The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-12

confederate veterans, General Joseph
Wheeler was the principal speaker. lie
said, in part:
THE history Of our country, when
compared with that OF all the eras that
have preceded u.s. shows that our civil
ization has produced the highest class OF
men and the noblest type OF soldiers.
Defeat but exasperates. adding desper-
alton to vigor and energy 10 determined
resolve. IT was the teaching OF fathers
and mothers who fed from the oppres-
sion of caste and class. braved the un-
fathomed ocean and landed upon these
shores, confronted by wild beasts and
savage Indians that the highest honor
and greatest privilege was 70 fight for
country. its safety and its honor. II the
people OF the north excel in some quail
ties, II is also true that those OF the
south excel in others. 1t has been said
that tenacity OF purpose, thrift and per-
severance predominated In the northern
character. This may probably be so.
but IL also is true that other character
istics are more noticeable among the
people OF the south"
General Wheeler declared that the
military history OF the southern people
has been prominent feature in history
from the first settlement OF this country.
He cited Washington and the other
southern commanders OF the Revolution,
Winfield Scott and Andrew Jackson and
the other heroes OF the war with Mexico.
and then passing to the war between the
states, he said
"In the greatest battles OF the Civil
war. you contended with men OF endur-
ance. fortltude and courage men with
the same birthright of freedom. imbued
with the same spirit OF liberty; men who
were as conscientiously contending for
what they deemed the right Of the fed
eral government as you for what you
just as firmly held 10 be your rights. IL
was war fought 10 settle questions that
for more than half a century had been
matters OF the most earnest, and might
say bitter contentious. increasing in in
tensity, until an appeal TO the God OF
Battles was rendered inevitable so that
no arbtrament save that of the sword
was possible When the south yielded
II was TO the unlimited resources OF the
federal government.
THE armies OF the south laid down
their arms. but not one iota of their belief
IN the truth and Justice of their cause
did they surrender. With energy and
determination they met the new prob
lens confronting them. Above the
carnage, above the wall OF widows and
the cry of orphans, aboFe the desolated
homes above the fields overgrown with
new forests, there arose a new civiliZa-
tion and a new union. one niche in whose
temple holds figure whose name shall
be homo ed throughout the ages. Lee.
whose matchless skill. whose soldierly
spirit, whose wonderful endurance. wars
only equalled by the grandeur OF soil
which accepted the fiat of war, lived out
80 its full close. the nobest life recorded
in all history. for the admiration of pos
terity. The lifetime Of generation has
softened the memories OF that conflict.
and side by side. both north and south
have stood together in battle against a
foreign foe"
General Wheeler touched upon the
question of expansion by declaring that
southern soldiers and southern states
men had ever taken a prominent part
I'm all movements looking 20 the enlarge
ment of our territory. History for all
time" he said. will record that it was
under southern presidents that we have
wrested from the wild Indians the great
er part OF the s223 square miles which
on the ocean and the Mississippi river;
and under southern presidents that we
have added to this domain an area nine
times as great as the present area OF the
13 original states. II is a matter In
which the southern people may well take
pride that during all the great progress
and advancement of our country. In
Guiding the armed contest of last year
and which am glad TO say now appears
to be happily ended. no section of our
land has been more devoted to the cause
OF our country and to upbolding its
honor and prestige than the people OF
the southern states.
THE position I'm which the American
people find themselves today was not
sought by them, but is the logical re-
suit OF conditions thrust upon the coun-
try by a course of events beyond our
control III ii be said they were fore
seen and predicted. IL must also be ad-
mitted that no power In our grasp could
have stayed the tide. and now we stand
before the gaze of civilization confronted
by grave responsibilities. The supreme
test of American institutions is involved.
and the American system OF government
IS on trial
IF there be any who contend that we
should not permit the island OF Cuba TO
become a part OF the United states. and
the people IL they desire IT, TO enjoy all
the rights OF American citizenship. l
have only 10 point TO the official declara-
tions OF our great statesmen commenc-
ing with Thomas Jefferson and running
through almost the entire period Of the
first half OF this century. During that
period our honored statesmen and presi-
dents. from Jefferson to Buchanan. laid
down in their messages and state docu-
ments the imperative necessity OF maxi
ing the pearl OF the Antilles part OF
80 United States"
The business OF the convention was
suspended for the Winnie Davis me-
mortal exercises By this time nearly
all OF the sponsors had arrived, and. with
the presence OF hundreds OF ladies In the
boxes and on the floor the Auditorium
presented a gay scene. The enthusiasm