My Friends—I cannot feel myself a stranger in this State, so distant from home, when I am greeted by some familiar faces from my Indiana home at almost every station. Your fellow-citizen who has spoken in your behalf was an old-time Indianapolis friend. I hope he is held in the same esteem in which he was held by the people among whom he spent his early years as a boy and man. [Cries of "He is!">[ That you should have gone to the pains to make such magnificent decorations and to come out in such large numbers for this momentary greeting very deeply touches my heart.
I have never seen in any State of the Union what seems to me to be a more happy and contented people than I have seen this morning. Your soil and sun are genial, healthful, and productive, and I have no doubt that these genial and kindly influences are manifested in the homes that are represented here, and that there is sunshine in the household as well as in the fields; that there is contentment and love and sweetness in these homes as well as in these gardens that are so adorned with flowers. Our pathway has been strewn with flowers; we have literally driven for miles over flowers that in the East would have been priceless, and these favors have all been accompanied with manifestations of friendliness for which I am very grateful, and everywhere there has been set up as having greater glory than sunshine, greater glory than flowers, this flag of our country. [Applause.] Everywhere I have been greeted by some of these comrades, veterans of the late war, whose presence among you should be the inspiration to increased patriotism and loyalty. I bid them affectionate greeting, and am sorry that I cannot tarry with them longer. [Cheers.]
[SAN BUENAVENTURA, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 24.]
Three thousand people welcomed the party at San Buenaventura, including nearly 1,000 school-children, who bounteously provided the President and Mrs. Harrison with flowers. The Reception Committee consisted of: Mayor J. S. Collins, J. R. Willoughby, E. M. Jones, P. Bennett, C. D. Bonestel, N. H. Shaw, and Cushing Post, G. A. R., D. M. Rodibaugh, Commander.
Gen. William Vandever welcomed the party, and the President spoke as follows:
My Friends—I am very glad to meet my old friend and your former representative, General Vandever. I have had some surprise at almost every station at which we have stopped. I did not know until he came upon the platform that this was his home. I have not time to make a speech, and I have not the voice to make one. I can only say of these hearty and friendly Californians that my heart is deeply touched with this evidence of friendly regard. You have strewn my way with flowers; you have graced every occasion, even the briefest stop, with a most friendly greeting, and I assure you that we are most grateful for it all. You are fortunate in your location among the States; and I am sure that in all this great republic nowhere is there a more loyal and patriotic people than we have here on the Pacific coast. I thank you again for this greeting. [Cheers.]
[SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 24.]
The reception at Santa Barbara was the most unique that the presidential party experienced on their trip, and also one of the most enjoyable; it was a veritable flower carnival.