Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-11
CONFEDERATE VETERANS
Thousands of Enthusiastic Wearers OF the
Gray Meet at Columbia. S. C.

Gray Meet at Columbia. S. C.
Charleston, S. c., May 10.-Every
steam whistle and all the church and
fire bells of the city at O'Clock this
morning gave noisy greeting TO the
$4,000 people in attendance at the
opening of the United Confederate
Veterans annual reunion. The city
was a mass Of colors and the streets
were filled with martial music. The
bells in old ST. Michaels chimed inces-
sanity during the morning, playing
MY Country, 'Tis of Thee, Star
Spangled Banner, My Maryland"
and other patriotic airs.
The feature of the day was the par
ade of the veterans followed by the
reunion exercises at the new auditor
ium. Ten thousand veterans were in
line when the parade moved, shortly
before o'clock.
The first indoor session was held in
the reunion auditorium, which was
dedicated last night. The auditorium
seats $500 people and several thousand
were turned away. Gen. John B. Cor
don, as orator, was escorted to the
chair by General Moorman. Gen. Cor
don received an enthusiastic demon
stration.
Mrs. Jefferson Davis was introduced
by Gen. Gordon as the one whom
Jefferson Davis loved better than the
Confederacy and better than his own
life. AS Mrs. Davis stepped to the
platform, the veterans went wild with
enthusiasm.
General Gordon introduced Mrs.
Stonewall Jackson, and shouted: 81
am going to hug her." and caught her
in his arms and pressed her to his
bosom.
Gen. Gordon closed his speech with
these words:
Il feel empowered by your confidence
to send to every patron in every sec
ton and State the fraternal greetings
of this convention and of the whole
people, to pledge in the name of every
Confederate's son and daughter of
Confederates the South's eternal 10y
atty to every cause for the uplifting of
American manhood, the perpetuity Of
American freedom, the unity of the
American people that by all these agen-
cie5 we may accelerate the onward
march of the republic in its benign
mission to humanity"
The following resolution, introduced
at the first session of the Confederate
reunion in this city to-day by Gen.
Stephen d. Lee. of Mississippi, pre-
cipitated a heated discussion:
Whereas. In Atlanta, Ga, Decem-
Der 20, 1898, the President of the
United States of America gave utter
ance to the sentiment: That the time
has come when the United States
should share in caring for the graves
OF the Confederate dead and whereas.
this utterance OF the Chief Executive
OF the nation demands from us. the
survivors of our dead comrades in
arms a frank and generous response to
so lofty and magnanimous sentiment;
therefore, be it
Resolved. By the United Confederate
Veterans. in annual convention assembled
that in this act of President Mckinley and
in its reception by our brethren of the
North. We recognize authoritative evidence
that we are again a united people and one
in determination to exhibit 10 the world
the gent.er as wei las the sterner traits
of American character and that we ac-
cept the statement of our Chief Executive
in the spirit in which it was made, believ-
ing that such legislation by the general
government as he has suggested would
show clearly the advance that the Amer
lean people have achieved in thofe higher
Virtues that adorn great natigh.
IA motion was made to adopt the report