My heart has but one language: it is, "I thank you."
Most tenderly do I feel as an individual so much of this kindness as is personal to me, and as a public official I am most profoundly grateful that the American people so unitedly show their love and devotion to the Constitution and the flag.
We have a Government of the majority; it is the original compact that when the majority has been fairly counted at the polls, the expressed will of that majority, taking the form of public law enacted by State Legislatures or the national Congress, shall be the sole rule of conduct of every loyal man. [Cheers.]
We have no other king than law, and he is entitled to the allegiance of every heart and bowed knee of every citizen. [Cries of "Good! good!" and cheers.]
I cannot look forward with any human apprehension to any danger to our country, unless it approaches us through a corrupt ballot-box. [Applause.] Let us keep that spring pure, and these happy valleys shall teem with an increasing population of happy citizens, and our country shall find in an increasing population only increased unity and strength. [Cheers.]
[SAN FRANCISCO, APRIL 25.]
At Keyes Station, near Merced, the presidential train was joined by a special car containing the San Francisco escort committee. The following gentlemen composed the party and represented the organizations named: Mexican Veterans—Maj. R. P. Hammond. California Pioneers—L. L. Baker, W. B. Farwell, Nathaniel Holland, and Col. A. W. von Schmidt. Citizens' Committee—E. S. Pillsbury, J. B. Crockett, M. M. Estee, Irving M. Scott, W. D. English, and Rev. Dr. Samuel V. Leech. Loyal Legion and Grand Army of the Republic—Chief Engineer J. W. Moore, U. S. N., Commander Loyal Legion; Past Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief S. W. Backus; Past Department Commanders W. H. Aiken, E. Carlson, C. Mason Kinne, W. A. Robinson, R. H. Marfield, W. R. Smedburg, E. S. Salomon, T. H. Goodman, G. E. Gard, and A. J. Buckles; Past Junior Vice-Commander Jesse B. Fuller, Adjt.-Gen. T. C. Mastellar, Past Commander J. M. Litchfield, Congressmen E. F. Loud and John T. Cutting, comrades J. P. Meehan, S. S. Flint, and A. J. Hawes.
Seven o'clock Saturday evening the boom of cannon and clang of bells signalized the President's arrival at Oakland, where he immediately embarked on the ferry steamer Piedmont for passage across the bay. On board the Piedmont, in addition to the veteran guard of the G. A. R., commanded by Capt. Geo. F. Knowlton, Jr., and Lieutenants Wiegand, Franks and Stateler, were the following prominent residents: Senator and Mrs. Leland Stanford, A. N. Towne, R. H. Platt, A. J. Bolfing, H. C. Bunker, C. F. Bassett, Maj. J. N. E. Wilson, Capt. G. D. Boyd, J. C. Quinn, Geo. L. Seybolt, George Sanderson, J. Steppacher, Ass't Postmaster Richardson, G. W. Fletcher, Mrs. Peter Donohue, Mrs. Geo. R. Sanderson, Mrs. James Denman, Mrs. W. W. Morrow, Mrs. Joseph McKenna, Mrs. M. Ehrman, Mrs. E. Martin, and Mrs. J. D. Spreckels. The scene of the Piedmont crossing the bay, illuminated with thousands of lights, covered with flying flags, and greeted by all the craft in the harbor with myriads of rockets and lights, was a bewildering spectacle. At a signal great tongues of flame shot up from the summits of Telegraph and Nob hills, and the monstrous bonfires from the deck of the Piedmont resembled volcanoes. The entire population of the city came out to do honor to the head of the Nation, and the principal streets were beautifully illuminated.
As the President descended on the arm of Hon. W. W. Morrow he was met on the wharf by Mayor George H. Sanderson, Col. Basil Norris, Lieut.-Col. Geo. H. Burton, Lieut.-Col. John P. Hawkins, Maj. Frank M. Coxe, Maj. Edward Hunter, Maj. James H. Lord, Capt. Chas. N. Booth, and First Lieutenants L. A. Lovering and James E. Runcie, of the regular army; General Dickinson and staff and city officials. Mayor Sanderson formally welcomed the President and presented him a beautiful gold tablet bearing a resolution of the Board of Supervisors tendering the freedom of the city and county of San Francisco.