The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-01
CONFEDERATE REUNION.
Men Who Wore the Gray in Con-
vention at Richmond.
GOVERNOR 0TERRALL's WELCOME.
He Eulogizes Jefferson Davis as a States
man Whom Posterity will Honor Gen.
eral Gordon's Touching Tribute to the
Veterans of the Southern Armies.

He Euiogizes Jefferson Davis as q States
man Whom Posterity will Honor Gen
eral Gordons 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 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 the battle Scared veteran re-
ceived an ovation.
Before the convention was called to Or
der General Gordon was presented with q
gavel made from a tree from the battle
field of Chicamauga. Rev. ]. William
Jones offered fervent prayer to the God Of
Lee and jackson and Davis. General
Gordon, without making a speech, intro
duced Governor OFerrall, who on behalf
OF Virginia welcomed the veterans. He
paid an eloquent tribute to jefferson
Davis, concluding as follows:
| I'm calmer years, when the last ember
OF sectional feeling has burned ont, 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 pure great
man, who suffered for his people and for
the right as they understood 1t, and how
for this they loved him as they loved no
other. Long as yonder noble river shall
roll its 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 O'Ferrall was speak
ing Wade Hampton came in and was pre-
sented by General Gordon. He was re-
seeiyed 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 eloquent ad-
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 battleflag 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-
press his gratitude for the great honor
which had been done him. He had come
to mingle with the veterans perhaps for
the last time, and do honor to the men,
DRY of that great man, President Davis.
The general said he would be still fight
ing now if the Confederate flag were wav-
ing. He had no apology to make for his
course. When his state called upon him
he went into war as 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 am liter
ally overwhelmed by the food 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
ders 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 SPLEEN
did reception, we are in no sense surprised
at its princely munifcence. We are not
surprised, because we know Virginia and
Virginians.
"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 welcome as is bere
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
md people lisa record of untarnished honor
md of the most heroic defensive struggle
in human annals.
"On the other hand, no popular assem-
blies of intelligent and high spirited citi-
zcns in the worlds posterity were freer
from partisan zeal or self seeking spirit, !
or ignoble jealousies or sinister intent,
and the muse of history will yet embalm,
in one of her sweetest stories, the abso-
lutely unseltish character and exalted
aims of these Confederate gatherings. The
pathos of that recital will be deepened by
its simplicity, and its beauty heightened
by the lesson which it will teach to hu.
"These broad minded men, broadened
and ennobled by sacrifice, refined and
purified In the fires Of affection, embrace
as brother every true lover of their coun-
try, and acknowledge no superiors in de-
votion to the commonweal and in unfal-
tcrng support to the laws, the flag, the
honor and the freedom of this American
republic
After the announcement of the commit
bee on credentials General Stephen d. Lee
was introduced to present the report Of
The committee on history 1t was
lengthy paper, and dealt with the whole
subject Of histories. The report recon-
mended tho establishment of chair Of
American history in southern colleges and
and the more thorough teach
ng of history In the schools public and
private throughout tho south. The recon-
nendations were adopted, and the con-
'ention adjourned until today.
A reception was given in honor of Mrs.
Jefferson Davis and her daughter, Mrs
Hays, in the Confederate Museum last
light by the regents of that institution.
The museum Ia the buildtnr formerly tha
White House Of the Confederacy. When
he hour fixed for Mrs, Davis and her
laughter to receive arrived there was q
old mass Of humanity in the streets
bout tho house. So great was the crowd
hat all could not enter the house, and the
wo ladies bowed their acknowledgements