On the morning of the 16th the President's party bade adieu to Atlanta. More than 10,000 people were present. Mayor Hemphill invited the President to the rear platform of the train and presented him to the assemblage. In response to their cheers he said:
My Fellow-citizens—I desire, in parting from you, to give public expression of my satisfaction and enjoyment in my brief visit to Atlanta. I saw this city once under circumstances of a very unfavorable character. I did not think I would like it, although we were making great efforts to get it. [Laughter.] I am glad after all these years to see the great prosperity and development that has come to you. I think I am able to understand some of the influences that are at the bottom of it, and I am sure that I look into the faces of a community that, whatever their differences may have been, however they viewed the question of the war when it was upon us, can have but one thought as to what was best. We can all say with the Confederate soldier who carried a gun for what seemed to him to be right, that God knew better than any of us what was best for the country and for the world.
You are thankful for what He has wrought and chiefly for emancipation. It has opened up to diversified industries these States that were otherwise exclusively agricultural, and made it possible for you not only to raise cotton, but to spin and weave it, and has made Georgia such a State as it could not have been under the old conditions. I am sure we have many common purposes, and as God shall give us power to see truth and right, let us do our duty, and, while exacting all our own rights, let us bravely and generously give every other man his equal rights before the law. [Cheers.]
Thanking you for your reception, which has been warm and hospitable, I go from you very grateful for your kindness and very full of hope for your future.
I cannot wish more than that those enterprising land-owners whose work in grading and laying new additions I saw yesterday will realize all their hopes. I am very sure if that is done Atlanta will not long be rated the second city of the South. [Cheers.]
At the conclusion of the President's address there were many calls for Mr. Wanamaker. These finally brought the Postmaster-General to the platform, who said:
That man is unfortunate who is called on to speak after a President. But at such a moment as this, parting from people who in a single night have shown so much kindness and good-fellowship, it is not difficult to return at least our grateful thanks for your most generous welcome. Of all objects in your city I have looked with most interest upon the house where a great light had gone out, and felt again the common sorrow in the absence of Henry Grady, a man whose life and influences were larger than Atlanta. The words he spoke and the principles he stood for cannot be forgotten. If we can but learn to know each other and understand each other there will be fewer differences than might be supposed. By more frequent intercourse and a fairer consideration of each other we should rise to a higher level of happiness. I wish we had come sooner and could stay longer. [Cheers.]
[TALLAPOOSA, GEORGIA, APRIL 16.]
The city of Tallapoosa was bedecked with flags and bunting in honor of the distinguished visitors, and gave the President a cordial reception. Mayor A. J. Head and the following representative citizens were among those who greeted the Chief Executive: James H. Rineard, Walker Brock, U. G. Brock, J. A. Head, R. M. Strickland, J. C. Parker, W. T. King, R. G. Bently, T. J. Barrett, J. T. Tuggle, R. J. McBride, G. W. Bullard, C. Tallafario, J. A. Burns, J. R. Knapp, C. W. Fox, M. C. Reeve, M. Munson, W. W. Summerlin, S. J. Cason, J. H. Davis, S. White, A. Hass, T. L. Dougherty, G. A. Stickney, N. L. Hutchens, O. F. Sampson, H. Martin, M. C. Haiston, G. W. Tumlin, and J. C. Murrey.