The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-11


The parade to-day was perhaps the larg
est in the history of the survivors of the
Confederacy. North Carolina did her
self proud, and well may she be congrat-
ulated on her splendid showing.
The sponsors for the Old North State,
Miss Daisy Holt and Miss Addie Snow,
occupied the same carriage with the
Virginia sponsors, their flag, first at
Bethel, last at Appomattox, was cheer.
ed along the line of march. General
Roberts. of Gates county, rode alongside
of General Wade Hampton. Miss
Mamie Branch Ashe was honorcd nitE
a conspicuous place in the line Of march
The North Carolina veterans are COM
fortably quartered at the Mills House,
under command Of General DcRossftt
Charleston's hospitality Is extended on
all sides, and the reunion will be a
great success.
CARE CONFEDERATE GRAVES.
Charleston, s. c.. May 1O.-Almost
the first official act of the ninth an
nual reunion of the United Confederate
Veterans which began its sessions to-
day was an attempt by General Stephen
ID. Lee, of Mississippi. to secure an
Endorsement of President Mckinley $
suggestion made in his recent Atlanta
speech that the care of the graves Of
Confederate dead should be undertaken
by the Federal Government. Action
on the resolution, however, was frustra-
ted by motion to refer it to the COM
Iiittee on Resolutions. in spite of Il rather
general sentiment to put it through with
enthusiasm. As this committee is yet
to be appointed it is not probable that
the matter will be taken up tomorrow.
and the ultimate fate of the resolution is
problematical. The motion to refer origi-
mated with DIR. j. William Jones. of Vir-
ginia. and met with some opposition and
it is believed the matter will eventually
csfuse some discussion. as there is a
decided faction in favor OF General
Lees sentiments, while the opposition
is also said to be very strong. The
reference to committee probably Will re-
suit in amending. the resolution so that
while thanking the President and ac-
knowledging his action as d graceful
one. it will declare that the care OF
its dead is duty of the South.
Ideal weather conditions favor the
veterans of the gray and their thous-
ands of friends who. are crowding this
hospitable Southern city. A .conserva-
tive estimate places the number of visi-
tors ut between $4,000 and 10000. The
attendance from the South at large is
not so general as in former years. but
the South Carolnians and Veterans
from adjacent States make mp the def
4. Il.
at top food. Everywhere the blare OF
bands and the strains Of the Bonnie
Blue Flag" mingle with "Dixie'' and
other airs dear to the Southland. while
cheering crowds greet every repetition
of the tunes. The best of order pre-
walls and over all is the air of genial
sociability which marks the annual gath
ering of the association.
The business session of the reunion
was called to order this morning by
General C. |. Walker. commanding the
South Carolina Division in the hand
some auditorium. It's enormous floor
space was crowded, and thousands We're
unable to gain admittance to the build
ing When General John b. Gordon.
the omnfander-in-chief. appeared upon
the stage he was greeted with thunders
of applause. The band struck up Dixie"
and the veterans cheered and cheered
again. General Walker spoke of Char
leston's invitation to the veterans to
meet ut the birthplace of secession. and
said that the gavel he was using was
that which in 1860 had been used to call
to order the secession convention. The
chairs used by the officers today and
the table of the presiding officer were
the same as used on that memorable
occasion,
DIR. J. William Jones, the Chaplain
General. then invoked the divine blessing
upon the convention. He asked it OF
the God of our common country" and
prayed that all COnfederates may be
true to the principles ''of constitutional
freedom. for which our fathers fought.
ana that these principles might be
handed down to our children and chill
drens children" He invoked the Di-
vine blessings upon the President of the
United States and all in authority.
Speaker Gary. of the House of Repre-
sentatives of South Carolina. presented
the resolutions adopted by the General
Assembly in regard to the holding of
the reunion in this State.
General Walker then introduced Lieu
tenant Governor McSweeny. whose men
tion of Wheeler was applauded and of
Hampton cheered.
Mayor Smyth. of Charleston, Extended
to the visitors welcome. General Cor
don was then escorted to the front OF
the stage and his appearance was the
signal for storm of applause. Cheers
and shrill yels for the commansIer-in
chief mingled with the crash of tn,
band and hats, handkerchiefs and flags