Evening star., 1898-07-21
THE ORATOR OF THE DAY
Gen. Hooker's Eloquent Address at the Con-
federate Veterans Reunion.
disappointment Because Mrs. Jefer-
son Davis Cannot Attend - The
New Seuth's Position.

A host of ex-confederate heroes, tread
ing historic ground, invaded Atlanta yes
terday. For two days the confederate vet
Grams and their friends have been pouring
in and conservative estimate of the peo-
pie now in Atlanta to attend the eighth
annual reunion of the veterans is 10000.
The railroads there are advised that sew
eral special trains are on the way, and as
the traffic inward bound is still very heavy
today's arrivals are expected to swell the
total number of visitors to the $500 mark.
The confederacy's ranks are well repre-
sented, yet much disappointment is ex-
pressed at the unavoidable absence of Mrs.
Jefferson Davis. Mrs. Davis health is not
good, and, fearing that the journey from
Richmond would overtax her, the first
lady of the confederacy has given up the
trip Miss Winnie Davis. however, is ex-
pected this morning. She will be met at
the depot by a reception committee and
escorted to the residence of Mrs. William
M Davis on Washington street, Atlanta.
The names of General Joseph Wheeler,
the gallant cavalry leader, and General
fltzhugh Lee are on every lip, the regret
Tor their absence. however, being set aside
by the fact that they are nobly represent
ing the south in the struggle with Spain.
Ihe interest yesterday centered in the
first meeting of the veterans in the audi
tori1m of Piedmont Park. There, sur
rounded by 10000 of his devoted followers,
General John B. Gordon, commander-in-
chief of the veterans, delivered address,
published in The Star yesterday, which
thrilled his auditors and called forth re-
sponse in terms which admit of no doubt
as to the generals place in the hearts of
his followers. The speeches of the day
abounded with praises of the heroic deeds
ana achievements of the sons of the south
in the present war, and the names of
Hobson, Bagley, Schley and Blue were
cheered to the echo.
Orator of the Day
General Charles E. Hooker of Mississippi
the orator of the day, was given a cor
dial reception, and his address was well
received.
He said that when the surrender was
made the confederate soldiers separated
with arms in their hands He said it was
a capituiation, the confederates being al |
lowed TO depart in peace unmolesfed so |
long as they observed their parole
There is not one confederate but has |
Kept the terms of his capitulaton,' said |
the speaker.
referring to the surrender at Appomattox. |
General Hooker stated that some of the |
federal officers desired to fire a salute in |
honor OF the. victory. Everything was in |
readiness for the salute when General /!
Grant, learning of it, said:
stop that firing. We have no great VIC |
tory 10 De proud of, for we have been four |
years capturing these 5000 men who have
laid down their arms
General Hooker was one of the counsel |
appointed by the state of Mississippi to de- |
fend Jefferson Davis when he was charged |
with treason. He spoke feelingly of the |
way in which the president of the confed-
eracy with supreme abnegation took upon |
himself the sins of all his people. Only one
reason, said the general, could be assigned |
for the failure to try President Davis
His prosecutors knew he was not guilty
They knew his allegiance was first due to |
his state, and as loyal citizen of Missis- |
sippi when she seeded it was his duty to |
espouse her cause.
In commenting the fact that the
souths representatives We're taking a
prominent part in the war with Spain he
took occasion to attest to the bravery and
gailantry Of General Wheeler
They may beat him for Congress in Ala
bama," said the speaker.
"They'n never do it." shouted a score of
voices from the audience.
They may beat him for Congress in Ala
bama," continued the speaker, but we
will erect a magnificent monument to him..
The Confederate Graves.
General Hooker referred, in the course of
his remarks, to the fact that at the graves
of the confederates in the national ceme-
terry at Arlington were headstones bearing
the inscription Rebel He told OF a visit
to the cemetery with some ladies. who said
that it was an outrage that such a thing
should be.
IL Is eHiiicHliS pIupSf, sdlu lac gen
eral that these poor boys who wore the
ragged confederate coat of gray should be
buried here the ground which belonged
to the second greatest rebel this country
has ever produced, Robert E. Lee, George
Washington being the first. Yes, they
were rebels-rehelled against what they be-
lieved was wrong, and asserted what they
thought was right"
1t goes without saying that Gen. Gordon
Will be reelected comma u-chief The
general who mas held first place for the
past ten years, has, 1t is said, been consid-
ering the advisabiity of withdrawing on
account of ill-health but the demonstra-
ton accorded him yesterday shows that he
still holds the hearts of his followers, and
they will not hear of his leave-taking. Gen.
Stephen d. Lee of Mississippi and Adjt.
Gen. Moorman have been mentioned as
possibilities for the position of comman-
der-in-chief, but these gentlemen realize
and they unite in saying that he will be
the leading spirit in the organization as
long as he lives.
Encampment Contest.
A spirited contest is on for the next en-
campment. Charleston. S. c., has been ag-
gressive from the start, and with claims
which have much weight has insisted
that the next meeting place belongs TO
them. The Kentucky delegation, however,
has been using smokeless powder, and the
chances seem to favor Louisville. Charles
tons admirers say their state furnished
twice as many followers of the flag as
Kentuvy, they have the facilities for caring
for the crowds their city council has ap-
propriated large sum of money for the
entertainment Of the veterans and, finally. |
that Louisville is out of the way from a |
geographical standpoint. Louisville, how
ever, 1t develops has the support, IN addl- |
ton to their own state, of Tennessee
Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi Missouri.
Oklahoma. Alabama and enough. in fact,
to practically assure them the next en- |
campment The Charleston contingent.
supported by Texas and Virginia. will fight |
1t out. however. and the contest Will not |
be decided until Friday. |