Republic. I have never been out of the fellowship of that great
organization. I have never stopped on all this trip but some comrade
did not stretch up his hand to greet me. I have evidence that some
of you are here to-day in this great State, such a magnificent
contribution to the Grand Army that they were. I am glad to see these
children. They have added grace and beauty to every meeting which we
have had in this long journey. Cherish it in your community--this most
beneficial institution--the common school of your State.
And now, thanking your kindly welcome, and sorry that we can tarry
for only these few minutes, I bid you good-by, and God bless you.
[Prolonged cheering.]
MONTEZUMA, INDIANA, MAY 14.
It was about 3 P.M. Thursday when the train crossed the Indiana line
and arrived at Montezuma, where the President was met by a very large
and enthusiastic delegation from Indianapolis, headed by Gov. Alvin P.
Hovey, Mayor Thomas L. Sullivan, Gen. Lew Wallace, ex-Gov. Isaac P.
Gray, Judge William A. Woods, ex-Senator McDonald, and Senator David
Turpie. The escort from Indianapolis included representatives from 52
labor organizations, from each G. A. R. post in the city, and delegates
from the Hendricks, Gray, Cleveland, Columbia, Marion, Metropolitan,
and Tippecanoe clubs. The Montezuma committee consisted of Rev. Thomas
Griffith, Joseph Burns, T. A. Welshan, J. E. Johnston, N. S. Wheeler,
and H. B. Griffith.
No meeting could have been more cordial. Hon. James T. Johnston, of
Rockville, in a few eloquent sentences welcomed the President and Mrs.
Harrison on their home-coming.
The greeting overcame the President for a few moments, and he was unable
to respond to the demand for a speech at any length. He said:
_My Friends_--We have had a long journey, and one that has been
attended by a great many pleasant incidents. We have had cheers of
welcome reaching from our first stop, at Roanoke, Va., stretching
across the mountains of Tennessee and Northern Georgia and Alabama,
down through Arkansas and Texas, and along the Pacific coast.
Everywhere we have had the most cordial and kindly greeting; but as
I cross to-day the border line of Indiana and meet again these old
friends I find in your welcome a sweetness that exceeds it all.
At this point tears came to the President's eyes, and his utterance
became so choked he could say no more.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, MAY 14.
Promptly on schedule time, at 4:45, the presidential train arrived at
Indianapolis. Its approach was heralded by an artillery salute. The stay
in the city was limited to forty-five minutes. The Escort and Reception
Committee--in addition to the distinguished officials mentioned at
Montezuma--consisted in part of the following prominent citizens:
Hon. R. B. F. Peirce, Hon. C. W. Fairbanks, Rev. M. L. Haines, Daniel
Stewart, Col. Eli Lilly, George L. Knox, George G. Tanner, President
of the Board of Trade; W. D. Wiles, John W. Murphy, George E. Townley,
Silas T. Bowen, W. B. Holton, John M. Shaw, Albert Gall, I. S. Gordon,
John P. Frenzel, D. A. Richardson, W. F. C. Golt, Arthur Gillet, John
H. Holliday, Dr. Henry Jameson, Robert Kipp, Thomas C. Moore, V. K.
Hendricks, Charles E. Hall, Nathan Morris, E. E. Perry, Smiley N.
Chambers, G. B. Thompson, Franklin Landers, and R. K. Syfers.
The preparations for the President's reception were upon an extensive
scale; the business houses were covered with bunting, and pictures
of the distinguished traveller were seen everywhere. Fully 50,000
people participated in the welcome home. A speakers' stand was erected
in Jackson Place. The parade was a most successful feature of the
demonstration; thousands of veterans, sons of veterans, and other
citizens were in line. Gen. Fred Knefler was Marshal of the day, aided
by the following staff: Major Holstein, George W. Spahr, J. Hauch, John
V. Parker, J. B. Heywood, W. O. Patterson, Samuel Laing, J. A. Wildman,
H. C. Adams, A. W. Hendricks, John W. Keeling, Charles Martindale, W. H.
Tucker, J. M. Paver, H. C. Cale, Josh Zimmerman, T. S. Rollins, E. S.
Kise, O. P. Ensley, Frank Sherfey, and Berry Robinson.
Cheer after cheer went up from the vast concourse as the President made
his way to the stand, accompanied by Secretary Rusk, Postmaster-General
Wanamaker, and the Escort Committee. It was a genuine Hoosier
welcome. Governor Hovey made a brief but feeling address, welcoming
the President's return with "pride and pleasure." Mayor Sullivan
followed the Governor in a warm greeting on behalf of the citizens of
Indianapolis.
President Harrison was visibly affected at the manifestations of love
and esteem, and during the speech-making clearly betrayed the emotion he
felt at the cordiality of his welcome. He spoke as follows:
_Governor Hovey, Mayor Sullivan and Friends_--I do not think I can
speak much to-day. The strain of this long journey, the frequent
calls that have been made upon me to speak to my fellow citizens from
Washington to the Golden Gate, from the Golden Gate to the Straits of
Fuca, and from the most northwestern portion of our territory here to
my own home, has left me somewhat exhausted in body and in mind, and
has made my heart so open to these impressions, as I greet my old home
friends, that I cannot, I fear, command myself sufficiently to speak
to you at any length. Our path has been attended by the plaudits of
multitudes; our way has been strewn with flowers; we have journeyed
through the orchards of California, laden with its golden fruit; we
have climbed to the summit of great mountains and have seen those
rich mines from which the precious metals are extracted; we have
dropped again suddenly into fruitful valleys, and our pathway has
been made glad by the cheerful and friendly acclaim of our American
fellow-citizens without regard to any party division [applause]; but
I beg to assure you that all the sweetness of the flowers that have
been showered upon us, that all the beauty of these almost tropical
landscapes upon which we have looked, that all the richness of these
precious mines sink into forgetfulness as I receive to day this
welcome from my old friends. [Great applause.] My manhood has known
no other home but this. It was the scene of my early struggles; it
has been the scene, and you have been the instruments and supporters
in every success I have achieved in life. I come to lay before you
to-day my thankful offering for your friendly helpfulness that was
extended to me as a boy and that has been mine in all the years of
our intercourse that have intervened until this hour. [Applause.]
I left you a little more than two years ago to take up the work of
the most responsible office in the world. I went to these untried
duties sustained by your helpful friendliness. I come to you again
after these two years of public office to confess many errors, but to
say to you that I have had but one thought in my mind. It was to use
whatever influence had been confided to me for the general good of all
our people. [Applause.] Our stay to-day is so brief that I must deny
myself the pleasure I would have in taking these old friends by the
hand. God bless you all. I have not forgotten, I can never forget,
Indianapolis. [Prolonged applause.] I look forward to it, if my life
shall be spared, as the city in which I shall rest when the hard work
of life is done. I rejoice in its increase, in its development as a
commercial centre. I love its homes, its people; and now if you will
pardon me the effort of further speech and believe me when I say this
is a most interesting and tender moment to me, allow me to say to you
for a time, God bless you every one and good-by. [Great cheering.]
RICHMOND, INDIANA, MAY 14.
At Richmond, Ind., a very large and enthusiastic assemblage cheered the
President. The Reception Committee consisted of Mayor Perry J. Freeman,
Hon. Henry U. Johnson, C. C. Binkley, John Harrington, Everett A.
Richey, Andrew F. Scott, J. H. Macke, John H. Nicholson, Col. John F.
Miller, Capt. J. Lee Yaryan, Dr. J. R. Weist, E. D. Palmer, H. C. Starr,
Frank J. Brown, J. B. Howes, and Isaac Jenkins.
Congressman Johnson introduced the President, who said:
_My Fellow-citizens_--We are now about completing a very long
journey. For something more than four weeks we have been speeding
across the country, from the Potomac to the Golden Gate, and northward
along Puget Sound. The trip, while it has been full of pleasurable
incidents, while it has been attended with every demonstration of
friendliness and respect, has, as you can well understand, been full
of labor. I began this day--and it is only a sample of many--at 5
o'clock this morning, by speaking to my fellow-citizens at Hannibal,
Mo., and from that place to this I have been almost continuously on
my feet or shaking hands over this platform with friends who had
gathered there. We have seen regions that were new to me, people that
were strangers, and yet, throughout the whole of this journey we
have been pervaded, surrounded, inspired by the magnificent spirit
of American patriotism. [Cheers.] I come now to pass through my own
State. I have so often within the last two years been at Indianapolis
and passed through Richmond that I did not expect you would take any
special notice of our passage to-night. I am all the more gratified
that you should have surprised us by this magnificent demonstration.
As I had occasion to say at Indianapolis, the respect, the confidence,
the affectionate interest of my Indiana friends is more valuable
to me than anything else in life. I went from you two years ago to
new duties, borne down with a sense of the great responsibility
that was upon me, and I am glad to believe from what I see to-night
that I have at least saved the respect and friendship of my Indiana
fellow-citizens. [Cries of "That's so!" and cheers.] And now, as
I return again to labors and duties that are awaiting me, I leave
with you my most affectionate greeting and sincere desire for the
prosperity of Indiana and all its citizens. I hope that my life will
be spared to be once more a dweller in this great State. [Cheers.]
DAYTON, OHIO, MAY 14.
A great assembly, numbering over 10,000 people, greeted the President
on arrival at Dayton, Ohio, at 9 o'clock. The veterans of "The Old
Guard Post", Parker Rusby Commander, were present in a body; also
many veterans from Dister Post, Hiram Strong Post, Birch, and Martin
De Lancy posts, together with a large representation of the Sons of
Veterans. Among the prominent citizens and ladies who received the
presidential party were Mrs. W. D. Bickham, Miss Rebecca Strickel,
Charles and Daniel Bickham, Hon. Ira Crawford, Hon. Washington Silzel,
Wm. P. Callahan, Fred G. Withoft, Dr. J. M. Weaver, E. B. Lyon, Dr. J.
S. Beck, C. M. Hassler, A. L. Bauman, Dr. Joseph E. Lowes, B. T. Guion,
Henry Kissinger, Hon. Dennis Dwyer, E. F. Pryor, Charles P. Garman,
D. K. Hassler, Charles Auderton, N. D. Bates, John A. Miller, John
A. Bell, C. Y. Osborn, Joseph S. Crane, Ed. Best, Daniel E. Meade,
Samuel Craighead, Warren Munger, H. C. Harries, G. C. Kennedy, William
Craighead, A. A. Simonds, S. Brenner, D. F. Giddinger, Simon Gebhart,
George La Rue, D. E. McSherry, Charles James John Patterson, Dr. J. A.
Walters, and Rev. Dr. A. A. Willett.
The President's appearance was the signal for a prolonged outburst of
patriotic feeling, in recognition and response to which he spoke as
follows:
_My Fellow-citizens_--We have journeyed now about nine thousand
miles, and I have never been, in all this distance, out of sight of an
Ohio man. [Laughter and cheers.] Everywhere we have journeyed, whether
in the New South, awakening under the new influences of freedom to
an industrial life that was not possible under slavery; whether on
the deserts of Arizona or among the orange groves of California, or
in one of those wonderful States that have been builded within the
last few years on Puget Sound, some one, noting the fact that I was
Ohio-born, would claim kin-ship, and so far as I could judge, in my
limited observation of them, I think they carried the Ohio faculty
with them to their new homes of getting their fair share of things.
[Laughter and cheers.] I do most cordially thank you, citizens of
Dayton, for this pleasant and friendly demonstration. I cannot talk
long. This whole journey has been a succession of speeches. I have
come to think it must be tiresome to you to have one of my speeches
every morning with your breakfast coffee. [Cries of "No! no!" and
applause.] But it has been a most cheerful thing to me to observe
everywhere, even in those distant and sparsely settled regions of
the West, that the American flag was never out of sight. I do not
think I have ever lost sight of the Stars and Stripes since we left
Washington. [Cheers.] Several times we have been deeply touched as we
moved along over the sandy plains to see at some isolated and very
humble cabin a man or child step to the door and unfurl the Starry
Banner. [Cheers.] Everywhere I have met comrades of the Grand Army of
the Republic, everywhere the atmosphere seemed to be pervaded by a
magnificent spirit of Americanism. [Cheers.] We are one people--one
in our purposes, aims and lives; one in our fealty to the flag, the
Constitution, and the indissoluble Union of the States. [Cheers.]
Ohio has always maintained a magnificently conspicuous place in the
sisterhood of the States--peopled, as she was, by the great patriots
of the Revolutionary period; receiving, as she did, in this great
basin, that overspill of patriotism that moved toward the West after
the Revolutionary struggle was ended. She has given to the Government,
in army life and in the civil service, a magnificent galaxy of great
men. [Cheers.] In the hope that this journey, which has been full of
toil, may not prove unprofitable to the people, as it certainly has
not been unprofitable to me, I leave you to take up my public duties
with new encouragement and new resolves to do the best I can for all
the people. [Cheers.]
XENIA, OHIO, MAY 14.
It was nearly 10 o'clock when the city of Xenia was reached, but a large
crowd greeted the tired travellers. A reception committee, consisting of
Hon. Charles F. Howard, Mayor; Hon. John Little, Hon. N. A. Fulton, Hon.
George Good, Charles L. Spencer, and F. E. James escorted the party from
Dayton.
Judge Little introduced President Harrison, who said:
_My Friends_--I began my day's work at 5 o'clock and have already
made ten speeches, but I feel that a few spoken words are but small
return to those who have gathered to express their friendly regard. No
man is worthy to hold office in this Republic who does not sincerely
covet the good-will and respect of the people. The people may not
agree in their views on public questions, but while they have a great
many points of difference they have more of agreement, and I believe
we are all pursuing the same great end--the glory of our country, the
permanency of our institutions, and the general good of our people.
The springs of all good government--the most important things after
all--are in the local communities. In the townships, school districts,
and municipalities, there the utmost care should be taken. If their
affairs are wisely and economically administered, those of the State
and the Nation are sure to be. Upon these foundation stones the safety
of the Nation rests, and I am glad to know that so much careful
thought is being given to these questions by public men and the people
generally. Thanking you for your attendance and cordial greeting. I
bid you good-night. [Cheers.]
COLUMBUS, OHIO, MAY 14.
It lacked but fifteen minutes of midnight when the train rolled into
the Union Depot at Columbus. Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour a
fair-sized and enthusiastic crowd was present, including a number of G.
A. R. veterans.
In response to repeated calls the President appeared, accompanied by
Secretary Rusk, and said:
_My Fellow-citizens_--I left Hannibal, Mo., this morning at 6
o'clock, and have made twelve speeches to-day. You have been very
thoughtful to meet us here, and I know you will excuse me if I say
nothing more than I thank you. Good-night. [Applause.]
ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, MAY 15.
The last day of the long journey began with a speech at Altoona at 10
o'clock. Superintendent and Mrs. Theodore N. Eby joined the party here.
The assemblage was a large one and the President shook hands with many
until the crowd began calling for a speech.
Postmaster-General Wanamaker introduced the distinguished traveller,
saying: "Outside of Indiana I think the President could not be more at
home than he is in Pennsylvania, and he requires no introduction."
The President spoke as follows:
_My Friends_--The book has been closed. I have been talking so much
while on this trip that I am sure you will excuse me this morning. It
has been a delightful journey, yet we experienced, perhaps, that which
is the crowning joy of all trips--getting back home; that is the place
for us. [Cheers.] I am glad to have this greeting from my Pennsylvania
friends this morning. Mr. Wanamaker was not far wrong when he said
that after Indiana Pennsylvania was pretty close to me. It was in
one of these valleys, not very distant from your political Capitol,
that my mother was born and reared, and of course this State and this
section of Pennsylvania has always had a very dear interest for me.
[Cheers and great noise from steam being blown off at shops.] Of the
applause that we have enjoyed on this journey our reception here has
been the most original of all. [Prolonged cheering.]
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, MAY 15.
The arrival at Harrisburg at 1:15 P.M. was heralded by a presidential
salute, and 10,000 cheers went up as the President emerged on the rear
platform, accompanied by Secretary Rusk and Postmaster-General Wanamaker.
Among the prominent citizens who pressed forward to greet the travellers
was his excellency Governor Pattison, Speaker Thompson, of the House of
Representatives, Secretary of the Commonwealth Harrity, Adjutant-General
McClelland, Hon. B. F. Meyers, Private Secretary Tate, and many members
of the Legislature. The Governor's Troop, commanded by Lieutenant Ott,
presented arms and Bugler Bierbower sounded the President's march as
the Chief Magistrate appeared. Governor Pattison cordially welcomed the
President and presented him to the great assemblage.
President Harrison closed his long series of brilliant and interesting
addresses in the following words:
_Governor Pattison and Fellow citizens_--I thank you for the
courtesy of this reception at the political centre of the great
State of Pennsylvania. I was informed, a little while ago, by the
stenographer who had accompanied me on this trip, that I had made
138 speeches, and when I saw the magnitude of my offence against the
American people I was in hopes I should be permitted to pass through
Harrisburg without adding anything to it. I will only express my
thanks and appreciation. No one needs to tell you anything about
Pennsylvania or its resources; indeed, my work was very much lightened
on this journey, because I found that all the people clear out to
Puget Sound had already found out more about their country than I
could possibly tell them. [Cheers.]
It is a pleasant thing that we appreciate our surroundings. We
love our own home, our own neighborhood, our own State. It would be a
sad thing if it were not so. There is only just enough discontent to
keep our people moving a little. Now and then some boy gets restless
in the homestead and pushes out to the West; the result is a thorough
mingling of the people. I do not know what would have become of
Pennsylvania if some people from other States had not come in and
some of your people gone out. It is this that makes the perfect unity
of our country. It was delightful on our trip to meet old faces from
home. Though they had apparently been discontented with Indiana and
left it, they were willing to recall the fact, as I came near to them,
that they were Hoosiers. It was very pleasant, also, to see people
as they met the Postmaster-General put up their hands and say, "I am
from the old Keystone State." General Rusk was never out of sight of a
Wisconsin man, and of course the Ohio man was always there. [Laughter
and applause.] Our journey has been accompanied with the labor of
travel, but out of it all I think I have a higher sense of the perfect
unity of our people and of their enduring, all-pervading patriotism.
[Cheers.]
THE RETURN TO WASHINGTON.
There was no demonstration at Baltimore. As the train neared
Washington--on the homestretch of its great run of 9,232 miles--the
President gathered all the members of his party about him in the
observation car, including the train employees and servants, and made
a short speech, in which he thanked all who accompanied him for their
courtesy and attention. He referred to the long journey--without
accident of any kind and without a minute's variance from the
prearranged schedule--as a most remarkable achievement, and paid a high
compliment to Mr. George W. Boyd, the General Assistant Passenger Agent
of the Pennsylvania Railroad for his successful management of the trip,
adding that it was a superb exhibition of what energy and training could
do for a man. He then returned his thanks individually to the engineer,
conductor, and every employee.
The train reached Washington at 5:30 o'clock, exactly on time to a
fraction of a minute. General Harrison was the first to alight to meet
his young grandson, Master Benjamin McKee, and the latter's little
sister. There was no unusual demonstration or speech-making. The
President was met by Secretaries Foster and Proctor, Attorney-General
Miller, Ass't Atty.-Gen. James N. Tyner, Assistant Secretary Nettleton,
Assistant Secretary Willetts, Major Pruden, and Captain Dinsmore.
PHILADELPHIA, MAY 30.
On Decoration Day, 1891, President Harrison, accompanied by
Postmaster-General Wanamaker, Secretary Proctor, Secretary Tracy,
and Private Secretary Halford, visited Philadelphia as the guests of
George G. Meade Post, No. 1, G. A. R., to participate in their memorial
ceremonies. They were met at the station by a committee from the post,
comprising the following veterans: Post Commander Louis P. Langer,
Senior Vice-Commander Alexander M. Appel, Junior Vice-Commander James
Thompson, Adjutant A. C. Johnston, Officer of the Day Robert M. Green,
Guard Charles Harris, Chaplain Rev. I. Newton Ritner, and Past Post
Commanders Henry H. Bingham, Joseph R. C. Ward, George W. Devinny, L. D.
C. Tyler, Alfred J. Sellers, William J. Simpson, James C. Wray, John A.
Stevenson, Alexander Reed, Lewis W. Moore, John W. Wiedersheim, Isaiah
Price, W. Wayne Vogdes, G. Harry Davis, Charles L. Sherman, Henry C.
Harper, Penn Righter, and Isaac R. Oakford. Department Commander George
Boyer and Asst. Adjt.-Gen. Samuel Town were also present to welcome the
Commander-in-Chief. The historic City Troop of cavalry--who, from the
day that General Washington entered Philadelphia to take his second
inaugural oath, have acted as an escort to every President who has
been a guest of the city--escorted the President and the committee to
Independence Hall, where in a brief speech Mayor Stuart, in behalf of
the city, welcomed the Chief Magistrate.
The President, replying to the address of welcome, said:
_Mr. Mayor, Comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic, and
Fellow-citizens_--I esteem it a great pleasure to stand in this
historic edifice in this historic city and to take part to-day as a
comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic in these most interesting
and instructive exercises, which commemorate events which have been
most deeply sunk in our hearts. I think it eminently appropriate that
we should stand for a little time before going to the graves of our
fallen comrades in this edifice, where the foundations of independence
were laid and put into development to make this great Nation to-day.
In my recent extensive trip through the country I was able to see the
effects of planting these seeds of freedom, in the flourishing plants
that have grown. [Applause.]
We are here in a community that was instituted on principles of
peace and good will among men. But you gave a conspicuous illustration
of the facts that the fruits of peace need to be protected.