Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-07-28
CONFEDERATE REUNION
About Fifty Thousand People i'm the Gate
City With the Veterans.
Cen Gorons Great SpeechThe Beauty Sponsors
the United

| bIiuCClOu Ol INC constitution Oh Ino
United States. Whenever this great
question which divides Northern and
Southern statesmen is submitted to
tho Supreme Court, it has always
decided i'll favor OF tho Southern
position"
Gen. Gordon was next en- thc list
of speakers. AS soon as the Gov
crnor had concluded the impatient
Veterans, unable longer to restrain
themselves, began to shout, ''Gordon,
Gordon" From all parts of tho
building the namo was taken up and
the greeting was assuming vocifcrous
proportions when the General rose
and raised his hand. The audience
was stilled instantly.
Gen. Evans thon introduced Gen.
Gordon. Notwithstanding his recont
illness, the effects of which were
plainly visible, Gen. Gordon was sur
prisingly strong in voice and his
remarks were heard in every part of
the auditorium.
GEN. GoRDoN's SPEECH.
Governor, Gen. Evans, Mr.. Mayor
and Gentlemen of the Committee
AS a Georgian at homo my proper
place in this program would seem to
be among those who bid these Vote
rams welcome and not as the mouth
piece of the recipients of that wei,
come. The official station, however,
to which my comrades have called
me demands that in their name | re-
spond to these heartfelt greetings
rom my native State and her capi-
tai city. Geographically, therefore,
| should play the part of host, but
officially | must speak as your guest.
Anomalous as this double capacity
may seem, it is not without it's COM
pensations. In my capacity Of host
and dutiful son can lean as it were
on the bosom of my mother, Gcor-
gia, and feel hcr beating heart throb-
bing with boundlcss love and SYM
pathy for all survivors of the South's
unrivaled armies; while in the capac-
ity of guest l throw around these
visiting comrades tho arms Of q bro
thcr and in their name pledge their
grateful acknowledgement for this
magnificent reception.
Georgia and her fair daughter, At
lanta, i'll thus opening their arms and
hearts to receive us, are in no sense
surprising liz. We knew what to OK
pcct 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 sold
iers to war, or in honoring them in
peace and there is not survivor
of those immortal lcgions 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 Confederatcs realize that
they are at home, and their pulsing
hearts tell of their appreciation in
language far more eloquent and ten
dor than any which | could utter.
And now, my fellow countrymcn,
may | ask if you have contemplated
and comprehcndcd the full signif-
cancc of this splendid reception, and
of Others like it which have been
accorded us by Louisiana, by Ala
bama, by Mississippi, by Texas, by
Virginia, by Tennessee, by all the
people wherever it has been our for
tune to convene? How strange,
how marvelously strange, must these
annual outpourings appear to all pco-
pies outside of the South's border.
On another occasion felt impclled
to advert to tho peculiar Significance
of these Confederate reunions, but
tho mind can never tire of their
ysis-philosophy, patriotism, vir-
tue and rcligion--may all feed and
feast upon such q theme without
cxhausting it; and the spirit of lib
crty, the reverence for law, and for
regulated government rcjoicos and
grows strong in the sentiment and
high purpose which these gatherings
evoke. No other conventions of
cx-soldiers in ali tho earth arc 30 free
from sclf-sccking, 80 untaintcd by
passion or prejudice, 80 purely
phllanthropic, not more broadly
patriotic. No aisbamdca and de-
fcatcd soldicry has ever been for 30
long a period the special objects of
so unique and universal appreciation
and affection by people for whose
cause that soldiery contcndcd unsuc-
ccssfully.
In every other age, in every other
land, popular plaudits have been but
the echoes OF tho shonts and martial
pagoants of victory. Public honors,