The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-20
BLUE AND CRAY Meeting
Notable Gathering on the Battlefield
Of Chickamauga.
HEROES OF NORTH AND SOUTH
The Governors OF Thirteen States Take
Part In the Excrciscs-An Assem-.
blage Of Greatness Uncquaiied
in History Various Addresses.

Dattlellclu OF SnlCkdHlduSa, but ip',
as then, amid the mist of leaden hail
which marked those dreadful days OF
lS6S, making the conflict the most dis
astrous in its casualties to those con-
cerned which history knows.
Under one flag. are united host. de-
voted to the advancement and pros
perity of one common country, the
veteran foemen of third of Il century
ago met today to dedicate AS a national
park the ground made sacred by the
blood of heroes who fought at their
side.
The exercises were held on an inn
mense stand built near the obserVa-
ton tower on Snodgrass hill. the center
of the deadly opening day conflict. Be
sides the federal officials. including
Secretaries Herbert and Smith. Post
master General Wilson. Attorney Gen.
eral Harmon and congressman present.
there were the following governors or
states, some being accompanied by
their stats and members of the COM
missions from the several states ap-
pointed to act with the national COM
mission in locating monuments ana
markers.
w. c. Oates. alabama: w, Y Atkin.
son, Georgia: j. =. Altgeld. Illinois;
Claude Matthews, Indiana: r.. M. Nor
rill. Kansas; f. T. Greenhalge. Massa-
chusetts: j. T. Rich. Michigan; $. A.
Holcomb, Nebraska; G. T. Werts. New
Jersey; Levi z. Morton. New York;
William Mckinley, Ohio; Peter Turney.
Tennessee: Urban A. Woodbury.. Ner-
mont.
Promptly at noon a salute OF forty
four guns announced the beginnin" or
the execution of the programme so long
arranged and looked forward to. Mu-
sic by the band of the Fourteenth regi-
ment in camp on the field followed. and
at subsequent intervals 1t also was
heard with delight
Gathering Never EqGallcd.
The gatherings on the stage as the
cannon began its booming was one
that was probably never equalled In
the country and the gathering of spec
tators was worthy of it. They num-
bered thousands. who applauded their
favorites as they appeared. The most
notable arrival and reception was that
which brought together Governor Nc
Kinley ard General James I.ongstreet,
the confederate general. "A unique pic
ture was the greeting between Cover
nor Morton, of New York and his sue
cesscr in the vice-president's chair. Mr..
Stevenson. There was congestion of
greatness on the platform. which al
most bafl,eG the best efforts of Cen
erals Fullerton and Boyrton to relieve,
but finally they were all duly set in
order and semblance of quiet secured.
General ]. S. Fullerton. chairman of
the National Park association. and as
such, Secretary Lamonts representa-
tive charged with the duty Of direct
ing of dedicatory services, introduced
Stevenson. who presid-
ed in the absence of the secretary OF
war
Vice Presidents speech.
Mr.. Stevenson was received with loud
applause as he came TO the front of the
platform. The vice-president SAID:
This Is the fitting hour for the august
ceremonies We now .naugurate. Today,
by act of congress of the United States,
the Ch.camauga and Chattanooga Nj
t,onal Military park IS forever set apart
for all common uses, solemnly dedicated
for all ages to all American people. The
day is ausp.c!ous 1t notes the anniver-
sary of one of the greatest battles known
to history. Here, IN the dread tribunal of
the last resort, valor contended against
valor. Here brave men struggled and
died for the right as God gave them to see
the right.
Th;rty-two years have passed and our
eyes now behold the public spectacle of
the honored survivors of the great battle
coming together upon these heights once
more. They meet not in deadly conflict.
but as brothers under one fiag-fellOw c.ti-
Zens of "a common country, all grateful to
God that In the supreme struggle the gov
'ernment of our fatherss-Our common
hertage--was triumphant and that to all
of the coming generations of our country
men 1t will remain an individabe union of
,ndestruct BILE states.
I,, lar "a p1 70 W "a
cannot cOnsecrate, we cannot hOllaw this
ground The brave men, living or dead,
who struggled here have consecrated 1t
far above our power to add or detract.
! will deta,n you no longer from listen
ing to the eloquent words of these who
were participants in the bloody struggle
the sharers alike in its danger and It's
glory.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Stevenson
speech, prayer was offered by the RI.
Rev. Bishop Galore, of Tennessee. after
which the great audience Of 10000 peo-
pie joined in singing america" and
AUD Lang Syne.'
When the strains of the sweet Scotch
melody died away. General John NJ
Palmer, the venerable senator from H.
linois, was introduced, and he made an
eloquent address.
Senator GOrdOn's Relic.
When Senator John B. Gordon, OF
Georgia, was introduced he was ap-
pbauded to the echo and his conciliatory
spec ch upon the issues Of the wal
earned him further prolonged applause
When he concluded cries arose for
Longstreet, and that old veteran, still
erect and vigorous despite his Is years
was introduced by Vice President Stev-
cnson. Before he began, however, Gen
.Gnl N.V d..sn .I..t. IL
tiOn OF the crowd. Holding alOft his
hand he said: II have here button
drenched with blood taken from the
coat of poet soldier, George Lytle
author Of the well-known lines begin.
ming ~ Am Dying, Egypt Dying" who
fell on this immortal field II was Gu,
from his coat by G. G.. Lindsay. color.
bearer of the Tenth mississippi regi.
ment, who authorizes me to present tc
any friend of that hero who will accent
and cherish II and hand II down to pos.
terhy."
From this battlefield. he continued
II appeal to my comrades In gray anl
Their sons. to lock shields with the blie
and their sons. to prevent any future oc
cupat.On by Great Britain In Venezuela
and resist any further coercion BY Eng
land OF Nicaragua. and In fairness to thu
president and his able secretary of wal
" tue SttItthTy VI the navy VINO
fought with me at the Wilderness in 1851
J will say. had we been fully prepared
that British gunboat would never hav,
landed at COrintO. II we had possessed {
navy strong enough to cope with Eng
,land, the American flag would hay,
foated from the tOpmast. the deck.
cleared for acton and bristling guns fron
an American man-of-war hoarsely thun
dered the grand doctrine of 1916. There I.
useful lesson In the occurrence
Strengthen the army and navy, look L
the armaments of our warships and rem
der more efficient our seacoast defenses
In other words make the United State.
the first naval power Of the world ant
when another landing by England O
Corinto Ia attempted, when European col
on.zation in Venezuela is essayed. ant