The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1896-07-08
CONFEDERATE REUNION.
Immense Throng Of 'Johnnics' Assem-.
bic i'll Historic Richmond

Richmond, Va, June 30.-The
confederate reunion opened today
with charming weather. An i'm
mensc throng WAS present. AS GEN
eral Gordon showed his face on the
rostrum, this morning, a mighty con-
federate yell went up.
Before the convention was called
to order, General Gordon was pre-
sented with gavel made from tree
from the battlefield of Chickamauga.
Rev. j. William Jones offered prayer
to the memory OF Lee, Jackson and
Davis.
Governor O'Farrell was introduced
and, on behalf Of Virginia, welcom-
ed the veterans. Governor O'Far-
rell said "Vcterans and comrades:
You were enlisted in these bands
| who wrote their name in glory's
skies and carved them deep in the
temple Of fame; who made the cause
Of the south so impcrishablc and the
renOWn OF her armies SO faultless.
1t was neither conquest nor power
for which you fought: it was in de-
fense Of home and country. The
rights for which the founders Of this
republic struck were more more
sacred to them than the rights for
which You struck were dear to YOU
II you were rebels, 50 were the faith
ers of constitutional liberty Of l20
years ago. If you sought to sever
your connections with a union whose
bonds were CALLING, SO did the men
now immortalizcd in song and story
when they snapped the cord Of Brit
ish allegiance, in 1876. If you had
within spirit that would not sub
nit to Wronge and dared to assert
itself it came to you by ancestral in
heritance, or, if foreign born, you
imbibed it from the air you breath
cd" He closed with an eulogy Of
Lee and called attention to the fact
that the monument to him would be
erected without governmental aid.
While Governor O'Farrel1 was
speaking, Wade Hampton came in
and was received with cheers At
the conclusion Of the governors ad-
dress, Mayor Taylor delivered in adj
dress Of welcome on behalf Of the
city.
Gen. Gordon introduced Gen. Pey-
ton Wise, to turn over to the vet
Grams the building in which the con-
vention is being held. Several times
during the day there had been calls
for a speech from Gen. Hampton.
When Gen. Wise took his seat the
calls were renewed and the South
Carolinian walked to the front Of
the stage. The band struck I'D
"Dixie' while the whole audience
arose and applaudcd. A veteran
passed to the front, bearing an old
battle flag that had been shot through
in many places and waved it before
Tue vast tlsseuDla2e. W,1uu uc1r.
Hampton was permitted to speak he
said words, could not express his
gratitude for the great honor which
had been done him. He had come to
minglc with the veterans, perhaps
for the last time, and to do honor to
the memory OF that great man,
President Davis. The general said
he would still be fighting now if the
confederate flag was waving. (Grcat
applause). He had no apology to
make for his course, In conclusion
he said the only cpitaph he wanted
written on his tombstone was that
he was a confederate soldier.
Gen. Gordon responded to the ad-
dress Of welcome and received the
building on behalf Of the veterans.
Gen. Gordon's speech was in part I
as follows: "Govcrnor, Mr.. Mayor,
General Wise, Ladies and my Con-
fedcratc comrades: You will not
wonder that / am literally over
whe]mcd by the flood of emotions
which this scene cvolies. AS we look
upon the grizzlcd locks and furroWcd
broWs Of these stalWarts who 30 years:
ago were soldiers of an army which
they immortalizcd by their deeds,
how utterly inadequate are words to
express the emotions OF our hearts.
No popular assemblies Of Intelligent
and high spirited citizens in the
worlds history were frecr from parti-
zan zeal or self seeking spirit, or ig-
noble jealousy, or sinister intent,
and the muse Of history will yet en-
balm in one OF her sweetest stories
the unscltish character and exalted
aims Of these confederate gatherings.
The pathos Of that recital will be
lecpcncd by its simplicity and it's
beauty heightened by the lesson
which it will teach to humanity.
That story will record the simple
out sublime truth that these re-
Unions year after year convey the in
lisputablc proofs that these broad
men were neither cnbittercd
nor disappointed, nor warped by po-
lt1cal passions, nor narrowed by Sec
jional prejudice, nor blinded to the
common interests Of country by self
sh aims, but that, made unsclfsh
~ suffcriEgs, broadcncd and enoblcd
oy sacrifice, refined and purified by
jhc fires of at1liction, they embrace
Is a brother every true love of their
country and acknowledge no super
ors in devotion to the commonwealth
md unfaltcring support to the laws /
md the flag: and honor and the free
ION Of this American republic.
"And now, by the memory Of that
White robed army OF comrades who 5
lave gone before us to the better
and, but whose spirits arc with us
oday, and yoicing the sentiments {
If thousands who long to be with us, t
n their name and as their represcn-
ativc lay at \'jrgina's feet the {
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