The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-23
Interesting Address Delivered by Gen
John II. Gordon, COMMANDMENTS
Chief OF the Association.
TRUE CAUSE OF THE WAR"
REPORT OF THE HISTORICAL COM
MITTEE ON THE SUBJECT.
Abolition of Slavery, 1t Is Said, Was
an AfterthOught-AnO Ovation to the
"Daugbter of the Confederacy.-

the pleasures of the day and caused an en-
tire change in the programme for the first
day of the reunion of Confederate veterans
The meeting was to have begun at
o'clock but it was after IL o'clock when
Colonel w. ID. Cleveland opened the cere-
monies. After prayer by DR.. J. William
Jones. of Virginia, chaplain-general. Gov
ernor Culberson was introduced, and he
welcomed the veterans to Texas In five
minute address. Mayor Brown followed
with a few brief words OF welcome, and
then Colonel Cleveland introduced General
John Il. Gordon, commander-in-chief of the
United Confederate Veteran Association.
There were eight thousand people in the au-
ditorium and many outside unable to
gain admttance. When General Gordon
rose TO speak the band struck up Dixie
bit it's strains could not be heard so great
was the din raised by the vocal demonstra-
ton given the General. When quiet had
been partly restored the General said:
The assembling of these war-scarred vet
erans in this Nar-scarred State recalls
striking contrast in their war histories
fight for independence. Thirty years
ago these ex-Confederates lost their
Texas. victorious, was not more glorious
and grand than were these brave men
around me. in their overwhelming defeat.
Texas. victorious, won her way to state
hood and place in the front rank of
States. These Confederates, crushed and
disbanded as soldiers. addressed themselves
TO the duties of citizens with conservatism
so conspicuous. a patriotism so true and
broad, a fidelity to the decision or battle so
uDquestioned and sincere as to challenge the
confidence and esteem OF patriots In every
section of the Union,
This leads me to recall three remarkable
achievements by these ex-Confederates i'm
imnavtial history u
nounce fitting climax TO their splendid
record in war. The first is the reconstruc-
OF the labor system of entire section:
You returned from long. exhsusting and
unsuccessful struggle TO find the agricul-
tural labor of your States not only dis
organized system tto the management and
control of which you were born and
trained), IL was utterly destroyed. Yet you
heroically undertook the task of reorgan-
izing a new system and of adapting your.
selves to that new order. The success OF
your efforts is the noblest commentary
power TO control that hitherto servile Ia
Dor, and no money to pay for II, YOU
successfully, guided it to plane of self
support and to vastly increased production
OF the Souths great staple.
The second Is your astounding success in
securing in spite Of the radical sa S revolution On
short a period. financial independence for
your families and industrial prosperity for
your section. You returned from the war
poor tens of thousands of you penniless,
many shot and manned. and yet bravely
and uncomplainingly by lsboring with aid
from no source save from God and your
own self-reliant manhood, you have fought
your way TO competence: provided for your
disabled comrades. until scarcely Con-
federate soldier can be fouEd deprived OF
the comforts of life. At the same time
your combined efforts have carried these
Southern states to height of material
advancement, from which YOU may now
calmly look back over land which but
thirty years ago was a wide waste or des-
olation and ashes, and around you. over
country now happy in its built homes and
redeemed farms. radiant in the light of in
dustrial resurrection. of assured prosperity
and enduring material independence.
1.-THE third achievement is the passionless,
unostentatous and peaceful manner in
which you laid aside the trappings and dis
cipline of the camp for the modest garb
of the citizen and silent restraints of civil
government. For this marvellous exhibition
of self-command under supremest trials. for
ness, for the gradual but certain trans
mutingf Of your valor and devotion, eX-
hbited in defense of the flag that fell into
unchallcnged loyalty to the flag that tri-
umphed-for all these evidences of the lofti-
est attributes of citizenship you Will vet
OF your cOuntrymen. as it is already Sc
cured in the power, progress and cherished
freedom of our reunited Republic.
Forward, my comrades, and by self-de-
nai. by wise economy and well-tiirected en-
ergy continue the material development of
this heaven-blessed section until abundance
land shall rejoice in your Industrial tri-
umphs. Go forward in the cultivation of
national fraternity; giving no heed TO
late sectional animosites in any quarter.
II rejoice in the privilege of bearing to
you fraternal greetings from the great body
of brave men who confronted you in battle
1t has been my fortune recently to mingle
with those men in every section. BE as
sured my Confederate comrades, that the
overwhelming majority of the Grand Army
of the Republic, composed of soldiers who
were brave in battle and are generous in
peace, courageous. knightly and true, bear
toward your neither lingering bitterness nor
sentiments of distrust. Whatever of un-
timely passion may here and there exist
from any cause will be of short duration
and comparatively harmless in the pres
ence of your continued conservatism. and
the country ii will vanish like vapors be-
fore the morning SUM-"
TRUE CAUSE OF THE WAR.
At the conclusion of General Gordon's
address committees on credentials and reso-
lutions were appointed, and then General
s. u. Lee, as chairman of the historical
committee. read his report. which, among
other things. said:
'The true cause of the war between the
States was the dignified withdrawal of the
Southern States from the Union to avoid
the continued breaches of that domestic
tranquility guaranteed but not consum-
mated by the Constitution. and not the
high moral purpose of the North TO destroy
slavery, which followed incidentally after
as a war measure.
LAS TO the Itself and the results of
the war. the children of the future would
be astonished that people fought so hard
and SO long with so little TO fight for. judg-
ing from what they gather from histories
now in use prepared by writers from the
North. They are utterly destitute of in
formation as to events leading to the war
Their accounts OF the numbers engaged
courage displayed. sacrifices endured hard
ships encountered and barbarity practiced
uDon an almost defenseless people whose
arms bearing population was i'm the army
are incorrect in every way.
"A people who for four long years fought
over almost every foot of their territory on
odds OF 2,sSi.27s enlisted men against their
eN0N enlisted men and their coasts block
AIDED and rivers filled with gunboats. with
six hundred vessels OF war. manned by ~, =
c09 sailors, and who protracted the strug-
gle until over one-half of their soldiers
were dead from casualties of war, had
something TO fight for. They fought for
the great principle of local sef-government
and the privilege of managing their own
affairs and for the protection of their
homes and tiresides.
while the South would detract not an
iota from the patriotic motive and en-
dsavor of those opposing them. she in
tends that the truth OF history shall be
written by a sympathetic and friendly pen.