Having had notice of your request that we stop here for a few moments, I have remained up in order to thank you for your expressed interest and for this very large and cordial demonstration. I have spoken several times during the day, and am sure you will excuse me from attempting now, at midnight, to make a speech. I hope that prosperity is here and that it may abide with you. Thanking you again, I bid you good-night.
[PALESTINE, TEXAS, APRIL 18.]
The first stop in the Lone Star State was at Palestine, where the President received a royal welcome, the population of the city turning out to do him honor. His excellency Gov. James S. Hogg cordially greeted the President at this point. Hon. John H. Reagan, Hon. Geo. A. Wright, Mayor of Palestine, and the City Council in a body, constituted the Committee of Reception, together with the following prominent residents: Capt. T. T. Gammage, A. H. Bailey, Geo. E. Dilley, N. R. Royall, W. C. Kendall, A. Teah, J. R. Hearne, J. W. Ozment, P. W. Ezell, O. B. Sawyers, G. W. Burkitt, W. M. Lacy, Henry Ash, A. C. Green, A. R. Howard, A. L. Bowers, D. W. Heath, Wm. Broyles, John J. Word, E. R. Kersh, R. J. Wallace, J. M. Fullinwider, Rev. E. F. Fales and Mrs. Fales, who welcomed her distinguished brother Postmaster-General Wanamaker.
Governor Hogg made the formal address of welcome, to which the President responded as follows:
Governor Hogg and Fellow-citizens—It gives me pleasure to come this fresh morning into this great State—a kingdom without a king, an empire without an emperor, a State gigantic in proportions and matchless in resources, with diversified industries and infinite capacities to sustain a tremendous population and to bring to every home where industry abides prosperity and comfort. Such homes, I am sure, are represented here this morning—the American home, where the father abides in the respect and the mother in the deep love of the children that sit about the fireside; where all that makes us good is taught and the first rudiments of obedience to law, of orderly relations one to another, are put into the young minds. Out of this comes social order; on this rests the security of our country. The home is the training-school for American citizenship. There we learn to defer to others; selfishness is suppressed by the needs of those about us. There self-sacrifice, love, and willingness to give ourselves for others are born.
I thank you that so many of you have come here this morning from such homes, and all of us are thankful together that peace rests upon our whole country. All of us have pledged ourselves that no sectional strife shall ever divide us, and that while abiding in peace with all the world we are, against all aggression, one mighty, united people. [Cheers.]
I desire to assure you, my countrymen, that in my heart I make no distinction between our people anywhere. [Cheers.] I have a deep desire that everywhere in all our States there shall be that profound respect for the will of the majority, expressed by our voters, that shall bring constant peace into all our communities. It is very kind of you to come here this morning before breakfast. Perhaps you are initiating me into the Texas habit—is it so?—of taking something before breakfast. [Laughter and cheers.] This exhilarating draught of good-will you have given me this morning will not, I am sure, disturb either my digestion or comfort during this day. [Cheers.]