Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-18
GEN. LEEIN GEORGIA.
THE FIRST STATE TO 90 OFFICIAL
HONOR TO His MEMORY.
How Grady Elected Gordon and confed-
crate Legisisture--That Body DesiE-
mated the 10Th Legal Holiday.
rspeci.l ,oleeram o me pIspa.ch.l


ATLANTA, Ga, January 17.-Georgia
claims TO be the first of the southern
States TO do formal, official honor to tk
memory of General Robert Z. Lee.
Two years ago the State Legislature set
aside the 10Th day Of January as legal
holiday. That Legislature was composed
for the most part of ex-Confederate yete-
rams, men who had found their way into
that body on the same wave which had
borne Gordon into the governorship I'M
der such striking circumstance.
Indeed il was the obstacle which checked
the Farmers Alliance sentiment, which at
that time was as strong in Georgia as IL
became later. Major Bacon was riding INTO
the governorship on the popular wave ana
il looked as if there was no chance 10
stop it.
GRADY AND GORDON.
Mr.. Henry w. Grady was then at the
height of his power and General Gordon
was in practical exile in New YORK city'
One night while Hugh Gordon, the Cen
erals brother, was visiting Mr.. Grady the
latter turned to him quickly and said
"Hugh, let's bring the General back and
put him in the field tor Governor"
Remembering the circumstances OF
General Gordon's retirement from the
Senate and how the people viewed IT the
question was startling one. 10 aslightly-
expressed fear of success Mr.. Grady OF
once said:
"Just let me show the Scared face OF
General Gordon to the people OF Georgia
and will defy any one to beat himl"
WE WILL MAKE YoU GOVERNOR.
A oorresnondence resulted, which finally
narrowed down to the proposition from
General Gordon that il Mr.. Grady could
make his associates on the Constitution a
unit for him he would trust his fortunes in
the hands OF the brainy young Journalist:
This was agreed to, and the next seen or
General Gordon was in Captain HowelPs
Office in the Constitution building. 1ehe-
raj Gordon was TO take the evening tram
for Montgomery. where ne was 20 ueilve ;
the address on the reception Oh eA-rIe
dent Jefferson Davis.
I'VE will make you Governor" said Mr.
Grady, "but no mention of your intention
must be made from Montgomery. Your
address and movements there must be re-
sponsiye 10 the occasion which makes that
CITY for the next four days the Mecca OF
all southern people. Catching the spirit
of that occasion the Constitution VIII nave
you heralded forth as the candidate Tor
Governor on the revival of Confederate
enthusiasm"
a
From that point it was a ,pyrotechnlc
campaign. The fire ktndled IN Mont
| gomery and spread over Georgia. Mr.
Grady arranged special schedules on every
railroad in Georgia and sent Gordon
hither and thither TO appear before care
| fully worked-up audiences. At trst the
| contest was doubtful, but the dash OF the
Gordon campaign triumphed. AT every
appointment he was met by one-arned ana
| one-lePged veterans. The cause OF Gor-
don and the cause of the Confectionery be-
came one. and finally. when Gordon
reached the gubernatorial mansion, the
| Confederate Veterans Association OF
Atlanta made an exception in their rules
| for membership and placed upon their
rolls the name of Henry W. GRADY, the
| only member who had not been in actual
fight.
TO HONOR THE NAME OF LEE.
To LEGISLATURE elected under such cir
| cumstances it may well be supposed tnat
| Confederate memories would materlailZe
into something practical. The consequence
was fine DESIGNATION of General Lees birth
| day as a State holiday, lin order as the
author of the resolution said, that our
children, and our children's children might
| not only learn to honor the name OF Lee,
| but that associated with 1t would be the
cause in defence of which Robert L. Lee
achieved immortality"
BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL PROGRAMME.
The coming 18th of January will be cele-
| brated in the city of Columbus in man.
uer which is destined TO become general,
because of its appropriate character. The
| BOARD of Education of that city has re-
| solved that hereafter at noon on the 18TH
| of each January the school-children shall
gather AT their respective school-houses,
| where the teachers shall have arranged pro-
prammes treating of the life and character
| of General Lee, as well as suitable Lessons
concerning the late war Our chlldren,
said a prominent citizen, SHOULD not have
| their minds poisoned by northern ntera-
| ture. nor should their hearts be allowed 10
crow cold toward the cause for which their
fathers gave up their lives"
THE VIRGINIA SOCIETY.
In Atlanta the demonstration will par
| take OF a public character. The presence
i'm the CITY of several hundred Virginisns
who occupy places of prominence IN every
walk in life has given existence to VIZ
einian society, OF which Hon. HAMILTON
| Douglas is president. The day Will be
celebrated by q mass-meeting 10 the state
Capitol at 8 o'clock at night, when Captain
| Gordon McCabe will deliver an address.
This will be followed by banquet IN the
Kimball House, where speeches Will De oe-
liyered by Captain McCabe, Goyernor
Eorthen, General Gordon, Mayor Hemp
hill. and other well-known citizens.