Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-05-08

matchless fortitude a. prisoner OF state after
the war, will command universal respect ant
challenge unqualified admiration.
Gen. Gordon then proceeded to say that
THE OCCASION APPEALS TO OUR PATRIOTISM
He embraced this truth in It's brosdest and
most circumscr!bed significance. The soldier
or the citizen OF the north or the south whC
would frovn upon scenes like this In eithe
section, who does not esteem the rcnoWn wOr
by both armies In The late war, as enrichmen,
OF the history and aliment for his patriotism
OF the whole people, 50 narrow In conception
and jaundiced in vision. Gen. Gordon de
clared that standing near the summit OF this,
the nineteenth century, and looking backward
through all history, modern and ancient, civ
liz "a and ba,baric, he asserted the belief,
grounded upon careful thought aud statistical
information, that no more exalted purposes
ever inspired q people than thoee which i'm
PEELED the south 10 enter upon he perilous
struggle for independence, nor never induced
a freer or moe costly sacrifice, nor led 10 &
defense which, though unt ucceesful, secured
q more deathless renown. He was not here
to discuss the causes which precipitated the
c%on6ict; but when sill IL said that can be said
10 justification or condemnation OF the course
pursued by either section, 1t Is ST. III Gent FOR
the purposes of this argument to realize that
the south was driven by her apprehensions,
whether i'll or we'll founded, TO seek -ecurity
under q separate government.
Gen. Gordon then entered into an exhaust
i've discussion, giving elaborate citations o,
statistics, 10 show the
FEARFUL ODDS AGAINST WEIGH THE CoNFED-
ERACY FOUGHT.
and the terrible sacrifices made by The south
ern people In the war. Answering the Ques-
ton as to what sustained the south In such q
tremendous contest, Gen Gordon said It was
the law OF self-defense, natures first law. II
she sought to sever her relations with her SIS
ter states Of the north, 1t was In the belief that
she would find safety under a government OF
homogeneous institutions. Her declaration Of
q desire for peace and for a continuance OF
friendly relations, was emphatic and sincere
IL In the progress OF succeeding war che
crossed her borders and bore her banners
Dorthward 1t was with the hope of forcing the
withdrawal Of federal forces from her territory
and Of compelling recognition Of her independ-
ence.
Gen. Gordon concluded his address with the
following paragraph:
And now let the manly virtues OF the fstheIs
and the stainless purity Of the mothers dwell
richly in their sons and their daughters: let
personal and public honor be the commanding
law both Of your thought and Of your action
let your representatives., state and federal,
still maintain untsrnished regulations for In
compatibility In office: let your fidelity TO the
whole country be as conspicuous In peace "a
WAS your devotion TO the south during the
devastating war; let the south's plighted faith
70 the permanent union Of the states and the
legitimate results Of the war be forever I'M
questioned; let all constitutional policies
that tend 10 unite more closely the
sections snd people. and at the same
time TO promote simplicity and economy Of
administration, find among you their %sincerest
aud most enlightened champions. Then, IL
the march Of the republic TO It's hlghest des
tiny, the south VIII resume her place in the
ranks at the head OF the column, and the
names Of southern statesmen and southern
soldiers will live among the most conspicuous
and honored in our country's history.
THE
Gen. Gordon's speech was received witt
great pleasure, and at many points he was IN
%terrupted with the approving shouts Of tn.
multitude. His tributes TO the soldiers Of bot,
armies, and contempt for men who would at
tempt to detract from the value Of either, 70
ceived long and continued shouts OF applause