Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-21
THE CONVENTION MEETS.
Gen. GOrdon's Addrcss--Gcn. Hook
cr's Ovation-Narm Welcomes.


heroes of the Confederacy and the name
OF the dead.
Glowing tributes were showered on tn
records and achievements OF the sons o
the South in the war with Spain.
A beaming July sun sent its hotties
rays through the windows of the amphi
theatre. but the heat did not dlminisl
the enthusiasm Of tho assembled thou
sands.
When General John B. Gordon entered
the hall the applause and cheering were
| deafening. The General, when he reach
ed the platform. walked from one side
to the other, bowling his acknowledgements
again and again. There was no doubling
| his place in the hearts of the veterans.
THE CALL TO ORDER.
| 1t was one hour and half after the
| time set for opening the convention when
| General Carey Evans, the command OF
the Georgia delegation. called the as
| sembly TO order.
! On the stage, grouped about General
| Gordon, were General Stephen d. Lee
| General Cabell. OF Texas; General "Tige,"
| Anderson, General c. Hooker the orator
! of the day; General ]. /. Anderson, and
| General Wilson, of Florida, and Adjutant-
General Moorman. Of New Orleans.
In the first row on the stage We're Cover
nor Atkinson and ex-Governors Butler and
Mcdaniel, Mayor Collier, Colonel William
A. Hemphill, and General Asbury Coward.
Rev. Dr. j. William Jones, the chap
lain-general Of the Confederates. invoked
the Divine blessing upon the assemblage,
and welcoming addresses were then de-
livered by Mayor Collier Representative
Thomas +. Elder. Colonel w. A. Hemp
hill, and Governor Atkinson. The Gov
ernors welcome was heartily received.
THE GOVERNORS WELCOME.
After extending the freedom of tho
State. city, and the Executive Mansion,
the Governor said:
"A great many people have misconceiv-
cd our relations to the National Govern
ment When We surrendered to the oppo-
sltion FORCES, we granted two thngs-the
negro as free man, and the adjustment
of the doctrine of secession, hut the State
never did surrender the strict construc-
tion OF the Constitution of the United
States. Whenever this great question.
which divides northern and southern
statesmen, has been submitted to the
Supreme Court, 1t has always decided in
favor Of the southern position"
OVATION TO GORDON.
General Gordon was next on the list of
concluded, the impatient veterans, un-
able longer to restrain themselves, began
to shout Gordon. Gordonw
From all parts of the building the name
was taken up, and the greeting was as
suming great proportions, when the Cen
raj rose and raised his hand. The audi
ence was stiled instantly.
General Evans then introduced General
Gordon. The General, on account of lis
recent illness, the effects of which were
plainly visible, was surprisingly strong
in voice. and his remarks were heard all
over the auditorium. He said:
GENERAL GORDON'S SPEECH.
Governor. General Evans, Mr.. Mayor,
and Gentlemen of the Committees,-As a
Georgian at home my proper place in this
programme would seem to be among
those who bid these veterans welcome,
and not as the mouthpiece OF the re-
cipients OF that welcome. The official
station, however, TO which my comrades
have called me demands that in their
name L respond TO these heartfelt greet
ings from my native State and her capi-
tai city. GEOGRAPHICALLY. therefore, 4
should play the part OF host, but officially
must speak as your guest. Anomalous
as this double capacity may seem, it Is
not without its compensatiOns. In my
capacity OF host and dutiful son L can
lean, as il were, on the bosom OF my
mother Georgia and feel her beating heart
throDbing with boundless love ana sym
pathy for all survivors of the South's un-
rivalled armies; while in the capacity or
guest j throw around these visiting COM
rades the arms of a brother, and In their
name pledge their grateful acknowledge |
ment for this magnificent reception.
f(,anFpia fp =
lanta in thus opening their arms and |
hearts TO receive us. are in no sense sur
prising US. We knew what to expect be- |
fore we came. The normal position OF |
this State and city is known of al men. |
Their place is at the front, whether in |
sending soldiers to war or in honoring \
them in peace; and there is not a sury- |
vor of those immortal legions who bore |
the stainless cross of battle to a thou
sand victories who does not feel at home |
in this State and city. All of these Con-
realize that they are at home.
and their pulsing hearts tell of their
appreciation in language far more elo-
quent and tender than any which l could
utter.
A WORLD-MARVEL
"And now, my fellow-countrymen may
ask If you have contemplated and ccm-
the full significance OF this
splendid reception, and OF others like it
which have been accorded us by Louisi-
ana, by Alabama, by Mississippi, by Tex
AS, by Virginia, by Tennessee, by all the |
people wherever 1t has been our fortune
10 conyeneY How strange, how marvel
ously strange, must these annual out
oourings appear to all people outside or
he South's border.
"On another occasion felt impelled to
ldvert to the peculiar significance of these
reunions, but the mind can
ieyer tire of their analysis-philosophy
'atriotism, virtue, and religion may all
eed and feast upon such a theme with
nut eXhausting it; and the spirit of liber-
y, the reverence for law and Tor reg1l-
ated government rejoices and grows
trong in the sentiment and high pur-
ose which these gatherings evoke. No
ther conventions OF ex-soldiers in an
he earth are so free from self-seeking,
o untainted by passion or prejudice, 50
urely philanthropic, nor more broadly
atriotic No disbanded and defeated SOL
ierly has ever been for so long period
he special objects of so unique and uni
ersal an appreciation and affection by a
eople for whose cause that soldiery con-
ended unsuccessfully.
GLORY IN DEFEAT.
I'm every other age. in every other
and, popular plaudits have been but the
choes of the shouts and martial paeans
victory. Public honors, costly demon
rations. and universal acclaim have been
ne heritage of successful armies. Impe- s
al Rome. intoxicated with the glory OF ,
OnOuest erected lofty arches 70 har