The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-08-27

Tm to introduce to you one
whoseN reputation as Southern
soldleE for gallantry is near to that
Of Ge1leral Lee, and when the last
day oK the Confederacy came at APP
pama%ox, he laid aside his star as
gener2l, surrendered his sword for
the plSaYshare, and at once became
the clP Il leader of our men.
StaTeadling first in the affections Of
his peG1ge, he was elected the chief
executed of his state, and is now a
distinguished member of the United
Statek Senate, where his captivating
words iey;d his charming manner
NAB 10 A11 sinfluential and popular.
And if we should ask him what he
considers the most ilIustrious period
of his life, he would say the four
years he spent in camp and on the
battle field. While many Of us
know he was wrong, yet none Of us
can doubt the motive which inHu-
enced him to fight for the truth as
he understood it.
1t was on Maryland soil, at An
tietam, when the flag which foated
over his regiment was forced back
across the Potomac, that he received
those wounds and displayed that
courage, which led to those promo
tons step bv step until he reached
the rank of acknowledgement. He
is now lover of that flag, "whose
broad stripes and bright stars wave
over this peaceful land, and he is as
fearless in denouncing wrong dong
and as ready to assist in putting
down violence against this country
as he was earnest IN the support Of
the lost cause.
Intimately associated with Gen
eral Lee, he is cognizant of much
that is not generally Known, and is
equipped to tell us what transpired
during the last days Of the Confed-
eracy.
| now have the honor to present
to you Senator Gordon of Georgia,
whose eloquence is charming and
who is always a welcome speaker.
Senator Condor was received with
great applause, and he was visibly
affected by the demonstration. No
orator could have desired finer
audience. In front were the old
soldiers, intelligent, thoughtful men
representatives of the heroism of the
century, but now softened by age
and experience to the quietest modes
of peace. Beyond the veterans was a
great sea of fresh, young faces,
cultured Chautauquans, pleasure
seeking excursionists, highly gen.
teel country people, intent upon
getting all that was to be CLEANED
from the events of the day-the
whole body swayed and controlled
by feeling of intense interest in
what the speaker was about to say
The orator was equal to the oc
casion. He delivered no lecture. =
in fact he made no speech, (f 6
speech is dissertation upon any
special theme) but for two hours he
played upon the emotions, touched
the chords of feeling and sentiment
with the skill and delicacy Of a fin
ished artist, evo&ing laughter and
tears and vociferous applause il
turn. The so called lecture con
sists of series of pathetic stories
dramatic incidents, heroic actions
ludicrous situations, intersperseC
with passages of fervid eloquenc(
that appeal to the sentiment of pa
triotism.
Gen. Condor is typical South
ern, tall. straight, with sharp, wei
!, cut features and the air of a man
!, who has met danger in its most ap
palling forms and is not afraid
His style of Cratory is that of ar
ideal stump-speaker, deliberate. con
: fident, discursive, humorous, anC
vet terribly direct and incisive wher
, a point is to be made. His stories
have all been published dozen O
; times in newspapers and magazines
and he has repeated them himsel
from the platform from week tc
} week, and year to Year,--but wher
| his own strong personality is thrown
, into the narrative it becomes new
and fresh eyerv time.
: An incident occurred near th'
! close of his speech that showed hi
aptness in turning trifling inciden
to good account. An old soldier
in Grand Army uniform, sitting i'm
mediately in front, was obliged tt
leave in order to take train. Th,
way was blocked at both sides ant
, in the rear, and the only hope o
egress was over the platform. Gen
. Gordon reached down, took the ole
mans hand, helped him up to tn
5 platform, and then giving him
5 goodbye shake. said, 81 have seel
the day when l would have beel