Responding to the welcoming cheers the President addressed the assembly as follows:
My Fellow-citizens—This large assemblage of people from this new and energetic city is very pleasant, and I thank you for the welcome that it implies. All of these evidences of extending industry are extremely pleasing to me as I observe them. They furnish employment to men; they imply comfortable homes, contented families, a safe social organization, and are the strength of the Nation.
I am glad to see that these enterprises that are taking the ores from the earth and adapting them to the uses of civilization have not been started here unaccompanied by that more important work—the work of gathering the children into the schools and instructing them, that they in their turn may be useful men and women. [Applause.] I am glad to greet these little ones this morning; it is a cheerful sight. We are soon to lay down the work of life and the responsibilities of citizenship, these mothers are soon to quit the ever-recurring and never-ending work of the home and give it into new hands.
It is of the utmost consequence that these little ones be trained in mind and taught the fear of God and a benevolent regard for their fellow-men, in order that their lives and social relations may be peaceful and happy. We are citizens of one country, having one flag and one destiny. We are starting upon a new era of development, and I hope this development is to keep pace and to be the promoting cause of a very perfect unification of our people. [Cheers.]
We have a Government whose principles are very simple and very popular. The whole theory of our institutions is that, pursuing those election methods which we have prescribed under the Constitution, every man shall exercise freely the right that the suffrage law confides to him, and that the majority, if it has expressed its will, shall conclude the issue for us all. There is no other foundation. This was the enduring base upon which the fathers of our country placed our institutions. Let us always keep them there. Let us press the debate in our campaigns as to what the law should be; but let us keep faith and submit with the reverence and respect which are due to the law when once lawfully enacted. [Applause.]
The development which is coming to you in these regions of the South is marvellous. In ten years you increased your production of iron about 300 per cent.—nearly a million and a quarter of tons—and you have only begun to open these mines and to put these ores to the process of reduction. Now, I want to leave this thought with you: In the old plantations of the South you got everything from somewhere else; why not make it all yourselves? [Cheers.]
[ANNISTON, ALABAMA, APRIL 16.]
Many thousands greeted the President on his arrival at Anniston. The Reception Committee consisted of Mayor James Noble, J. W. Lapsley, H. W. Bailey, T. G. Garrett, B. F. Cassady, John J. Mickle, C. H. Camfield, J. J. Willett, J. C. Sproull, R. H. Cobb, I. Finch, and Alex. S. Thweatt. The committee appointed by the Alabama State Sunday-School Association, then in session, was: Joseph Hardie, Geo. B. Eager, P. P. Winn, M. J. Greene, and C. W. O'Hare. On the part of the colored citizens the Committee of Reception was: Rev. W. H. McAlpine, Wm. J. Stevens, S. E. Moses, Rev. J. F. Fitspatrick, and Rev. Jas. W. Brown. Daniel Tyler Post, G. A. R., H. Rosenbaum, Commander, G. B. Randolph acting Adjutant, also participated. The Hon. John M. McKleroy delivered the address of welcome, followed by Wm. J. Stevens in behalf of the colored people.
President Harrison responded as follows: