The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-07-01
CONFEDERATE RETNlON.
Men Who Wore the Gray in Con-
vention at Richmond.
GOVERNOR O'FBRRALLs WELCOME.


man Whom Posterity viii Honor-Gen-
eral Gordon's Touching Tribute to the
Veterans of the Southern Armies.
RICHMOND, Va, July 1.-The Confed-
crate reunion opened yesterday with
charming weather, An immense throng
is present, and the exposition grounds,
where the convention is held in a large au-
ditorium erected for the purpose, is
crowded. The auditorium is handsomely
decorated As General Gordon showed
his face on the rostrum a mighty cheer
went up and tho battle SCARED veteran re-
ceived an ovation.
Before the convention was called to or
der General Gordon wns presented with
gavel made from tree from the battle
field of Chicamauga Rev. j. William
Jones offered fervent prayer to the God of
Lee and jackson and Davis General
Gordon, without making a speech, intro
duced Governor O'Ferrall, who on behalf
of Virginia welcomed the veterans He
paid an eloquent tribute to jefferson
Davis, concluding as follows:
Tn Calmer years, when the last ember
of sectional feeling has burned out and
the last cord of love has gently bound the
hearts of all Americans together, fathers
will bring their little children to this spot
and tell them the story of n pure, great
man, who suffered for his people and for
the right as they understood it, and how
for this they loved him as they loved no
other. Long as yonder noble river shall
roll It's tide to the sea it shall behold no
man more kingly. May the story of his
life be sweet in days to come, and at last
all men come to understand Jefferson
Davis"
While Governor OFerrall was speak
ing Wade Hampton came in and waspre-
sented by General Gordon. He was re-
ceived with cheers, lasting several min
utes AT the conclusion Of the governors
address Mayor Richard Nj. Taylor deliv-
cred an address of welcome on behalf Of
the city of Richmond.
General Gordon introduced General Pey
ton Wise to turn over to the veterans the
building in which the convention is being
held General Wise made an eloquentad-
dress in performing this task. Several
times during the day there had been calls
for speech from General Hampton. When
General Wise took his seat the calls were
renewed, and the South Carolinian walked
TO the front of the stage.
The band struck up Dixie" while the
whole audience arose and applauded. A
veteran was passed to the front bearing
an old battle1ag that had been shot
through in many places and waved it be
fore the vast assemblage. When General
Hampton was permitted to speak some
one cried Louder, louder"
II used to be able to speak loud enough
to make you charge replied General
Hampton. Words, he said, could not ex-
] Ii c,Y bn
which had been done him, He had come
TO mingle with the veterans, perhaps for
the last time, and do honor to the mem
ory of that great man, President Davis
! The general said he would be still fight
ing now if the Confederate flag We're way
ing. He had no apology to make for his
course When his state called upon him
he went into war as "A private and served
his country as best he could
General Gordon responded to the address
of welcome and received the building on
behalf of the veterans. He spoke in part
as follows:
"You will not wonder that l am liter
ally overwhelmed by the flood Of emotions
which this scene evokes As we look upon
the grizzled locks and furrOwed brows of
these men who thirty years ago were sol
diers of an army which they immortalized
by their deeds how utterly inadequate are
the words of our lips to express the emo
tions of our hearts, Let me say to these
gentlemen who in the name of this great
people bid us welcome that full and cor
dial as is our appreciation of this splen-
did reception, we are in no sense surprised
at its princely munifcence. We are not
surprised, because we know Virginia and
Nirginians.
'Were the recipients of these honors ex-
soldiers of victorious armies, bringing to
a grateful people the trophies of their
triumphs, the world would comprehend
the meaning of such a welcome as is here
extended; but they were not the victors in
that Titanic struggle. They are the shat
tered remnants of long since disbanded
armies, which leave to posterity no accre-
tions of territory, no receptions of public
wealth or of political power The legacy
which these men leave TO their children
and people isa record of untarnished honor
and of the most heroic defensive struggle
in human annals.
son the other hand, no popular assem-
blies of intelligent and high spirited citi-
zens in the worlds posterity were freer
from partisan zeal or self seeking spirit,
or ignoble iealousies or sinister intent,
and the muse OF history VIII yeu einDilln,
in one of her sweetest stories, the abso-
lutely unselflsh character and exalted
aims of these Confederate gatherings. The
Ipathos of that recital will be deepened by
its simplicity and its beauty heightened
by the lesson which it will teach to hui
manity
"These broad minded men, broadened
and ennobled by sacrifice, refined and
purified in the fires Of affection, embrace
as a brother every true lover of their coun-
try, and acknowledge no superiors in de-
votion to the commonweal and in unfal-
tering support 10 the laws, the flag, the
honor and the freedom of this American
republic"
After the announcement Of the commit
Zee on credentials General Stephen d. Lee
was introduced TO present the report OF
the committee on history Ii was a
lengthy paper, and dealt with the whole
subject of histories The report recon-
mended the establishment of a chair of
la !,