, 1896-07-01
REUNION OF THS GRAY.
GOVERNOR O'FERRALL'S IMPAS-
STONED ADDRESS TO EX-
CONFEDERATES.
EulogiZed the Spirits That Actuated
the South at the Big Meeting Now
Being Held at Richmond-Greet-
ed With a Mighty Rebel
Yell.

immense thrOng is present and the eX-
position grounds where the convention
is held is a large auditorium erected for
the purpose. The auditorium is crowd
ed. AS General Gordon showed his
face on the rostrum this morning a
mighty confederate yell went up and
the battle SCARED veterans received an
ovation.
Before the convention was called to
order General Gordon was presented
with a gavel made from a tree from the
battle field of Chicamaugua. Rev. J.
William Jones offered prayer to the
memory of Lee, Jackson and Davis.
GOVERNOR O'FERRALL.
Governor O'Farrall was introduced,
who on behalf of Virginia, welcomed
the veterans. He said:
Veterans and Comrades: You were
enlisted in these bands who wrote their
names in glory's skies and carved them
deep in the temple of fame: who made
the cause of the south so imperishable
~ II leLo"H VI mel al iuISS 81 ldull-
less. 1t was neither conquest nor pow
er for which you fought, it was in de-
Tense of home and country. The rights
for which the founders of this republic
struck were no more sacred to them
than the rights for which you struck
were dear to ou. If you were rebels,
so were the fathers Of constitutional
liberty a hundred and twenty years ago.
If you fought to sever your connection
with the union whose bonds were gall
ing so did the men now immortalized
in song and story when they snapped
the cord Of British allegiance in 1776.
If you had within a spirit hat would
not submit to wrong and dared to as
sert itself, it came to you by ancestral
inheritance or il foreign born you i'm
bibed it from the air you breathed."
He closed with an eulogy of Lee and
called attention to the fact that the
monument to him would be erected
without governmental aid.
General Gordon was next introduced
as the orator of the day. He said in
part:
Governor. Mr.. Mayor and General
Wise, Ladies' and My Confederate Com
rades: You will not wonder that l am
literally overwhelmed by the flood of
emotion which this scene evokes. AS
We look upon the grizzled locks and
furrowed brows Of these stalwart men
who 30 years ago were soldiers Of an
army which they immortalized by their
deeds, how utterly inadequate are
words of our lips to express the emo
tons of Ii hearts. Let me say to these
gentlemen who. in the name of this
great people, bid us welcome, that full
and cordial as is our appreciation of
this splendid reception. we are in no
sense surprised at it's princely munifi-
cence. We are not surprised. because
we know Virginia and Virginians.
Were we the recipients of this honor
to ex-soldiers, victorious armies bring
ing a grateful people the trophies OF
their triumph. the world would COM
prehend the meaning OF such a well
come as Is here extended; but they were
not victors in that Titanic struggle.
They were the shattered remnants of
long since disbanded armies which
leave no posterity, no accretions Of ter
| ritory, no receptions of public wealth
or of political power.
The legacy which these men leave to
their children is a record of untarished
honor and Of the most heroic defensive
| struggle in human annals, and the sole
compensation for their services and
| sufferings is that reward which noble
natures feel in such recognition by
their grateful countrymen.
And now, by the memory of that
white robed army of comrades who
have gone before us to the better land,
but whose spirits are with US today
and voicing the sentiment of the thou
sands who long to be with us. in their
name and as their representative l lay
at Virginia's feet the sincerest tribute
of our grateful hearts.
During the exercises Wade Hampton
came in and was received with cheers.
MAKING A BETTER RECORD.