“The applause broke the louder for the preceding calm and the deeper for the inspiring motive.  Hats were swung and handkerchiefs waved.  Men climbed on chairs to lead the cheering and women forgot gloved hands and applauded with energy.  At the last, ex-Governor Richard J. Oglesby, who had a seat in the President’s box, led in three cheers.”

The message of the President was: 

“My Fellow Citizens:  I have been deeply moved by this great demonstration.  I have been deeply touched by the words of patriotism that have been uttered by the distinguished men so eloquently in your presence.  It is gratifying to all of us to know that this has never ceased to be a war of humanity.  The last ship that went out of the harbor of Havana before war was declared was an American ship that had taken to the suffering people of Cuba the supplies furnished by American charity, and the first ship to sail into the harbor of Santiago was another American ship bearing food supplies to the suffering Cubans.

“I am sure it is the universal prayer of American citizens that justice and humanity and civilization shall characterize the final settlement of peace as they have distinguished the progress of the war.

“My countrymen, the currents of destiny flow through the hearts of the people.  Who will check them?  Who will divert them?  Who will stop them?  And the movements of men, planned by the master of men, will never be interrupted by the American people.”

The Philadelphia celebration was a scene of a demonstration of popular interest and patriotic feeling amazing in its multitudinous enthusiasm.  The Loyal League was out in full force, the parade was a prodigy of display, and the Clover Club gave a brilliant dinner, and the cleverness of the President’s speech carried the club by storm.  He said: 

“I cannot forego making acknowledgment to this far-famed club for the permission it has granted me to meet with you here to-night.  You do not seem half so bad at this stage as you have been pictured.  No one can unfold the future of the Clover Club. (Laughter.)

It has been so gratifying to me to participate with the people of the city of Philadelphia in this great patriotic celebration.  It was a pageant the like of which I do not believe has been seen since the close of the great Civil War, when the army of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, and the navy of Dupont, Dahlgren and Porter gave the great review in the capital city of the nation.  And I know of no more fitting place to have a patriotic celebration than in this great city, which witnessed the first consecration of liberty and of the Republic.  As I stood on the great reviewing stand, witnessing the soldiers and sailors passing by, my heart was filled only with gratitude to the God of battles, who has so favored us, and gratitude to the brave soldiers and sailors who had won such signal victories on land and on sea, and had given a new meaning to American valor.