The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-21
TEXT OF GoRDoN's SPEECH.
Effort of the COmmnnder-in-Chie
nm EIOnment One.


an Eloquent One.
Atlanta, Ga, July 20.-FolIowing is the
text Of Gen. Gordon's speech:
Governor Gen. Evans. Mr. Mayor. and
Gentlemen of the Committees-As Geor-
gian at home my proper place in this pro
gramme would seem TO be among those
who bid these veterans welcome. and not
as the mouthpiece of the recipients of that
welcome. The official station. however. to
which my comrades have called me de
mande that in their name l respond 10
these heartfelt greetings from my native
state and her capital city. Geographically,
therefore, I should play the part of most,
but officially, / must speak as your guest
Anomalous as this double capacity may
seem. il is not without ats compensations.
In my capacity of host and dutiful son I
can lean, as il were on the bosom of my
mother Georgia and feel her beating heart
throbbing with a boundless love and sym
patty for all survivors of the South's IN
rIValed armies; while in the capacity of
guest | throw around these visiting COM
rades the arms of a brother and in their
name pledge their grateful acknowledge
ment for this magnificent reception.
Georgia, and her fair daughter Atlanta,
an thus opening their arms and hearts to
receive us, are in no sense surprising Us.
We knew what to expect before we came.
The normal position of this state and city
is known of all men. Their place is at
the front whether in sending soldiers 10
war, or in honoring them in peace; and
there is not survivor of those immortal
legions who bore the stainless cross of
battle to a thousand victories who does
not feel at home in this state and city.
All Of these Confederates realize that they
are a home and their t1lllstDcr hearts tell
of their appreciation in language far more
eloquent and tender than any which l
could utter.
And now, my fellow countrymen, may
ask if you have contemplated and COM
pretended the full significance of this
splendid reception; and, of others like it,
which have been accorded us by Louisi-
ana. by Alabama. by Mississippi by Tex
as by Virginia, by Tennessee, by all the
people wherever it has been our fortune
to convene. How strange, how marvel
ously strange. must these annual outpour-
inss appear to all peoples outside of the
South's border.
On another occasion l felt impelled to
advert to the peculiar significance of
these Confederate reunions, but the mind
of man can never tire of their analysis
philosophy, patriotism, virtue and religion
may all feed and feast upon such theme
without exhaustng it; and the spirit of
liberty, the reverence for law and for
regulated government rejoices and grows
strong in the sentiment and high pur-
pose which these gatherings evoke. No
other conventions of eX-sOldiers in all the
earth are so free from self-seeking, so
untainted by passion or prejudice, so pure
" phianthropic, nor more broadly patr-
otto No disbanded and defeated soldiery
has ever been for so long a period the
special objects of so unique and universal
appreciation and affection by people for
whose cause that soldierY cOntended UNI
successfully
In every other age in every other land,
popular plaudits have been but the echoes
of the shouts and martial paeans of vic
tory. Public honors, costly demonstra-
tons and universal acclaim have been
the heritage Of successful armies. Inn
perial Rome, intoxicated with the glory
of conquest erected lofty arches to her
mighty warriors, only when they bore her
proud eagles above the ranks of conquer
ing legion. France was united and eX
ultant under the great Corsican so long
as he was victorious but he, too, was de-
feated and at his fall, the legislative as
sembly of his people abandoned and de-
handed the abdicaHon of this hitherto
idolized leader Nor do our own brave
countrymen, the brave veterans of the
Union army. furnish any parallel to the
conditions which surround US When
they returned from the horrors of war
it was to homes of increased comfort,
to augmented wealth and with arms in
their hands and victory on their banners.
They returned to an established and
grateful government.
The return Of the disarmed and disband-
ed Confederates, however, was 10 people
made poor, TO a land made desoate, COW
cred with blackenod ruins where every
home was in mourning, every breath was
Il sigh and every breeze a messenger of
woe. And yet, after third of a century
has passed, after the remnant of those
armies have grown gray, ana the govern
ment for which they fought lives only as
a memory, these grim Southern warriors
gather in annual reunions, and are the re
cipients of boundless hospitality dispens-
81 by his recently impoverished but CRATE
tut people.
On what page in history win you find a
similar history In what age or country
have the shattered remnants of defeated
armies, banded together in a brotherhood
SO unique, q purpose so unSelhsh? Among
what defeated poUOle has ever been wit
messed such fidelity 20 the memories Of am
unsuccessful past; such devotion 10 the
survivors of an unsuccessful army, cou-
pies with such uuostentatious, genuine and
responsive loyalty to the government for
which they SO resolutely and conscientious
ly sought separation? | challenge the
worlds annals 10 furnish a parallel.
In conclusion let me inquire what it all