The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-27

GENERAL J. B. GORDON.
was handled in sections and excursions
were run by all roads. Twenty-three
thousand people, veterans and their
friends, reached the city up to midnight
and the congested condition of the down
town streets early gave indication that
today's crowd would double that of
yesterday.
The interest of the day centered in
the convention at Piedmont park.
Among those who arrived early and
took seats upon the stand were General
Charles E. Hooker, the orator of the
day, Governor Atkinson of Georgia,
General Longstreet, General Dickerson,
commander of the Florida division, and
General Stephen D. Lee, looked upon
by some as candidate for commander
in chief.
Before the gathering was called to
order, three cheers were given for the
"gallant son of Alabama, /" Lieutenant
Hobson, followed moment later by
three more for the gallant cavalry Off
Ger now at the front, General Joseph
Wheeler.
General John B. Gordon, the COM
mander-in in-chief arrived at 11:20 and
was given tremendous ovation.
Cheer after cheer swept through the
hall and the audience could not be
stilled for five minutes.
General Clement A. Evans, the COM
mander Of the Georgia division, called
the convention to order at 11:SO and
prayer was offered by Rev. J. William
Jones Of Virginia, the chaplain general
Of the United Confederate veterans.
Addresses of welcome and responses
followed, after which General Charles
E. Hooker delivered the animal grafton.
General Hooker's. Speech.
General Hooker was introduced by
General Gordon. He said that when
the surrender was made the confederate
soldiers separated with their arms in
their hands. He said that it was a
capitulation, the confederates being al
lowed to depart in peace, unmolested as
long as they observed their parole.
ssThere is not one confederate but has
kept the terms of capitulation," said
the speaker.
Referring to the surrender at Apo.
mattox, General Hooker stated that the
federal officers desired to fire salute in
honor of the victory. Everything was
in readiness for the salute when Cen
eral Grant, learning Of it, said:
sStop that firing; we have no great
victory to be proud of, for we have been
four years capturing these 5000 men,
who have laid down their arms
Welcoming addresses were delivered
by Mayor Collier, Representative T. B..
Fielder, Colonel w. A. Hemphill and
Governor Atkinson.
The impatient veterans could not wait
for their idol and before the music
which followed the last welcome ad-
dress had ceased, cries O. Gordon,
Gordon, ~ were heard in all parts of the
auditorium. General Gordon was hap
ply introduced by General Evans.
Speech by General Gordon.
General Gordon said:
'sAs Georgian at home my proper
place in this program 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 demands that
in their name respond to these heart
felt greetings from my native state and
her capital city. Geographically, there
fore, / should play the part of host, but
officially must speak as your guest.
<,ic n ~, h1o M orit ty N, q "
seem, it is not without its compensa-
tions. In my capacity of host and duti-
full son can lean, as it were, on the
bosom Of my mother Georgia and feel
her beating heart throbbing with a
boundless love and sympathy for all
survivors Of the south's unrivaled
armies; while in the capacity Of guest
throw around these visiting comrades
the arms Of brother and in their name
pledge their grateful acknowledgment
for this magnificent reception
Meaning Of the Reunion.
"And now, my fellowcountrymen,
may I ask if you have pretended
the full significance of this splendid re.
ception; and Of others like it which have
been accorded US by Louisiana, by Ala
bama, by Mississippi, by Texas. by Vir-
ginia, by Tennessee, by all the people
wherever it has been our fortune tc
convene. How strange, how marve.
lously strange must these annual out.
pourings appear to all peoples outside
of the south's border.
.sOn another occasion I felt impelled
to advert TO the peculiar significance OF
these confederate reunions; but the
mind can never tire of their analysis
philosophy. patriotism, virtue and re-
ligion may all feed and feast upon such
q theme without exhausting it; and the
spirit of liberty, the reverence for law
and for regulated government rejoices
and grows strong in the sentiment and
high purpose which these gatherings
evoke. No other conventions Of ex-
soldiers in all the earth are SO free from
self seeking, so untainted by passion OF
prejudice, SO purely philanthropic, nor
more broadly patriotic. No dlsbandeo
.5ofoo+o1 co1diorxy hQ q aver baan fol