The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-23

Nashville. Tenn. June 22--Many
special trains arrived today with eN-
confederate soldiers and friends. who
came for the purpose of attending the
reunion of the celebration of the noted
confederate veterans.
The ex-confederates spent the morn
ing in attending the reunion at the
tabernacle and meeting old comrades.
Prominent among those seated on the
platform were General stephen D. Lee
of Mississippi. Judge John II. Reagan
of Texas. the only surviving member
of the jefferson Davis cabinet; ColoneI
A 5. Colyar and Thomas Merees OF
Nashville and Hon. J. D. Adkins, the
surviving members Of the confederate
congress: General Simon b. Buckner
of Kentucky. General Z. p. Sf-1es OF
Mississippi. General Norman OF New
Orleans, General w IS. Bate, Ut,
William Jones, chaplain of the Urltssi
Confederate Veterans; General Clement
Evans of Georgia and General joseph
Wheeler of Alabama. General john b.
Gordon was given an enthusiastic re-
ce9tiOn.
An address of welcome was delivered
by Bishop Fitzgerald. who represented
Mayor Mccarthy.
j. b. Bryan. chairman of the execu-
tive committee. welcomed the visitors
in a short speech.
Judge Reagan then delivered an ad-
dress, in which he said:
The facts Of history vindicate US
against the charge of being either
rebels or traitors and show that We
were not the authors of causelesS
war brought about by ambitious le9d-
eTS. but that cur brave men fouSiN
and suffered and died and our holy
..f x,I 10 xt-O
en- suffered patiently and periodically
all the Drivations and horrors of
great war. cruelty forced upon us for
the purpose of uphOlding the constitu-
ton and laws of the United States as
preserving the rights of the several
states to regulate their own domestic
policies and OF protecting the people
against spoilatiOn and robbery by
dominant majority. some OF whose
members. because the holy Bible sane
toned slavery. declared that they
wanted an anti-slavery Bible. and an
anti-slavery God, and who. because
the constitution of the United States
recognized and protected slavery. de-
clared that it was league with hell
and a covenant with death
Whatever may have been said in
the past in defense of the institution
of slavery. and whatever may now be
thought of the means by which il was
abolished in this country. the spirit of
the present age is against il, and it has
passed away. and | suppose no one
wishes its restoration if that were prac-
ticable. Certainly l would not restore
ii if / had the power. / think IL better
for the black race that they are free.
and l am sure il is better for the
white race that there are no slaves.
''NOw that we are again citizens of
the United States, living under the
same government, our late adversaries
ought not to desire 10 degrade US in
the eyes of posterity. and if they would
be wise and just they should not wish
to place our people in history in the
position of being unworthy CT the
rights. liberty and character of The
citizens of our great and common
country And while I have accepted
and do accept in good faith the lsSiti-
mate results of the war. and while |
am and will be as true 10 my alleg-
lance as any other citizen can be. 1
shall insist on my right TO tell the
truths which show that in that great
struggle we were guided and controlled
by a sense of duty and by a spirit of
patriotism which caused lis to stake I
life. liberty and property - a contest /
with a greatly Superior power rather
than basely surrender without s-ruS-
gle.
Today tie people OF the SOutn are /
as earnest in their attachment 10 our
common government as those of any
cher part OF the Gn.in ard would
make as great sacrifices if need be in
defense of our gJvernmen as cCuld be
made by any ether part of the Aneri- |
can people. Enjoying peace and lib
erty today, we can refer w.ch Tide to
the courage and herCi1n Of cur soldiers /.
in the lste war and to the S7llantry /
and skill of our officers.
And when inrr.a- sial history cones .
to be written we do rot doubt shat it .
will be seen that thay wee never ex T
celled in the qualities of patient en- /
durance and manly courage by any /
other people