The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-20
WHERE HEROES FELL
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE. ]

heart or burning tear on devoted wo-
mans cheok-all, all were contributors
to the up5uildipg Of q loftier American
manhood for the future defense Of
American freedom,
And now, by the authority Of the
american Congress and the Executive
D partme05 OF the Government; in the
presence Of these survivors of the great
struggle; in the midst Of this historic
woodland whose leaves were REDEEMED
with heroic blood, and whose giant oaks
Sill bear upon their shiv,red trunks the
visible track Of shot and shell; by these
flowing fountains, whose crystal waters
symbolic the purity Of purpose which
conyaues u8-il The presence Of all these
witnesses, and in the name of this great
republic and its people, we set apart, as
an American Mecca, and c0nsecrate for
ali time, this immortal battle ground,
made forever glorious by American
valor."
The next person introduced was Gen.
James A. Longstreet. Speaking of the
present political differences of the cOun-
try he said: "What we need is the resump-
ton of fraternity at the ratio of IS to
sixteen strong heart strikers of natur-
al esteem and love, to feeble, expiring
one of waning sectionalism-the hearty
restoration and cordial cultivation of
neighbOrly, brOtherly relatiOo-faith in
Jehovah and respect for each oJher; and
God grant that the happy vision that dc
lighted the soul Of the sweet singer in Is
rael may rest like q benedictiOn upon
the North and South, upon the blue
and the gray. Strengthen the army and
navy, look to the armamon.s OF our war
ships and render more efficient our
court defenses, in word, make the Uni
ted States the first naval power OF the
world, and when another landing of
England at Coriuto is attempred when
European coloniz ton is attempted when
European colonization in Venezuela is es-
saved; aud when British greed In Mica
rauga is repeated, or any other invasion
or entertainment of the Monroe doctrine
is threatened, the followers Of Lee and
Grant, the sons Of veterans Of the blue
and gray, some Decatur, Jones, Perry, |
Farragut, Semmes or Maffitt, upon the |
quarter deck of an American man of |
war viii unfurl the flag Of Washington, |
Lincoln, Grant and Lee in the English |
Channel, the Yankee hussar and the
Rebel yell will re8ound along the British |
coast
Gen, Longstreet was frequently inter
rupted by enthusiastic applause.
There was another big crowd in Bar
NUNS big tent tonight. 1t was grand |
reunion Of the Army of the Tennessee,
Union and Confederate. The big tent, |
which has held many large crowds, |
never before held one greater than that |
of to night.
Gen. Grenvilla NJ. Dodge, of the Sc
ciety of the Army Of the Tennessee, pre-
sided.
After music by the band and prayer,
he introduced the first speaker Of the
evening, Gen. 0. o. Howard, Of the |
United States army.
In the course Of his speech, Gen. |
Howard paid glowing tribute to the /
great generals both blue and gray, who /
participated in the battle of Chickamau- |
ga and continuing, he told Of the heroic |
American volunteer and the things he I
saw and experienced; of the scaling Of |
Lookout Mountain and the battle above ,
the clouds, Of the welcome news Of Lees |
surrender: Of LincOln's assassination /
and the return home Of the battle-ScarredI
veterans. After this he began to speak |
Of the present, skipping the lapse Of
thirty years. Then he described the |
grizzled and gray veteran to day; ne told |
of the pathetic scenes he had witnessed /
at reunions where veterans Of both sides |
we're present. The war was a necessity. /
Nothing human could have Warded it off. |
When Gen Howard had finished and I.
the applause had ceased there was music |
by the band aud then Gen. Joseph /
Wheeler, of Alabama, spoke.
Gen. Wheeler's address was q concise /
history of the war, and in conclusion, he
gave statistics comparing the principal |
battles of the civil war with these Of /
European nations, showing the number |
Of men engaged and the proportion of |
them who were killed and wounded.
Gen. Willard Warner, Chattanooga, /
was the next who addressed the gather
ing.
He said that nearly a generation had |
passed since we fought our last fight, |
that our battles have since been fought
over and over again until they have
double become wearisome to the pub !
lie, the curtain fell on us thirty years
ago and we passed to the judgment of
the world and history, and it is now about
time that we ceased talking.of the bloody
chasm and should talk peace and recon !
citation.
Continuing he referred to the gloomy
outlook of the South after the war, If the
rally and of its increasing prosperity. |
For the future he predicted shorter hours
of labor, greater wages and happiness
everywhere.