The record-union., 1895-09-20

sense we cannot dedicate. We cannot
consecrate. We cannot hallow this
ground. The brave men living and dead
| who struggled here have consecrated il
| far above our power to add or detract.'
will detain you no longer from listening
10 the eloquent words of those who were
participants i'll the bloody struggle-the
sharers alike in its danger and its glory"
Prayer was then offered by the Right
! Rev. Bishop Caller of Tennessee.
America" was then sung by the audi
ence, accompanied by the band. The
volume OF sound rolled up as great
tidal wave. and long before the song
ended tears were coursing down the
cheeks of thousands of the old veterans.
General John NJ. Palmer. the venerable
Senator from illinois, made the first dedi-
catOry address. AT first his voice had q
| tremulous sound, but he became grand
! lily eloquent IS he advanced, and fre-
quently WAS applauded.
Another patriotic tune followed Gen.
eral Palmer's speech.
| Then that battle-scarred veteran of the
Coniederacy, whom Lee called his right
arm" John Is. Gordon OF Georgia, was
introduced. lie was greeted with 10 less
applause than was accorded General
Palmer, and spoke with fully as much
enthusiasm. feeling and patriotism.
Those who have heard General Gordon
before, said it was the effort OF his life.
General Gordon's address abounded
with patriotic sentiment, aud its eloquent
passages were roundly cheered.
General Gordon opened his address by
quoting "the illus, rious Charles Sum
ner's" proposal in the United States SEN
ate to strike from the batlle-flags of the
Union all mementos of our civil war. He
eulogiZed The broad and catholic spirit OF
patriotism which inspired that PROPOSE
tlon though he said Mr.. Sumner reasoned
as classical student rather than practl-
cal statesman. But Mr.. Sumner, he said,
was not the only statesman who then be-
iieved that the preservation OF war mem-
ories was the perpetuation of war pas
sions. lie was not the only one who
failed to appreciate The mighty changes
which were to be wrought in time or the
hsllowing effects of great trials and sor-
rows upon the tempers of a people. or the
elevatlng, ennobling and unifying power
of our Christian civilization and free ln-
stitutions.
General Gordon closed an impassioned
and eloquent peroration as follows:
Every uniform worn by the brave,
whether its color were blue or gray;
every sheet of flame from the ranks and
rifles of both sides; overy cannon That
shook Chickamauga'S Mills or thundered
around the nights OF Gettysburg; every
whiZZing shell that tore through the
Wilderness, at Charlottesville or Shiloh;
every bullet-rent flag that tioated in
victory or went down in defeat on any
field; evory patriotic song or prayer
waited heavenward from the North or
the South; every loving and tender min
islering at the dying soldiers side; every
agoniZlng throb III wOman's heart or
burning tear on devoted WOman's cheek
all were contributions TO the uplifting
of American manhood for the future de-
tense OF American freedom.
Forever live the spirit which animated
the American Congress III making possi-
bic this inspiring hour. and may the
spirit of this hour abide in the hearts Of
our descendants through all generations.
And now, by the authority OF the
American Congress and the Executive
department 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
still bear upon their shlvered trunks the
visible trace OF shot and shell, by these
flowing fountains, whose crystal waters
symbolic the purity of purpose which
convenes us-in The presence of ell these
witnesses, and in the name OF this great
republic and lis people, we set apart as
an American Mecca, and cousecrate Tor
all time this immortal battle-ground,
made forever glorious by American
valor."
General Gordon's thrilling close was
the signal for an outburst of applause
lasting several minutes, during which
there were calls from the spectators for
Mckinley and Morton, the programme
for speeches from the visiting Governors
being next in order. This was mingled
with cries fQr Longstreet, and that old
veteran, still erect and vigorous despite
his 7S years, was Introduced by Vice
President Stevenson.
Before he began, however, General
Gordon again claimed the attention of
crowd. Holding aloft his hand he said
II have here button drenched with
blood, TAX en- from the coat OF poet-soldier
George Lyle, author of the well-known
lines beginning, L am Dying, Egypt,
Dying who fell on this immortal fold.
IL was cut from his coat hy G. T.. Lind
say, color bearer OF the Eighteenth Miss
issippl Regiment. who authorizes me to
present to any friend of that hero who
will cherish it aud hand it dow II TO pos
terity."
Turning TO Attorney General Harmon,
a resident of Cincinnati, which was also
George Lytle's home, General Gordon
presented il to him.
Subsequently General Sias Mofort of
Cincinnati informed General Harmon
that General Lytle's nephew, son of bis
sister, was present on the ground, and
Mr.. Harmon sent the precious relic TO
him. Another relative of George Lytle,
who was soldier also. was found to be
present.
This incident having closed. General
Longstreet made a short address, which,
unfortunately, was delivered in 81 low a
fopa 40 ~ lao iuaudibla altar tho fas-
sentences more than dozen feet away.
Cries were renewed for Iavorite Gov
ernOrs, but Vice President Stevenson
presented Lieutenant-Geueral Schofield.
tho said: Our lorefataers who framed
the Constitution lett on record the fact
that by so doing they sought TO establish
moro perfect union OF the States. They
laid a broad foundation, bat the union
remained imperfect. 1t was eft for you
to debate for four yea.-s the questions
unsettled 10y tho fathers. and, after a ter
riblv earnest argument, TO settle them.
In the history OF this continent there
now exists united, happy and hartno-
niols people. That perfect union has
now been established by the services
which you laid at the feet of our common
country"
At this point, the heat being intense,
Governor Morton felt compelled to re.
tire. and his departure, accompanied by
his imposing and numerous staff, was
taken 10y many of the audience 10 mean
the completion Of the programme. The
was that the G.. ..ercises were
abruptly aud somewhat unex peciodly
brought 10 a close.
The occasion, despite the intense heat
and the immense crowd in attendance,
passed oil without single unpleasant
feature or incident.
ARMY OF THE TENN ESSEE.
General Granville NJ. Dodge, President
of the Society OF tie Army OF the Ten
nessee, presided over the reunion OF the
survivors OF tae army OF that name who
served in either the Union or Confederate
rnnka which closed tie nrnceedi iIrs of