Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-11
Hesitate to Endorse the Presi-
dents Atlanta Speech.
Still Feel a Difference Between South
ern and Northern Graves.
Charleston. S. c.. Gaily Decorated in Honor
Of Confederate Veterans.

| President Mckinley Suggestion ihaue
! in his recent Atlanta speech. that the
| c,rs of the graves of Confederate DEAD
| should he undertaken by the federal
| Government. Action on the resolution,
| however was frustrated by motion
| ~ rafa, il "a the committee on resolu
| tinrs As this committee is yet to he
| appointed, it is not probable tnat the
matter will be taken up, tomorrow
| and the ultimate fate of the resolution
Il problematical. The motion to refer
| nriginated with DR.. VIM. ID. Jones OF
Virginia. and met with some opposition
| and il is believed the matter eventual
1v will cause some discussion as there
Is a decided faction in favor of Gen.
Lees sentiments while the opposition
i said to lie strong. The reference to
committee probably will result in
amending the resolution so that while
thanking the President and acknoWl-
cdging his action as a graceful one.
it will declare that the care of its dead
Is I; duty Of the South.
Ideal weather conditions favor the
veterans of the gray and their thou
sands of friends who are crOWdinS this
nospitable little Southern city. y con-
sentative estimate places the number
Or visitors as between 1900 and 10000.
Tho attendance from the South at large
is not so great as in former years, but
The South Carolinans and veterans
from adjacent states make up the de-
ficicncy. while Southern enthusiasm IS
at food tide Everywhere the strains
Of "Bonny Blue Flag" minGle with
Dixie" and other airs dear to the
South lands. while cheering crowds
greet every repetition of the tunes
The business session Of the reunion
VAS called TO order. this morning, by
Cen. {. j. Walker. commanding the
South Carolina division, in the hand
some auditorium erected for the occa-
sion by the city of Charleston. It's
enormous floor space was crowded and
thousands were unable 70 gain admit
lance. When Gen. John 3. Gordon
the commander-in-ch chief. appeared up
on the stage he was greeted with
thunders of applause. In calling the
assemblage to order. Gen. Walker
spoke Of Charlcston's invitation 70 the
veterans to meet at the birthplace Of
secession and said that the gavel he
was using was that which in 1860 had
Dttl uStNl ~ ttlli ~ va NANs NA'N .7NNN''-7''''
convention. The chairs used by Off
GERS, TO-DAY, ann the table Of the pre-
siding officer N. the same as used on
that memorable occasion.
Dr.. J. William Jones, the chaplain
general. then invoked Divine blessing
upon the convention. He asked it Of
1.-THE God Of our common country and
prayed that all Cnnfederates might be
! rue to the principles Of constitution
| and freedom for which our fathers
| fought and that these principles
might be handed down to our children
and childrens children" He invoked
| Divine blessing upon the President of
the United States ana all in authority.
Gen. Williams introduced Lieut.. Gov.
insolvency, whose mention Of Wheeler
was applauded and of Hampton cheer
| ed Mayor Smyth Of Charleston, eX-
| ,cndcd I'd the visitors a welcome. Gen.
| Gordon was then escorted to the front
| If the stage and his appearance was
the signal for Il storm of applause.
| Cheers ard shrill yells for the com
mander-in-chie mingled with the
crash of bands and hats, handker-
chiefs ana flags We're frantically way
| "a. When order WAS finally restored
| the old Confederate commander was
! presented by Gen. Walker and deliver
I'd an eloquent addrss. He spoke with
| all the vigor, eloquence and grace
| which have won for him a national
| reputation as an orator.
After the applause had subsidized
Gen. Gordon led Mrs. Stonewall Jack
son to the front of the stage and she
| was enthusiastically aplaudcd. AS he
presented Mrs. Jackson and in the first
lul. Gen. Gordon said: II Will shake
her hands for you ALL" and In an In
slant he added: Il will do more than
that; | am going to hug her for you,
and with that he did what he said he
was going to do which met the hearty
approval of the vast throng.
1t was at this stage Gen. Lee pre-
scented his resolution, the full text OF
which follows:
Whereas, in Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 20
1898, the President of the United State!
Of America gave utterance to the senti
ment. That the time has come wheI
the United States should share in car
ing for the graves of the Confederate
dead and whereas, this utterance o
the Chief Executive of the nation de-
. mands from us the survivors Of oul
dead comrades in arms. a frank anC
generous response to so lofty ant
! magnanimouS sentiment.
Therefore, be it resolved, by tho
United Confederate Veterans in annua
conyocation assembled that in this ac
of President Mckinley and in it's recep-
ton by our brethren of the North, We
recognize authoritative evidence tina
:: we are again a united people and on,
in determination to exhibit to tbs
world the gentler as well as the stern
er traits Of American character an(
that we accept the statement of on,
Chief Executive in the spirit in which
it was made, believing that such legis
. lation by the general government as HI
has suggested. would show clearly tn,
advance that the American people have
achieved in those higher virtues tina
adorn a great nation"
Chaplain Jones said he thought tn
:; resolution should be referred to tn
committee on resolutions to be regu
larly appointed. Gen. Lee said H.
hoped the resolution would be adopte,
without reference. DR.. Harris of Flor
ida, said that from the very nature o
the resolution he did not think it shoul,
: be referred. 1t would be as well to TAX