[NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, AUGUST 18.]
The weather cleared as the party reached historic Newburgh, where 3,000 people gave the Chief Executive a rousing welcome. Hon. M. Doyle, Mayor of Newburgh, and the following representative citizens received the President: Ex-Mayor B. B. Odell, Hon. A. S. Cassedy, Hon. B. B. Odell, Jr., William G. Taggart, Daniel S. Waring, William Chambers, Charles H. Hasbrouck, J. M. Dickey, Henry B. Lawson, James G. Graham, Thomas R. Spier, A. E. Layman, George Hasting, Maj. E. C. Boynton, A. Woolsey, John F. Tucker, William Lynn, George Brown, Dr. D. L. Kidd, H. C. Smith, Augustus Denniston, E. M. Murtfeldt, and John J. Nutt.
Colonel Sleicher introduced President Harrison, who said:
My Fellow-citizens—I am very much obliged to you for this friendly greeting. It is pleasant to run out of the rain and mist that have hung about our train for an hour or two into this bright sunshine and into the gladness of the pleasant welcome which you have extended to us. You are situated here in a region full of historic interest. Every child learns early here the story of the sacrifice and courage of those who laid the foundation of this Government, which has grown beyond the conception of even the wisest of our fathers. I am sure that in these things you must all find inspiration to good citizenship, and it is pleasant to know that you rejoice that it has left its impress upon the hearts of all our people; that upon the Sacramento as well as upon the Hudson men love the old memories and the old flag. [Applause.]
I am glad to pause with you a moment in passing to the observance in Vermont of one of those great battle events which led to the independence of our country. We have great common interests as a people, and, while we divide as to the method by which we would promote the national prosperity, I am sure we are all devoted in heart to the country and the institutions that have done so much for us. In the interest of good government we are one; we all believe that the Government should be so administered that all the people shall share equally in its benefits; that there shall be no favored class. I thank you again, and bid you good-by. [Applause.]
[KINGSTON, NEW YORK, AUGUST 18.]
At Kingston fully 2,000 people were assembled. Prominent among those who welcomed the President were Hon. James G. Linsley, Hon. Geo. M. Brink, H. W. Baldwin, William D. Brinnier, D. C. Overbaugh, S. B. Sharpe, B. J. Winnie, Charles B. Safford, George B. Merritt, O. P. Carpenter, James E. Phinney, and Noah Wolven.
After shaking hands for several minutes, Hon. William H. Turner introduced President Harrison, who said:
My Fellow-citizens—Perhaps I had better spend the moment or two that remains in saying a word to all of you than in shaking hands with the few that can gather about the car. You ask for a speech. It is not very easy to know what one can talk about on such an occasion as this. Those topics that are most familiar to me, because I am brought in daily contact with them, namely, public affairs, are in some measure prohibited to me, and I must speak therefore only of those things upon which we agree; for I have no doubt, if we were closely interrogated, some differences would develop in the views of those assembled here. That is one of the things we are proud of and that tend to the perpetuity and purity of our institutions—that we are permitted to differ in our views, to be independent in our opinions, and to be answerable to our consciences and to God only for the convictions we entertain. I am sure, however, we all rejoice in the evidences of prosperity which are spread over this good land of ours. We rejoice in the freedom and happiness and contentment that are in our communities and in our homes. We rejoice to know that no cloud is over our horizon; that we are at peace with the world and at peace among ourselves. I think the world has come to understand that it is well to be at peace with us [applause], and I am sure we have come to understand that it is very well to be at peace among our selves. [Applause.]