Part 35

As the President passed through the crowded streets of the city, escorted by several hundred G. A. R. veterans, he encountered a veritable rain of flowers at the hands of several thousand school children. Arriving at the grand stand Mayor Hazard, for the Reception Committee, formally welcomed the President, who responded as follows:

_Mr. Mayor and Fellow-citizens_--My stay among you will not be long enough to form an individual judgment of the quality of your people, but it has been long enough already to get a large idea of the number of them. [Cheers.] I beg of you to accept my sincere thanks for this magnificent demonstration of your respect. I do not at all assume that these huzzas and streamers and banners with which you have greeted me to-day are a tribute to me individually. I receive them as a most assuring demonstration of the love of the people of California for American institutions. [Great and prolonged cheering.] And well are these institutions worthy of all honor. The flag that you have displayed here to-day, the one flag, the banner of the free and the symbol of the indissoluble union of the States, is worthy of the affections of our people. Men have died for it on the field of battle; women have consecrated it with their tears and prayers as they placed the standard in the hands of brave men on the morning of battle. It is historically full of tender interest and pride. It has a glorious story on the sea in those times when the American navy maintained our prestige and successfully beat the navies of our great antagonist. [Cheers.]

It has a proud record from the time of our great struggle for independence down to the last sad conflict between our own citizens. We bless God to-day that these brave men who, working out His purpose on the field of battle, made it again the symbol of a united people. [Cheers.] Our institutions, of which this flag is an emblem, are free institutions. These men and women into whose faces I look are free men and women. I do not honor you by my presence here to-day. I hold my trust from you and you honor me in this reception. [Great cheers.] This magnificent domain on the Pacific coast, seized for the Union by the energy and courage and wise forethought of Frémont and his associates, is essential to our perfection. Nothing more important in territorial extension, unless it be the purchase of the territory of Louisiana and the control of the Mississippi River, has ever occurred in our national history. [Great cheering.] We touch two oceans, and on both we have built commonwealths and great cities, thus securing in that territory individuality and association which give us an assurance of perpetual peace. [Cheers.] No great conflict of arms can ever take place on American soil if we are true to ourselves and have forever determined that no civil conflict shall again rend our country. [Cheers.]

We are a peace-loving Nation, and yet we cannot be sure that everybody else will be peaceful, and therefore I am glad that by the general consent of our people and by the liberal appropriations from Congress we are putting on the sea some of the best vessels of their class afloat [cheers], and that we are now prepared to put upon their decks as good guns as are made in the world; and when we have completed our programme, ship by ship, we will put in their forecastles as brave Jack Tars as serve under any flag. [Great cheering.] The provident care of our Government should be given to your sea-coast defences until all these great ports of the Atlantic and Pacific are made safe. [Cheers.]

But, my countrymen, this audience overmatches a voice that has been in exercise from Roanoke, Va., to Los Angeles. I beg you, therefore, again to receive my most hearty thanks and excuse me from further speech. [Great and prolonged cheering.]

In the evening the President was escorted to the pavilion, with a view to receiving personally the citizens, but when he viewed the great assemblage he desisted from the herculean task of taking each one by the hand, and instead thereof made the following address:

_Ladies and Gentlemen_--I thank you for the warm greeting that you have given me and the royal welcome you have extended to my party and myself to your lovely city. I am thoroughly aware of the non-partisan character of this gathering, and appreciate the good-will with which you have gathered here in this vast building to receive me. I had a touching evidence of the non-partisan character of this gathering--and the good-will as well--just now when a man said to me: "I want to shake hands with you, even if I did lose a thousand dollars on your election." There will be no trouble to keep the flame of patriotism and love of country glowing so long as the American people thus manifest their loyalty to the officers whom the will of the people has placed in power. I thank you again for your good-will and hearty welcome. [Great cheering.]

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 23.

The presidential party reached San Diego Wednesday evening and was escorted at once to Coronado Beach Hotel. The Indiana residents of the city called upon the President shortly after his arrival, and Mr. Wright delivered an address in their behalf.

The President, in response, said:

_My Friends_--I regret that I can only say thank you. Our time is now due to the citizens of San Diego, and I have promised not to detain that committee. It is particularly pleasurable to me to see, as I have done at almost every station where our train stopped, some Indianian, who stretched up the hand of old neighborship to greet me as I passed along. It is this intermingling of our people which sustains the merit of the home. The Yankee intermingles with the Illinoisian, the Hoosier with the Sucker, and the people of the South with them all; and it is this commingling which gives that unity which marks the American Nation. I am glad to know that there are so many of you here, and as I said to some Hoosiers as I came along, I hope you have secured your share of these blessings.

The formal reception of the President took place Thursday morning, when he was welcomed by Mayor Douglas Gunn, at the head of the following Committee of Reception: Hon. John D. Works, Hon. Eli H. Murray, Hon. W. W. Bowers, Howard M. Kutchin, Hon. Olin Wellborn, E. S. Babcock, Col. W. G. Dickinson, Col. Chalmers Scott, Hon. G. W. Hardacre, W. J. Hunsaker, Hon. George Puterbaugh, E. S. Torrance, W. L. Pierce, Watson Parrish, M. A. Luce, N. H. Conklin, Maj. Levi Chase, Col. E. J. Ensign, James P. Goodwin, M. L. Ward, Col. A. G. Gassen, James McCoy, Dr. R. M. Powers, W. N. King, A. E. Horton, L. S. McLure, T. S. Van Dyke, Col. John Kastle, Carl Schutze, Geo. D. Copeland, M. Sherman, H. L. Story, D. C. Reed, S. W. Switzer, Col. G. G. Bradt, Thos. Gardner, E. N. Buck, Dr. D. Gochenauer, Henry Timken, Col. W. L. Vestal, C. W. Pauly, Col. G. M. Brayton, U. S. A.; Capt. Leonard Hay, Capt. W. R. Maize, Lieut. E. B. Robertson, John R. Berry, H. T. Christian, D. H. Hewitt, Col. A. G. Watson, Daniel Stone, W. E. Howard, J. S. Buck, R. C. Allen, A. V. Lomeli, Mexican Consul; J. B. Neilson, Danish Consul; J. W. Girvin, Hawaiian Consul; M. Blochman, French Vice-Consul; Bryant Howard, Jacob Gruendike, J. W. Collins, John Long, Frank A. Kimball, S. Levi, Gen. T. T. Crittenden, J. F. Sinks, Dr. P. C. Remondino, O. J. Stough, J. S. Mannasse, Frank M. Simpson, J. E. Fishburne, Warren Wilson, T. A. Nerney, H. C. Treat, F. S. Jennings, T. M. Loup, Dr. J. G. Beck, Capt. C. T. Hinde, G. S. Havermale, H. A. Howard, Philip Morse, George W. Marston, Fred N. Hamilton, E. W. Morse, J. S. Gordon, E. J. Louis, R. M. Dooley, E. W. Bushyhead, O. S. Witherby, W. J. Prout, William Collier, J. H. Gay, G. H. Ballou, F. S. Plympton, J. P. Winship, Tomas Alvarado, Col. E. B. Spileman, Ariosto McCrimmon, Paul H. Blades, and Walter G. Smith.

Heintzelman Post, G. A. R., Gen. Datus E. Coon, Commander, participated in the reception, which was held on the Plaza. Mayor Gunn delivered the address of welcome.

The President, responding, said:

_Mr. Mayor and Fellow-citizens_--I am in slavery to a railroad schedule, and have but a few moments longer to tarry in your beautiful city. If there were no other reward for our journey across the continent, we have seen to-day about your magnificent harbor that which would have repaid us for all the toil of travel. [Applause.]

I do not come to tell you anything about California, for I have perceived in my intercourse with Californians in the East and during this brief stay among you that already you know all about California. [Laughter.]

You are, indeed, most happily situated. Every element that makes life comfortable is here; every possibility that makes life successful and prosperous is here; and I am sure, as I look into those kindly, upturned faces, that your homes have as healthful a moral atmosphere as the natural one that God has spread over your smiling land.

It is with regret that we now part from you. The welcome you have extended to us is magnificent, kindly, and tasteful. We shall carry away the most pleasant impression, and shall wish for you all that you anticipate in your largest dreams for your beautiful city [cheers]--that your harbor may be full of foreign and coast-wise traffic, that it may not be long until the passage of our naval and merchant marine shall not be by the Horn, but by Nicaragua. [Cheers.] I believe that great enterprise, which is to bring your commerce into nearer and cheaper contact with the Atlantic seaboard cities, both of this continent and of South America, will not be long delayed.

And now, again with most grateful thanks for your friendly attention, in my own behalf and in behalf of all who journey with me I bid you a most kindly farewell. [Prolonged cheers.]

At the conclusion of the President's address Governor Torres, of Lower California, in the uniform of a Major-General of the Mexican army, approached the President and read the following telegram from Gen. Porfirio Diaz, President of Mexico:

It has come to my knowledge that the President of the United States, Hon. Benjamin Harrison, shall visit San Diego on the 23d instant, and I let you know it so that you may call to congratulate him in my name and present him with my compliments.

[Signed] PORFIRIO DIAZ.

Responding to this friendly international salute, President Harrison said:

_Governor Torres_--This message from that progressive and intelligent gentleman who presides over the destinies of our sister republic is most grateful to me. I assure you that all our people, that the Government, through all its instituted authorities, entertain for President Diaz and for the chivalrous people over which he presides the most friendly sentiments of respect. [Cheers and applause.] We covet, sir, your good-will and those mutual exchanges which are mutually profitable, and we hope that the two republics may forever dwell in fraternal peace.

As the President sat down Governor Torres remarked: "The Mexican people respond heartily to your kind wishes."

SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 23.

On the return route from San Diego the presidential train stopped at Santa Ana, a thriving town in Orange County, where 5,000 people had assembled to greet the Chief Magistrate. The Committee of Reception was John T. Nourse, C. S. McKelvey, W. S. Taylor, J. A. Crane, John Beatty, Geo. E. Edgar, Geo. T. Insley, Capt. H. T. Matthews, W. H. Drips, and Robert Cummings. Sedgwick Post, G. A. R., H. F. Stone, Commander, was present. Prof. M. Manley delivered the address of welcome, and the Hon. W. H. Spurgeon, founder of the city, introduced the President, who spoke as follows:

_My Fellow-citizens_--I have already proved your hospitality. It is very, very generous, and it is very graceful. I have but one doubt in regard to it, and that is whether I can stand so much of it. [Laughter and applause.] It has given me great gladness of heart to look into your faces. I have been discharging some public business far remote from you, and I hope with some concern for your interest, for I have tried to take a wide view of public questions and to have in my mind a thought of the people of this great land.

Our politics should be as broad as the territory over which our people have spread. It is a part of the history of the country which has always kept in memory the safety and interests of those who pushed civilization to the Rocky Mountains and over its rugged peaks into these fruitful valleys. I am glad to see here this afternoon these little children. The order in which they have assembled gives me assurance that they have come from the school-houses, those nurseries of knowledge and common interests in our American States.

I am glad that you grow not only the olive-tree in your garden, but that to the olive-trees that are planted in the household and bloom about your table you give your greatest attention. Now, thanking you very kindly and confessing very humbly that I am not able to repay you for your generous welcome, and leaving to all these little ones my best hopes for useful, prosperous, and honorable lives, I bid you all good-by.

ORANGE, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 23.

Through the zealous efforts of Mrs. T. I. Halsted, President of the Woman's Relief Corps of Orange, Mrs. Emilie N. Tener, and others, the presidential train stopped at that town. The Committee of Reception was: Rev. A. Parker, Robert E. Tener, E. E. Risley, Wm. H. Arne, Mrs. E. B. Strong, H. W. Wilson, and D. C. Pixley. Gordon Granger Post, G. A. R., A. Meacham, Commander, was present in full force.

Responding to enthusiastic cheers the President said:

_My Friends_--I am glad to look into your smiling faces, and I thank you for this welcome. California is a State that is favorably situated, and, so far as I can judge, this section is among the most favored in the State. There is no time for a speech, but we can shake hands with a few of those who are nearest.

RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 23.

One of the most enjoyable visits of the President and his party was to Riverside, San Bernardino County, where, on driving from Arlington station, they were welcomed by several thousand residents of the district. The Committee of Reception comprised Hon. H. M. Streeter, Judge W. W. Noland, Judge Harvey Potter, C. O. Perrine, Capt. C. H. Vosburg, C. M. Loring, A. P. Johnson, F. M. Dunbar, A. Keith, C. T. Rice, Capt. J. T. Lawler, A. H. Naftzger, E. W. Holmes, F. McChoppin, Frank A. Miller, G. W. Dickson, J. A. Wilbur, F. M. Heath, C. N. Andrews, J. R. Newberry, F. E. Abbott, W. C. Fitzsimmons, D. W. McLeod, B. R. Williams, C. P. Hayt, and Mrs. S. A. Ames, representing the city of Riverside; Mrs. C. W. Sylvester, representing the Woman's Relief Corps; Mrs. C. Button, representing the W. C. T. U., and Mrs. Davis.

The President and Mrs. Harrison and all the other members of the party were treated to a delightful drive through the celebrated orange groves. The President was accompanied by Hon. S. C. Evans. Returning from the groves the President's carriage was halted in front of the High School building, where 1,400 scholars and several thousand others had assembled.

On being presented by Mr. Evans the President said:

_My Friends_--We can tarry only for a moment, as we are already behind the regular time for leaving. I cannot, however, drive by this large assemblage of friends, gathered to greet us on the way, without expressing the delight with which I have looked upon these beautiful surroundings. My trip from Washington has been full of pleasures and surprises, but nothing has given me greater surprise and more pleasure than the drive of this afternoon through this magnificent valley of Riverside. I am glad you are interested in cultivating the children as well as the orange, and I trust that their young minds may be kept as free from all that is injurious as these fine orange orchards are of weeds and everything that is noxious. May their lives be as fruitful as your trees, and their homes as happy and full of joy as this land seems to be of the bright sunshine of God.

The distinguished visitors then proceeded through the city and reviewed the parade, at the conclusion of which the President, speaking without introduction, said:

_My Friends_--I am sorry that we can tarry with you only for a moment. We are now twenty minutes behind our schedule time for leaving. If we should stay with you longer we should disappoint others who are waiting for us at an appointed time.

We are grateful to you for your presence. I have enjoyed very much the ride through the valley. You are a favored people, and ought to be, as I have no doubt you are, a law-abiding, liberty-loving, and patriotic people.

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 23.

Another typical gathering, full of California enthusiasm, greeted the party at San Bernardino. The Reception Committee comprised C. C. Haskell, Chairman; J. C. Lynch, Hon. Samuel Merrill, W. A. Harris, Joseph Brown, J. N. Victor, L. C. Waite, Richard Gird, W. E. W. Lightfoot, W. B. Beamer, R. J. Waters, Truman Reeves, Dr. A. Thompson, Col. T. J. Wilson, D. A. Scott, A. S. Hawley, J. J. Hewitt, E. B. Stanton, A. G. Kendall, Dr. J. P. Booth, W. H. Timmons, Wilson Hays, Geo. Cooley, R. B. Taylor, H. A. Keller, E. E. Katz, Lewis Jacobs, H. L. Drew, N. G. Gill, and I. W. Lord. Mr. W. J. Curtis delivered the address of welcome. In response the President said:

_Mr. Mayor and Fellow citizens_--I can only repeat to you what I have already had occasion to say to many similar audiences assembled in California, that I am delighted with my visit to the Pacific coast; that much as I had heard of the richness and high cultivation, what I have seen to-day in this great valley has far surpassed my expectations. You have subdued an unpromising soil and made it blossom as the rose; but better than all the fruits and harvests, and better than all the products of the field, is this intelligent population which out of their kindly faces extend to us a greeting wherever we go.

I am glad, coming from the far East, to observe how greatly our people are alike. But that is not surprising, because I find all through this valley many Hoosiers and Buckeyes I knew at home. It is not singular that you should be alike when you are really and truly the same people, not only in lineage and general characteristics, but the same men and women we have known in the older States. And now I thank you again, and beg you will excuse me from further speech, with the assurance that if it were in my power I would double the rich blessings which you already enjoy. [Cheers.]

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 23.

It was 8 o'clock in the evening when the presidential train rolled into Pasadena, the home of Governor Markham. The President's reception was notable for its marked enthusiasm. The committee of escort that met the party at Riverside was: Hon. J. A. Buchanan, Mayor T. P. Lukens, ex-Gov. L. A. Sheldon, Col. G. G. Green, Geo. F. Foster, and P. M. Green. A great assemblage greeted the President's arrival, which was celebrated by booming cannon, ringing bells, and bonfires. The Committee of Reception, comprising the following leading citizens, welcomed the President and escorted him to the hotel: Gov. H. H. Markham, Chairman; J. H. Holmes, W. U. Masters, C. M. Simpson, Geo. F. Kernaghan, Col. J. R. Bowler, Delos Arnold, M. M. Parker, W. H. Wiley, W. E. Arthur, J. W. Wood, Dr. W. L. McAllister, C. D. Daggett, Judge H. W. Magee, James Clarke, A. B. Manahan, J. W. Scoville, J. E. Farnum, M. D. Painter, T. Banbury, W. W. Webster, Prof. T. S. C. Lowe, Rev. E. L. Conger, Rev. D. D. Hill, Rev. J. W. Phelps, Hon. A. G. Throop, F. J. Woodbury, G. B. Ocheltree, G. A. Greely, W. L. Wotkyns, C. S. Martin, A. R. Metcalfe, F. C. Bolt, E. R. Hull, Dr. Mohr, John McDonald, Judge A. McCoy, B. M. Wotkyns, A. K. McQuilling, S. Washburn, T. J. Rigg, T. Earley, C. S. Cristy, A. C. Armstrong, A. McNally, J. Brockway, J. E. Howard, J. S. Hodge, C. W. Buchanan, O. S. Picher, Dr. Thomas R. Hayes, M. Fish, J. R. Greer, Jr., A. K. Nash, C. H. Richardson, J. G. Rossiter, W. T. Vore, Rev. C. E. Harris, H. H. Rose, J. Banbury, A. Dodworth, Dr. Frary, Judge M. C. Hester, James H. Campbell, C. C. Brown, A. H. Conger, W. S. Wright, George Bremner, James McLachlan, J. S. Cox, C. T. Hopkins, O. E. Weed, J. H. Baker, L. Blankenhorn, W. S. Monroe, George F. Granger, W. S. Gilmore, Rev. L. P. Crawford, W. E. Channing, A. J. Painter, S. H. Doolittle, Dr. George Rodgers, E. E. Jones, W. D. McGilvray, Webster Wotkyns, Theodore Coleman, R. M. Furlong, J. W. Vandevoort, B. E. Ball, E. T. Howe, H. R. Hertel, Charles Foster, G. R. Thomas, A. F. Mills, Dr. W. B. Rowland, Dr. F. F. Rowland, Dr. Van Slyck, Rev. J. B. Stewart, D. R. McLean, C. M. Phillips, C. E. Tebbetts, William Heiss, H. W. Hines, H. E. Pratt, S. R. Lippincott, J. W. Hugus, W. P. Forsyth, O. Freeman, S. E. Locke, C. F. Holder, Capt. A. C. Drake, Prof. J. D. Yocum, J. H. Woodworth, General McBride, W. T. Clapp, E. H. Royce, Charles Legge, Calvin Hartwell, J. O. Lowe, T. C. Foster, T. L. Hoag, Dr. Ezra F. Carr, E. H. May, Dr. Mansfield, G. D. Patton, Prof. S. C. Clark, H. H. Visscher, F. R. Harris, Capt. A. L. Hamilton, J. S. Mills, H. B. Sherman, R. C. Slaughter, James Smith, S. C. Arnold, I. N. Sears, Chas. A. Smith, Wm. Menner, S. H. Yocum, D. W. Permar, John Permar, I. N. Wood, Emil Kayser, N. W. Bell, Rev. E. E. Scannell, Rev. H. T. Staats, W. R. Staats, F. L. Bushnell, H. C. Allen, Rev. A. W. Bunker, Rev. James Kelso, Judge J. P. Nelson, C. J. Morrison, M. Rosenbaum, E. S. Frost, F. B. Wetherby, W. J. McCaldin, A. J. Brown, Dr. Philbrook, Captain Rogers, Dr. S. P. Swearingen, Fred McNally, J. E. Doty, F. D. Stevens, O. Stewart Taylor, A. F. M. Strong, C. M. Parker, C. E. Langford, G. E. Meharry, Maj. C. M. Skillen, Judge B. F. Hoffman, Henry Washburn, Capt. A. Wakeley, W. S. Nosworthy, J. G. Shoup, Mrs. I. B. Winslow, Geo. W. Sheaff, Mrs. T. H. Kuhns, P. G. Wooster, A. McLean, F. L. Jones, Dr. A. H. Palmer, J. J. Allen, E. C. Webster, Arturo Bandini, Will Forbes, W. W. Mills, Mrs. Dr. Elliott, L. C. Winston, S. S. Vaught, I. N. Stevenson, John Habbick, Thomas Croft, Wm. J. Craig, M. A. De Forest, R. K. Janes, C. W. Mann, John Sedwick, Homer Morris, Perry Bonham, Prof. Kyle, R. W. Lacey, Dr. J. C. Michener, A. A. Choteau, A. O. Bristol, Dr. J. M. Radebaugh, J. F. Mullen, T. M. Livingston, G. W. Stimson, W. E. Cooley, W. S. Arnold, W. H. Housh, E. W. Longley, C. W. Hodson, J. D. Graham, M. E. Wood, F. S. Wallace, Prof. W. P. Hammond, C. S. Howard, Joseph Wallace, Robert Vandevoort, H. K. W. Bent, John Allen, George Goings, Jeans James Coleman, Aug. Mayer, Geo. Taylor, J. D. Requa, Rev. A. M. Merwin, W. B. Mosher, P. F. McGowan, G. A. Gibbs, F. K. Burnham, and C. E. Brooks.

The women's Reception Committee to receive Mrs. Harrison and the other ladies in the party consisted of: Mrs. L. A. Sheldon, Mrs. J. A. Buchanan, Mrs. J. W. Wood, Mrs. C. D. Daggett, Mrs. J. R. Bowler, Mrs. James Clarke, Miss Greenleaf, Mrs. W. E. Arthur, and Mrs. W. U. Masters.

It was 11 o'clock at night when the President and the gentlemen of his party attended an elegant banquet at the Hotel Green, over which the Hon. W. U. Masters presided. Mr. Buchanan proposed the President's health in words of welcome.

President Harrison, responding, said: