The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-23

HOUSTON, lex, may 22 Rain began
falling at daylight with chilly east
winds and poured down steadily during
the morning, disarranging many events
In the United Confederate Veterans
program. About noon the weather
cleared and the city presented a gals
appearance.
1t WAS IL o'clock when w. D. Cleve-
land opened the first business OF the
session and introduced Governor Gull
berson, who in glowing words well
coined the veterans to Texas.
Mayor John T. Brown followed, ex.
tending the hospitality of Houston.
Gen. John d. Gordon replied to the ad-
dress of welcome in behalf of the
United Confederate Veterans.
In the course of his remarks, after
paying glorious tribute to Texas
hospitality, Gen. Gordon said: The
assembling OF these war SCARED veters
ans in this war scared state, re- calls
striking contrast in their war histories.
Sixty years ago Texas won her fight
for independence. Thirty years ago
these ex Oonfederates lost their fight
for separate nationality, but Texas,
victorious, was not moro glorious and
grand than were these brave men
around me in their overwhelming de
feat.
"TeXas victorious won her way to
Statehood and place IN the front rank
Of States. These Confederates, crushed
and disbaneed as soldiers, addressed
themselves to the duties of citizens,
with conservatism 30 conspicuous,
patriotism 30 true and broad, fidelity
to the decisions Of battle, so unques-
toned and sincere as to challenge the
confidence and esteem Of patriots in
every section Of the Union.
This leads mo to recall three res
merkable achievements of these ex-
Confederates in peace, which impartial
history will pronounce a fitting climax
to their splendid record In war. The
hrst Is the reconstruction, mainly
through your instrumentality, of the
labor system Of our entire section. You
returned from long, eXhausting and
unsuccessful struggle to find the agri-
cultural labor OF your StateE not only
disorganized, but a system Ito the
management and control of which YOU
were born and trainsd) WAS utterly de-
sroyed. Yet you hereically undertook
the task of Its reorganization under q
new system, and of adapting yourselves
to the new order. Tho success Of your
efforts Is the noblest commentary upon
your wisdom and justice. With no
power TO control that hitherto gerviie
labor, and no money to pay for it, YOU
successfully guided 1t to plane OF
self support and to vastly Increased
production OF the South's great staple.
The second is your astounding sue
cess in securing in spite of the radical
revolution in the conditions around you
and In 30 short period, financial inde-
pendence for your families, and indus
trial prosperity for your section. You
returned from the war poor, tens OF
thousands of you psnpiless, many shot
and manned and yet bravely and uncom-
plainingly, by laboring with aid from
no source save from God and your self
reliant manhood, you have fought your
way to competence, provided for your
disabled comrades, unsil scarcely Con-
federate soldier can be found deprived
Of the comforts of life. At she same
time your com binod efforts have carried
these Southern States to the height of
material Advancement from which you
may now calmly look back over land
which but thirty years ago was 6 wide
waste of desolstion and aahes, and
around you over country now happy
nits rebuilt homes and redeemed farms,
radiant in the light of ind ussrial resur-
rection and assured prosperity and
enduring material Independence.
THE third achievment is the passions
less, uEossentatioue and peecciul man
ner in which you laid aside the trap
pings and discipline of the camp for The
modest garb of the citizen and silent
restraint OF civil governments. For this
marvellous exhibition of self command
under supremest trials, for shis COM
plete burial OF all sectional bitterness,
for the gradual but certain transmitting
OF your vslor and devotion exhibited in
defense of the flag that fell into un.
challenged loyalty to the flag that
sriumphed-for alf these evidences of
the loftiest attributes Of citizenship you
will yet fad your reward In ,he uni.
versal plaudits Of your eountrymen, IS
IL Is already secured In the power, pros
Rress and cherished freedom OF our re-
united republic.
go forward. nay comrades, and by
aelf-denial, by wise economy and we'll
directed energy, continue the material
developments of this heaven blessed
section, until abu ndanoe shall be found
In every homo and the whole land shall
rejoice in your industrial eriumphs. Go
forward in the cultivation of q national
fraternity, giving no heed to imprudent
or thoushtloss efforts to stimulate Sec
tional animosity in any quarter.
81 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 assured, my Confed-
crate comrades. that the Overwhelming
majority OF the Grand Army of the Re-
public, composed OF soldiers who were
hrava In bo ond ara pn.o.o,.