The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-09-26
THE PAST rOnuL
Touching Speech Made on the ia
MONS RattlefieId of Chickamauga.

Touching Speech Made on the Fa'
nous Battlefield of fChickamauga.
CHATTANOOGA, Specialize grand. barbe-
cue and permanent organization OF the
Chickamauga Memorial association took
place at Crawfish Springs, on the edge of the
famous battle field of Chickamauga. Fully
25, 900 people were on the grounds. The
blue and the gray were together; the past
forgotten Gov John B. Gordon Of Georgia
made the address of welcome, saying:
On this anniversary morning the South salutes
you with uncovered heads, with open arms and
earnest and honest hearts, She cannot receive
you with costly and imposing ceremon1als. but
with simplicity Of speech and patriotic purpose
she gladly greets the brave and generous OF each
army and every section. To this renowned bat
tie ground, made memorable by your proWess
and hallowed by American blood, she bids you
welcome The South congratulates the whole
country that these historic plains, where twen-
ty-six years ago YOU met IN deadly sec
tional conflict. are now to become the
scene and witness of your joint
pledge of restored and enduring fraternity. She
congratulates the republic that here, where the
North and where the South marshalled their
hosts for battle, these hosts now meet in living,
lasting brotherhood, united in bonds of mutual
respect and confidence, brotherhood made bet
ter braver and grander by mutually cherished
and imperishable memories. To you, Gen. Rose
Grams, and the soldiers of the Army OF the Cum
berland. 1 come with a soldier s greeting On my
Speaking of those whom am called to repre-
sent, / D edge their earnest cooperation in the
sacred mission which convenes you and in all
things which pertain to the peace, welfare and
UNITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
In their name proclaim their eternal fealty to
the American constitution, which Is their pro-
tecting shield; to tie American republic, which
is the joint work of the fathers hands: to the
American Union of states, from which they
withdrew for their safety, but which, now that
the causes of diSSensions gone, they will
Loyalty and bravely defend for their future pro-
lection. We are here TO unito with you IN final
and eternal sepulture OF sectional hostility The
causes which produced alienation were long
since engulfed in the vortex of revolution be-
yond the power of resurrection. Let us there
fore bury the passions which these causes
evoked in still deeper grave. Let us bury the
foul spirit of dtscord so deep that no blast
of the partisan political trumpet. however wide
sounding and penetrating, can ever wake 1t to
service again, gainsay it who will. Since slavery
is abolished and the Chinese wall along the line
of &C. 80 is broken down, there is absolutely no
legitimate barrier Of separation and no cause for
rife. God speed the day when this truth shall
command recognition throughout the republic.
God speed the day when unworthy doubt shall
give place to universal trust, when unstinted
faith in the impeachable honor and patriotism
of the whole American people shall become the
essential passport to public station, when he
who fights least for party and most for G county
as :he wisest statesman and truest friend OF
| liberty.
The address of welcome was responded to
| by Gen. W. s. Rosecrans. Rosecrans was
| visbly affected over the eloquent and patr1-
otic language of Gen. Gordon, and spoke
| most feelingly of the grand sight and scene
presented, old Confederate and Federal
soldiers sitting side by side and engaging in
pleasant, friendly converse, and he prayed
| God that the day would soon come when the
last vestige of feeling over the war would be
| eradicated. He believed that this scene was
| an augury of the glorious success of the
| project to make the Chickamauga battle
| field a national park to appropriately mark
| the greatest battle of the civil war.
THE ASSOCIATION FORMED
After addresses the permanent organiza-
| tion of the Chickamauga Memorial associa-
| tion was formed. The crowd in attendance
| at the meeting was very enthusiastic and
the proceedings gave evidence that the
| movement will be a grand success Gen.
| Henry NJ. Cist of Cincinnati was elected tenn
porary chairman, and Maj Ed +. Manning
| secretary. After discussion of the objects
and pur poses of the association the following
officers were elected for four years:
| vice president, Gen. Joseph Wheeler of Ala
| bama; secretary, Gen. Marcus j. Wright of
| Washington: treasurer, Gen. J. S. Fullerton of
St. Louis; board Of directors, from the Union
| side G. G. Kniffen, G. w. Bishop, Henry NJ. Cist,
| G. M. Grosvenor, Fred Vandever, s. p Thursto on.
J. S. Fullerton, ]: J; Reynolds, J: T; Wilder, 4.
| G. McClung, A. Baird, S. G. Kellogg, w. s.
Rosecrans. H. v. Boynton: from the Confeder-
| ate side, Hon. Joseph Wheeler, c. R. Breckin-
ridge, Jesse T. Findlay. David H. Hill, E. L.
| Law, Marcus j. Wright, Roger @. Mills, George
| D. Wise. Alfred Fl. Colquttt, James Longstreet,
| Joseph H. Lewis Randall L. Gibson, Charles E.
Hooker, +. NJ. CockrelI.
The charter as prepared was ordered filed,
and the chairman instructed to accept il
when returned. large number of mem
bers of the association were enrolled. After
the meeting the barbecue took place, and ii
| was the most tremendous affair of the kind
ever known in this country. Thirty tables
each $50 feet long, were spread. All were
amply provided for. The day passed with
out the slightest jar or accident On the
train returning from the barbecue Gov
Gordon, commander of the association OF
Confederate veterans, issued an official order
for the association to meet in Chattanooga
on July next