The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-23
WAS NOT TREASON
REAGAN OF TEXAS STANDS UP FOB
THE LOST CAUSE.

In Bis Address to the Ex.Coufederat'
Veterans 1t Nashville The Last surviv
| ing Members of Jen Davis Cabine
Holds That the Question of Secession d
Still Debatable, Theoretically ut Least
aud Complains That the North Is Unjus
in Charging Treason ReliuquIs he
Slavery With Regret.
Nashville, Tenn, June 22.-Many spe
cial trains arrived today with Exon
sederate soldiers and friends who cam,
for the purpose Of attending the annua
reunion of noted Confederate veterans
The ex-Confederate soldiers spent tht
morning in attending the reunion at The
Tabernacle. and meeting old comrades
Prominent among those who were seat
ed On the platform were General Stepher
D. Lee Of Mississippi, Judge j. H. Rea'
gan of Texas, the only surviving mem.
Der of Jeff Davis cabinet; Colonel A. S
Coiyar and Dr.. Thomas Menees Of Nash.
vile and Hon. j. D. C. Atkins, surviy-
ing members of the Confederate con.
gress; General Simon B. Buckner Of
Kentucky, General E. P. Skies Of Mis-
siss,ppi, General Norman Of New Or
leans, General W. B. Bate, DR.. William
Jones, chaplain OF the United Confed-
crate Veterans; General Clement Evan:
Of Georgia, and General Joseph Wheel
er of Alabama. General John B. Gordon
arrived during the morning and was
given an enthusiastic reception.
REGAN's SPEECH.
Judge John H. Regain OF Texas ad-
dressed the veterans. saying, in part:
This great assemblage and this In
terest:ng occasion call up many mem
cries of great events-earnest discussion
which preceded the year 1861; the &C
ton Of the southern states in passing
the ordinances of secession; the orsani-
zation Of the government OF the Confed-
crate States; the commencement or hos
tllities; the enthusiasm on both sides;
the assembling of mighty armies; the
greatest war of modern times.
why all this strife, suffering and
death between a people Of the same
country, the same race and, in a gen
eral way, of the same political and re-
ligious opinions? An Inheritance from
the governments Of Europe and from
our ancestors had raised a question In
volv1ng too much Of the social and in
dustrial structure and too much Of prop
erty values to admit Of adjustment in
the ordinary methods OF negotiation and
compromise. And dts decision was there
fore submitted to the arbitrament OF
war.
The facts Of history vindicate US
against the charge Of being either
rebels or traitors and show that we were
not the authors of a causeless war
brought about by ambitious leaders, but
that our brave men fought and suffered
and died. and our holy men Of God
prayed and our noble women suffered
patiently and patrioticaily all the priva-
tons and horrors Of a. great war, cruel
ly forced upon us for the purpose Of up
holding the constitution and laws of the
United States. as preserving the rights
CT the several states to regulate heir
own domestic policies and OF protecting
the people against spoliation and rob
berry by a dominant majority, some Of
whose members, because the Holy
Bible sanctioned slavery, declared that
wanted an 'anti-slavery Bible and an
anti-slavery God and who, because the
constitution Of the United States recog-
nized and protected slavery, declared
that it was league with hell and a
covenant with death
Whatever may have been said in the
past in the defense of the institution OF
thought of the means by which II was
abolished in this country. the spirit Of
the present age is against il and It has
passed away and 1 suppose no one
wishes its restoration IL that were prac-
ticable. Certainly l would not restore it
if l had the power I think II better for
the black race that they are free and
am sure 1t is better for the white race
that there are no slaves.
The restoration Of peace. good gov
ernmcnt the rule of law and OF good
will between those who were once enc
mes is as gratifying to me as it can be
TO any other citizen. But the charge has
been constantly made since the war that
the Confederates were rebels and trail
tors and therefore lawless criminals.
Now that we are again citizens OF
the United States living under the same
government, our late adversaries ought
not TO desire to degrade US in the eyes
Of posteri.y and If they would be wise
and just they should not with to place
our people in history in the position of
being unworthy Of the rights. liberty
and character OF citizens OF our great
and common country. And while l
have accepted, and so accept in good
faith, the legitimate results OF the war,
and while l am and will be as true 10
my allegiance as any other citizen can
be. shall insist on my right to tell the
truths which show that in that great
struggle we were guided and controlled
by a sense ot duty ard by a spirit OF
patriotism which caused US 20 stake life.
liberty and property in a contest with
1. greatly superior people rather than
oaseiy surrender our rights without
struggle.
From the desols lion. absence OF civil
government and political rights and out
lawry throughout the southern states
less than thirty years ago we now in all
these states have good civil government.
society reorgsnized, peace and industry
re-esta oiished. with many valuable en-
terprises in successful operation, and
with a steady ans wonderful increase in
population. wealth and the comforts OF
civilized ite. This constitutes the
sTea'est and proudest vindicaIion ot the
capacities Of our people fo- local self
government and Is grandsr and noblar
achievement than vas ever obtained By
war. 1. shows that our people are