The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-20
WILL PARADE IN WELCOME.
GUARDS DECIDE TO MEET THE RE-
TURNING BATTALION.

Speeches Advocating the Parade
Were Made-TeIegram From Col.
Gnrrard Stating Any Courtesies
shown VIII be Appreciated.
An enthusiastic meeting of the corps Of
the Savannah Volunteer Guards was he'd
| last night at the armory, and it was
unanimously decided that the command
should go to the depot to meet the First
Battalion of the Second Georgia Regiment
on its arrival here, and TO tender the
members a reception at the Guards hail.
Measures were adopted to secure a good
turn out of the Guards for the occasion,
and subscription list that was started
among those present footed up more than
$500. AS there was not very large attend
ance upon the meeting, this was taken as
a substantial recognition of the esteem in
which the First Battalion is held as being
the representative of the Savannah Vol
unteer Guards in the army.
A marked difference between the meet
ing of last night and that of a week before
might have been noticed by one who had
/ attended both. The same question, the re-
turn of the First Battalion, was consid-
|
| an altogether different way. At the first
meeting the proposition for a parade met
with but little, if any. favor, and it was
left to the officers to decide, after receiv-
ing reports from the first sergeant as to
| the number of men from the four COM
panies who would take part, whether or
not the corps should turn out to welcome
| the returning battalion. Several rousing
| speeches were made last night, however,
of a nature to change the sentiment with
regard to the parade, and the members
saw the matter in an altogether different
light General congratulations were ex-
changed among the members after the
meeting, all of whom felt that the result
shows that the returning Guards are to be
received with great cordiaiity and well
coined back with all the hospitality posi-
BILE
Last nights meeting was in response to
the call of Capt w. w. Williamson, who
presided. He stated the object, and in
vited a discussion Mr.. John D. Carsweli
brought the matter before the meeting in
the shape of a motion. This was to the
effect that the Guards give a reception
|
forthcoming.
Capt H. c. Cunningham was present,
as were many others of the members upon
the veteran, honorary associate or retired
lists and he offered an amendment to the
motion. Capt. Cunningham said he thought
| the occasion would demand that the
Guards still in the city should turn out
to welcome back their comrades who went
| to the front
1T was the front" said he, whether
they were on the line of battle or not
| That makes no difference They respond
ed to the call for volunteers, and they
could do no more than volunteer their
services. If the government did not
| choose to send them to a post
of greater danger than might be
| found in the unhealthy camp to which
they were tied az Tampa, that was no
concern of theirs. They stood ready to
go where they might have been ordered
and honor should be shown them on their
| return"
Besides Capt. Cunningham, there were
others present who had not attended the
| former meeting, and among them were
| some whose talks were forceful and con-
| vincing of the propriety of an escort from
| the Guards being at the train to march
to the armory with the battalion. The
matter of the reception did not come up
| for anything like pro and con discussion
| 1t was an admitted fact that that should
| be rendered, and not a man was present
who did not earnestly desire 1t to be
| given.
The parade was the only thing about
which any uncertainty was felt, and that
was due to no Ill feeling at all, but to such
considerations as the difficulty that might
be had in getting away from business to
participate Some had thought they might
possibly be exposing themselves to some
Of ~ :.
come those who had volunteered, but the
matter was, presented in such a light as to
convince them that it was the indisputable
right of every man to decide for himself
at the time the can came. The expressed
opinion was that no man had a right to
critcise another for not having gone, or
! to question his reasons. 1t was a point 10
be Jeff solely to the one most vitality inter
| ested, and there was none to whom he had
! to render an account. This view was openly
! given, and there We're none present who
did not acquiesce in it.
Mr.. j. Randolph Anderson spoke warm
| ly in favor of the parade being held. lie
! thought the reception would be a very
/ neat tender of the appreciation of the
! Guards for the action of the members who
| volunteered, and of the recruits who were
taken in to build up the companies 10
war footing. 1t was these men, Mr.. An
! derson said, who had put the name of the
| having served in the American-Spanish
war. and he felt that everything should
be done to show with what regard their
representation of the corps is held.
Col. George T. Cam gave a hearty in
dorsement 10 Capt. Cunningham's amend
ment, also. He was a staunch advocate
of the parade being held, and suggested
| that 1t should be ascertained when the
| train that will bring in the battalion will
arrive, in order that the proper time 70
prepare for the reception might be had
1t was suggested that the report OF the
captains upon the number who were found
willing to turn out for parade should be
had. Capt. Williamson said he did not
think that a parade should be had If
mere handful only were to respond to the
order for it. Mr. w. H. Wade talked
along the same line saying that big
representation of the Guards should be
had by ell means.
Mr.. II. f. Wilson and Capt. Cunningham
adopted a different view They regarded
| q big turnout as all right and proper but