The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-24
GLORIOUS HONOR TO GORDON
(ContInued from Flrst PACE

Continued from First Page.)
L possessed the needed gift of speech 1
would leave upon record a tribute worthy
of them. and such as my own convictions
and emotions prompt; but my words are
too feeble for that There is one thing,
however, which 1 can do. l can lay at their
feet the commissions which they won for
me in war and the honors with which they
have crowned my life in peace. 1 can
promptly as / shall proudly, take my
place in their now thinned and rapidly
dissolvinS ranks.
Mr. President in these closing hours Of
my long service as commanding general 1
must ask the conventions Indulgence for
a brief review Of that official relation and
possibly for some suggestion as to the
future.
"On the 10th day of June, 1885, eight
years ago, while serving as governor of
my native state. 1 received from New
Orleans the wholly unexpected announce
ment of my election as COMMANDMENTS
chief of the newly organized United Con-
federate Veterans. This new communion
of eX-soldiers began its somewhat I'M
promising career with the modest number
of but ten organizations, united for peace
full and noble ends. To-day it presents the
proud array of more than a thousand
camps answering the roll call and reflect
ing merited honors upon the different COM
manders and especially upon our able ad-
jutant general. In the next few hours 1
shall turn over to my successor this army
of more than a thousand organizations
rapidly advancing toward the second
thousand.
II said Mr.. President, that 1 would turn
over an army, it is an army of ex-sol-
diers, of ex-confederates soldiers, of ex
fighting confederate soldiers, at whose
prowess and endurance enlightened chris
tendon stood in breathless amazement.
1t is an army still, Mr.. President, but an
army for the bloody work of war no ION
ger. Its banners no longer bear the fam
ing insignia of battle Its weapons no
longer flash defiance to the foe nor deal
death to opposing ranks. Its weapons are
now the pen without malice, the tongue
without asperson and history without
misrepresentation. It's aims are peaceful,
philanthropic and broadly patriotic. Its
sentiment is lofty, generous and just. Its
mission is to relieve the suffering of the
living, cherish the memory of the dead
and to shield from reproach the fair name
of all. This now mighty organization,
while insisting upon complete historical
Justice to the south, will scorn to do less
than complete justice to the north. Proud
of the south's chivalry in defending the
rights of the states, they honor the hero
ism of the north in defending the perpet-
uity of the union. Having committed the
south's cause to the arbitrament of battle,
they Loyalty and manfully stand by that
tribunals verdict Fighting and suffering
for their homes and rights as men have
rarely fought and suffered in the world s
history: exhibiting on a hundred fields
and in a thousand emergencies a heroism
never excelled: yielding from utter ex-
haustion and only when their PROSTATE
section was bleeding at every pore; fall
ing after the most desperate defensive
struggle In human annals to establish
their cherished confederacy, these high
souled sons Of the south offer this record
of devotion as the noblest pledge Of their
fealty TO freedom and of their readiness
to defend the republic of the fathers.
my comrades of the United Confederate
Veterans, If this brief summary fairly
represents your sentiments and your aims,
then my cup Of Joy is full indeed. i can
not doubt. / do not doubt, that have
caught ana correctly voiced the impulses
and hopes of this most representative
body of southern manhood In the first
address issued by me as your command
er | sought to embody your sentiments as
/ did my own. Let me read a few sem
fences from that address. After reciting
the objects of the United Confederate
Veterans as declared by your constitu-
ton, / said:
No mlsjudgments can defeat your
peaceful purposes for the future. Your
aspirations have been lifted by the mere
force and urgency OF surrounding condi-
lions to a plane far above the paltry
considerations OF partisan triumphs. The
honor OF the American republic; the Just
powers OF bhe federal government; the
equal rights of the states; the integrity
OF the constitutional union; the sanctions
OF law and the enforcement Of order, have
no class of defenders more true and devot-
ed than the ex-soldiers of the south and
their worthy descendants. But you realize
the great truth that a people without the
memories OF heroic suffering and sacrifices
are a people without a history
"'To cherish such memories and recall
such a past whether crowned with sue
cess or consecrated In defeat, In 10 IDEAL
lie principle and strengthen character, in
tensify love OF country and convert defeat
and disaster into pillars Of support for
future manhood and noble womanhood
whether the southern people under their
changed conditions may ever hope 20 wit
ness another civilization which shall equal
that which began with their George Wash
lngton and ended With their Lee. Il Us
certainly true that devotion TO their glori-
Gus past Is not only the surest guaranty
OF future proFrcss--the holiest bond OF uni
~. but rs also the strongest claim they
can present 10 the confidence ana respect
OF the other sections Of the union.
speaking then OF your Organization, 1
said.
"It Is political IN no sense except 50