The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-21
CONFEDERATE VETERANS
ANNUAL REUNION OF OLD SOLDIERS
OF THE SOUTHLAND.
Speech by Gen. John ID. Gordon, Com
Utterances by the Old Warrior.


pletely filled the vast auditorium at Pied
mont Park to-day and cheered to the echo
speeches which eulogized the Confederacy
and cast glowing tributes upon the records
and achievements of the sons of the South
in the war with Spain. General Gordon.
surprisingly strong in voice, delivered
splendid speech which thrilled the hearts
of his auditors and sent the famous rebel
yell echoing into the rafters. The grafton
OF the day was delivered by Gen. Charles E.
Hooker, Of Mississippi. and addresses were
made by Governor Atkinson. Hon. w. A.
Hemphill Mayor Charles Collier and Rep
resentative Fielder. Fully forty thousand
veterans and visitors are in the city.
Before the meeting in the auditorium was
called to order three cheers were given for
the gallant son of Alabama, Lieutenant
Hobson," followed moment later by three
more for the famous cavalry officer now at
the front, Gen. George Wheeler Gen. John
B. Gordon the commander-in-chief, arrived
at 11:20 and was given tremendous ova-
ton. Cheer after cheer swept through the
hall and the audience could not be stilled
for five minutes. General Gordon said.
after eulogizing the Confederate soldiers:
In conclusion, let me inquire what 1t all
means Simple justice to these brave and
whelming numbers and resources; justice to
the Southern people, whose devotion to
their cause must be measured by the count
less sacrifices they made for it; justice to
their present attitude toward the American
Republic, whose honor and freedom and
flag they are always ready to defend; jus
tice TO the self-respect and manhood of
Southern youth who are to stand for all
time with Northern youth In defense OF
the future, all demand that our own pos
terity and all markind shall know the
meaning of these phenomenal demonstra-
tons over the thinned ranks of this proud
and resistless army. Our heroic brothers
of the Union army need no such care In
guarding themselves from misapprehension;
and for the reason that they are, SO to
speak, the special wards of this great Ma
ton. All of it's energies, all of its influence
and a large share Of its taxing power are
subject, when required, to their demands.
Beside, a rule, it is true the world over
that victory itself yindicates, while defeat
dooms to Misrepresentation the cause of the
vanquished. Let us hope, however, that
impartial history. secured through the la
bors of our broad-minded and able histor-
zeal committee Will avert from our people
such a wrong.
Again, and finally. press the question
what is the inmost meaning Of these Con-
federate pageants? Are they due to any
covert or sinister aims. or in the remotest
degree to self-seeking? Their open sessions
and published proceedings, which all the
world is challenged to inspect, furnish the
answer. Do these reunions and popular
demonstrations which attend them draw
loyalty to either of the tremendous results
of the Wharf.-The freedom of the slave and
the eternal unity of the Republic? The
protection of the negro by Southern courts,
his reliance for security upon Southern SEN
timent, and his education through white
taxation in Southern schools, furnish the
South'S answer to the first
ITO the second loyalty to a perpetual
union of the States and to the honor and
glory of the Republic-the South has been
continually answering since the close OF olE
civil war, and she is answering to-day by
the presence and proWeSS OF her heroic
sons at the front in the war with Spain.
Her Lee her Wheeler, her Bagley, her
Blue her Hobson and her thousands OF vol
unteers who sprang to arms at their coun-
from the Philippines and from the jungles
of Cuba You, my Confederate comrades,
would be there if the country needed you.
Many of you assembled here would have
been there but for impaired health and fall
ing strength. But our sons and grandsons
are there. With our prayers and blessings
holy purposes. Among the great ends to be
attained in this conflict with Spain the free
dom the oppressed islands in both oceans,
the wider influence of America in the coun-
ellis of the nations, the increased respect for
her power on land and sea, there is stlll
another achievement TO be attained, no less
glorious and far-reaching; namely, the OBJ
liberation of all traces of distrust among
ourselves and the complete and too long
DELAYED unification of the American people,
which shall be called in question no more
forever"
The grafton of the day was delivered by
Gen. Charles e. Hooker, of Mississippi He
said that when the surrender was made the
Confederate soldiers separated with arms In
their hands. He said 1t was capitulation,
the Confederates being allowed to depart
in peace, unmoleSted so long as they OBJ
served their parole. There is not one Con-
federate but has kept the terms of his
capitulation,' said the speaker. Referring
to the surrender at Appomattox, General
Hooker stated that some Of the federal Off
fS vctoS e re sa was in
for the salute, when General Grant, learn
ing of it, said: stop that firing. We have
TO great victory to be proud Of for we have
been four years capturing these 5000 men
who have laid down their arms
General Hooker was one of the counsel
appointed by the State Of Mississippi to de-
fend Jefferson Davis who was charged with
treason. He spoke feelingly OF the way In
which the President Of the Confederacy'
self the sin of all his people. Only one rea-
son, said the general, could be assigned Tor
prosecutors knew he was not guilty. They
knew his allegiance was first due to his
State, and. as loyal citizen of Mississippi
when she seeded it was his duty to espouse
her cause.
In commenting on the fact that the
South's representatives were taking a
prominent part in the war with Spain, he
took occasion to attest to the bravery and
gallantry of General Wheeler. They may
beat him for CONGRESS in Alabama G shs said
ed Q. score of voices from the audience.
'They may beat him for Congress in Ala
bama," said the speaker. but we will erect
a magnificent monument TO him."
General Hooker referred in the course OF
his remarks, to the fact that at the graves
of the Confederates in the National Gem
etery at Arlington were headstones bearing
the inscription Rebel" He told of visit
to the cemetery with some ladies, who said
it was an outrage that such thing should
be. TT is eminently proper, said the gem
eral to them that these poor boys, who
wore the ragged Confederate coat of gray,
should be buried here on the ground which
belonged to the second greatest rebel this
country has ever produced Robert e. Lee
George Washington being the first. Yes,
they were rebels-rebelled against what they
believed was wrong and asserted what they
thought was right.
Regular business occupied the remainder
of the session.
1t goes without saying that General Cor
don will be reelected commander-in-chief.
The general who has held first place for
the past ten years, has been considering
the advisabiity of withdrawing on account
of i'll health. but the demonstration ac-
corded him to-day shows that ne still holds
the hearts of his followers, and they will
not hear of his leavetaking. Eminent Con-
federates unite in saying that he will be
the leading spirit in the organization as
long as he lives.