The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-10-12


audience met Gen. G. I. Walker to-
day. His address was well received
blythe Veterans. The Daughters were
also represented. Major Duncan and
Capt. Carlisle made short addresses.
Capt. Alvin Dean presided.
Gen. Walker, after few pleasant
Introductory remarks with purely
local illusions, and having given a
rather humorous account Of wal
time visit TO Seartanburg, spoke as
follows:
Ny comrades, I congratulate you
upon this gathering and this reunion
of the Sparsanburg regiment. Such
gatherings are Of the highest value to
us all as citizens, beside the sincere
pleasure it gives rs Veterans to meet
together.
Man is sociable being. Associa-
ton with our fellows is an instinct of
our nature. We all learn much Of our
fellowman, and for our race and indi-
vidual progression, by such gather
ings. It is good to have them. They
are absolutely necessary for the civili-
zation and advancement of all man
kind, and especially Of this race Of
which We are part, the greatest race
yet created by God.
We, old Confederates and their
friends, meet without any strife for
place, self, or power. That which
makes us Confederate Veterans was
done thirty odd years ago. We can
not add to this record. We meet in
the most friendly and loving manner.
We are not Methodists, or Baptists,
or Presbyterians, or Episcopalians, or
Roman Catholics. We are not Re-
formers or Conservatives. We are
simply old Confederates. Never mind
what we think in the present, that
grand past draws us together on 8
common plane. ] challenge the world
to show purer or friendlier meetings
than those.of comrades Of the U. c..
".
What better to bring us together
than the memories Of the grandest
struggle ever made by man? High in
its aims, noble in its purposes, pure
in its conduct, grand in the heroism
Of It's sons, and grander in the devo-
ton Of its women. We have not one
thing to be ashamed Of. It's issues
are dead and gone, buried beyond any
hope Of resurrection. There is in
these memories not the slightest
tinge Of disloyalty to the Government
under which we live, and for which
our sons have fonght. There is not
the ghost Of q chance OF re-estab-
lishmept Of the Confederacy or a
separate union Of the Southern States.
Therefore, when we recur to the
bright hopes and splendid achieve
ments Of the Confederacy, we awake
only to us sacred memories of which
we are proud, or show to the world the
splendid action Of the Confede@tes as
lesson to future generations. It is
not the antagonism to the United
States we would keep alive, but the
fact that the people Of the South were
gloriously true to their principles,
showed the highest characteristics Of
the soldier and the citizens, and when
duty called nobly answered. Should
not this recollection be treasured
throughout the ages? 1t was not
Washington's enmity to Great Britain
that the Sons Of the Revolution keep
alive, but his grand struggle for free
dom-God given freedom! Our Lee
will stand in history as his compeer
in the battle for high principles, a
fight even more magnifcently made,
and against greater odds. Washing
ton and Lee will go down in history,
each according to his lights, as the
exponents and defenders of the high
est principles men ever contended for.
For the good Of mankind should not
such records be perpetuated? Such
gatherings as we have to-day tend to
so perpetuate them.
We do not meet to emphasize the
fact that we were fighting against a
section Of the United States; that our
success would have broken up that
Government, or to keep alive any SEN
timent which if nurtured would give US
the ability or the desire "to try it
again" But we keep alive the Con-
federate memories to show that at a
supreme and decisive period of our
destiny the people of the South glori-
ously did their whole duty. On every
field, from Fort Sumter to Appomat-