of the train a military salute was tired, the city bells were rung, and ail the steamers and the harbor whistled their loudest. The city treops and Masonic and civic organizations were present in force, and all joined in c heering the distinguished visitor in a most enthusiastic

manner. The demonstration was a most gratifying one in every respect A procession was quickly fermed, and escorted the President and party from the station to a steamship, on which they made a short trip on tho bay for the purpose of inspecting the extensive harbor improvements now in progress. Returning from the jetties, Capt. Joe Owens, the grand marshal, took charge of the party and placed them in the parade. The President and his party, together with the escort committee that accompanied them from Houston, occupied the first nine carriages, headed by a detachment of twenty-four police officers. Following the first nine carriages were twelve others occupied by the Consular Corps, City Council, County Commissioners, Galveston Deep Water Committee, the Governor’s staff, Federal officers, etc. The Grand Army of the Republic post acted as a committee of escort to the President, marching on either side of his carriage, bearing floral emblems and a union jack, which, when seen on shore, indicates tho presence of the President of the United States. rest of the line was composed of Mason c, and other. bodies, school children and labor unions. The procession passed over a beautifully decorated route, one feature of which was an immense floral arch, and finally passed in review before the President The school children threw their flowers at the President’s feet as they passed and built a small sized hill In front of the stand. After the review the President and his party were entertained at supper, during which tho President was serenaded. Tho party then repaired to the hotel balcony, where in the presence of an immense throng of people the President was formally welcomed to the Gulf by Gen. Waul on behalf of the Mayor, who, though present, was too ill to speak. The President returned his thanks in a feeling speech. Addresses were also made by Gov. Hogg and Secretary Rusk. A public reception followed and a fine display of fireworks closed the ceremonies. From Texas to the Pacific coast the party was greeted at every stopping place by Immense and enthusiastic crowds. The presidential train rolled into Los Angeles on time. The party was met at Idaho by Gov. Markham and a delegation of prominent men of the State, who acted as an escort from thai| point forward. At Los Angeles the visitors were greeted by a vast crowd and were again snowed under with fruit and flowers. Calla lilies seemed to ■be the favorite flower, and they were seen on every side. The ceremonies opened with a street parade, in which the United States troops, militia, Grand Army posts, and civic organizations in this vicinity participated. They escorted the President and his party through the streets crowded with enthusiastic people. Hundreds of children lined the sidewalks at one point of the route, and they showered the President with flowers as his carriage passed slowly by. The parade ended at the City Hall, where a covered platform had been erected tor the public ceremonies. This platform looked like a tropical garden. Addresses of welcome were made by Gov. Markham and Mayor Hazard. The President responded in a brief address. Brief speeches were also made by Secretary Rusk and Postmaster General Wanamaker. After the speech-making the President and party proceeded to the Hellenbeck Hotel, where elegant flowerbedecked apartments had been reserved for them. A fine dinner was served at the hotel during which the President was serenaded. In the early evening ho went to the pavilion and held a public reception, which was largely attended, and later the President, Secretary Rusk, Postmaster General Wanamaker, and the ladies were entertained at the Union League Club. Ths President’s Invitation to the club was on a solid silver card suitably inscribed. The entire city was brilliantly illuminated at night. Among the floral tributes was a handsome symbol of peace from the native daughters of La Esperanza. The Hon. Luiz E. Torres, Governor of Lower California, and other foreign officials participated in the ceremonies.