The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-03
virtues, tho one which is perhaps more charac-
terstic of the truly brave is the virtue Of mag
nanimitV


was the noble sentiment attributed TO Scot
lands magnanimous monarch as he stood
gazing into the face of his
slain antagonist That sentiment immortalized
by Scott in his musical and martial verse, will
associate for all time the name of Scotland's
king with those of the great spirits of the past.
How grand the exhibition of the same generous
impulses that characterize the victories
upon this memorable field. My fellow coun-
trymen of the north, if may be permitted to
speak for those represent, let me assure you
that in the profoundest depths of their nature
they reciprocate that generosity with all the
manliness aud sincerity of which brave men are
capable In token of that sincerity they JOIN
in consecratng for annual patriotic pilgrimage
these historical heights, which drank such copl-
ous draughts of American blood, poured so
freely in the discharge of duty as each con
ceived it-a Mecca for the north, which so
grandly defended it, and Mecca for the SOUTH
which so bravely and persStently stormed II.
a MONUMENT OF PEACE.
We join you in setting apart this spot as an
enduring monument of peace brotherhood and
perpetual union. ! repeat the thought with
additional emphasis, with singlenesS of heart
and of purpose, in the name Of our common
country aud of universal human liberty. and
by the blood of our fallen brothers we unite in
the solemn consecration of these battle -halowed
nils as a holy eternal pledge OF fidelity to the
life, freedom and unity of this cherished re
public, ! am honored tonight in being selected
to introduce one of the distinguished representa-
tves of that spirit Of magnanmty of which
without fear, reproach or malice soldier whose
blood was split and whose body was MANNED,
though then, but boy, while he bravely and
gladly obeyed his country's commands. | in
trOduce to you statesman, whose services are
distinguished and whose record is stainless.
Introduce to you patriot, whose extended hand
and generous heart are ever open to all his
countrymen Soldier, statesman, patriot, pre-
sent them all in the person of Gen. Gov. James
A. Beaver of Pennsylvania.
When Gov. Beaver hcbblel on his
crutches to the front of the roatrum he was
received not less enthusiastically than his
predecessor, and he also was broken in upon
by the hearty cries of the spectators.
GOV. Beavers SPEECH.
Following is Gov. Beavers speech:
Men WHO WORE THE GRAY-I have been com
missoned by my comrades of the society of the
army of the Potomac, who wore the blue, TO
address you in their behalf few words of sim
pie and sincere welcome. Although perhaps
less dignfed, you will allow me. for the sake of
simplicity and clearness. TO use the language of
a direct address. A generation ago you and
we lived together as citizens of one country
subject 10 the provisions Of a compact which
had been made hree-quarters of a century be-
fore by our forelathers, itself the result OF sue
cessful revolution-which we called the consti-
tuition of the United States. From the begin
ming that compact or agreement had been
subject of divers and diverse interpretations;
there came a time when, in your Judgement,
the administration of the affairs of the govern.
ment, organized under that agreement, would
not be conducted in accordance with what you
considered fair and just Interpretation. Could
you dissolve partnership and keep a share of
the propertyr This was the question.
DREAD TRIBUNAL.
Ordinary tribunals could not decide it. You
yourselves, as we think, and as you will doubt
less admit. determined the tribunal which
should try it, 1t was a dead tribunal, the last
resort among civil communities, the dernier ref
sort amongb rethren-you offered the gage of
haf H.. 0pHanfad 1ninad
You donned the gray, we put on the blue, and
the place upon which stand to-day is one
upon which a great argument in the long con
test was made. There was more or less of in
tense feeling involved, and yet l think |
speak words of truth and soberness when say
that, so far as we were concerned, there was
nothing of personal animosity, or bitterness. or
hate involved in the contest. My own case is
that which will doubtless Illustrate many
similar ones My mother lived in Pennsylvania.
She had three boys who wore the blue Her
only sister, and the only other child OF her
father, lived in Virginia. Her three boys wore
the gray. They served in the army of orth-
ern Virginia We served for the most part in
the army Of the Po.omac.
FIRING UPON EACH OTHER.
Our deadly shots were aimed at each other in
many battles of the war in which these two
armies confronted each other. Did that fact,
think you, obliterate the love which those sisters
bore to each other. or that which animated
their sons. Nay. verify on our side the war was
one of principles; of abstract ideas largely on
your side, we admit. With your views, of what
was TO be expected in the future-your prop
erty rights and private interests were directly
involved, and hence the more intense feeling
and ardOr which you displayed
STANDING BY THE DECISION.
You as honorable men, have stood by, and
are bound to stand by, the decision. We, as
honorable men, are bound to see to IL that that
decision is respected and that you shall not be
called upon to admit more or TO promise more
than is involved in the decision. Upon this plat
form We meet here to-day. Upon this platform
we stand as citizens of common country. In
ority over you. You admit no
inferiority to u.s. II such feeling
struggles for place in our hearts, the issue Of
this field should determine that questi You
verance and our equals in IntelHRence-Our
equals in all that constitutes and dignihes and
adorns american character. You are Ame-i-
cans and so are we II the settlement Of ques-
tions which naturally and necessarily grew out
of the decision which the sword made in the
contest in which you wore the gray
and we wore the blue, were
left left 10 us who fought, they would
have doubtless been more fully and moro
satisfactorily settled long ago than they are to
day; but my countrynen, our care need not be
as TO the past.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.
Its record is made up. It's DEGREES are re-
corded, its judgment final. You and have
something ~ do With the future. Our faces are
TO be resOlutely turned To the front. The hand
which beckons us points forward not backward,
and Il is in recognition of this fact and because
that we as wearers OF the gray and the blue
can EXERT and should exert, great Influence in
shaping the destiny OF this country, that my
comrades Of the army OF the Potomac have in
yited you here, that we may look each other in
the face may assure you OF our desire to accord
TO you your full share in the work which IL be-
fore us. of our sympathy in the he-
roc efforts which you have made
and are still making in building up
the new south, and Of our admiration for the
courage and forttude and endurance with
TO which have alluded whose decision IS be
yond recall We can only bow TO the decision,
and think we are learning TO say, more and
more as days 20 by, that great as was the cost,
infinite as was the price, the result pays
pays now and will pay much more
In the future We welcome you because we
need YOU We welcome you because YOU need
us We welcome you because we together must
enter into and possess the future. and transmit
this heritage to onconling generations. Are we
readyy Are you readyf II so, lot the dead past
bury its dead.
MESSAGE FROM MRS PICKETT
Gen. Sickles then read the following tele-
gram from Mrs. Pickett, widow of the
general who made the famous charge on
the afternoon of the 3rd:
To the Chairman Of the Committee Of the
Gettysburg Reunion, Gettysburg:
When ! accepted the suggestions or kind
friends that my presence would serve as link
in the chain of unity between the sections
broken by the civil war. | was ready and most
willing to make any sacrifice TO contribute to a
perfect union of the survivors Of the blue and
the gray upon field consccrated by the blend