The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-05-18
THURSDAYS SESSION.

4
Confederate veterans held but ono
session Thursday which shortly after
noon gave way TO the Winnie Davis
memorial exercises, at the conclusion
of which an adjournment until 10
o'clock Friday was taken. The an
nouncement that General Joseph
Wheeler was to speak filled the audi
torium and tho hero OF two wars was
giving rousing reception by the i'm
mcnse audience. The delegates and
visitors devoted the afternoon to ex-
cursions to nearby resorts, trips down
the bay and social functions, and at
night q concart was given at the audi
torium, where superb choir and
orchestra rendered a programme of
Southern war songs.
THE LEE RESOLUTION.
The committee on resolutions to
which was referred General Lees res.
olution accepting President McKin-
ley's proposal that the Federal govern
ment should make provision for the |
care of the graves of Confederate dead |
spent several hours discussing the |
matter and a compromise resolution |
was finally framed aud will be offered
as substitute. The resolution is to
the effect that il the national govern
ment desires to care for the graves the
| Confederate veterans do not object 10
its undertaking charge of those in the
North and in the neighborhood of the
| 4 4 lr,lf&
state that the women of the South have
voluntarily undertaken to decorate and
properly preserve the graves, and that
the election as commander-in in chief,
and his association will not take this
privilege from them. In general, the
resolution is along the lines of the
speech made by Mr. Busbee, and who
proposed the substitute to the commit
tee. The modified resolution has been
submitted to General Lee, and he Is
understood to have accepted it.
The convention was slow in coming
to order, it being 1905 when the gravel
fell. It was opened with the Doxol-
ogy, followed by a prayer by the Rev.
DR.. Smith, of Stonewall Jackson's
staff. The prayer was most approprl-
ate one. He invoked the divine bless
ing on the convention and its rapidly
aging members. He asked God s bless
ing on the widows of the cause. The
J recommendation of the members for
the committee on credentials and reso-
lutions were cslled for.
After some further general business
: the feature of the days session took
0 place. It was General Wheeler's ad
I dress, and the scene that attended hif
. !. introduction wan one Of frantic enthu-
. siasm. Advancing to the front of the
v platform, General Gordon held up his
9 hand, and absolute silence fell upon tht
! vast audience, as he said: 'Comrades
u ! 1 have here real treat for you. If
: should tell this convention there is here
, the hero of Santiago-"General Gordo1
d could get no further. A wild burst O
a applause thundered forth, rebel yell
split the air and hats, can es and hand
=. kerchiefs were waved as the great au
If diem ce rose to its feet. Finally secur
j. ing quiet, General Gordon spoke Q
n General Wheeler as the man who a
- Santiago held to the front place tn
army flag of America" Again tn
IF applause thundered out, and, rising
m the assemblage continued cheering un
IS til tho scene was one of the widest tha
% ever marked u reunion. Proceeding
= General Gordon described Wheeler a
r. ono of the es'wiliest wizards of the Cor
s. federacy." and then repeated the apot
ut ryphal story of the famous little caval
lr ryman when at Santiago he exclaime
u, u as the Spanish lines broke, "Forware
- bows, the Yankees are running" an
az again the applause broke out. The al
~ dience rose as General wheeler ster
,e ped forward, apparently much affectet
ne He spoke deliberately, calmly an
* clearly, the audience giving him clos
ID attention. His reference to the gener'
he sorrow caused by the death of Winn
Sc Davis affected many to tears. Ger
l. .ral Wheeler said in part:
"The history of our country, whe
ed compared with that of all the eras th
eo have preceded us, shows that our civi
90 ization has produced the highest ella
de of men and the noblest type of soldier
ed The very idea of liberty nerves the SO
ara and fires the heart. Defeat but exaspe
or ates, adding desperation to vigor al
- energy to determined resolve. 1t "
ra- the teaching of fathers and mothe
Ter who fied from the oppression Of cas-
ir- and class, braved the unfathomed oce'
nie and landed upon these shores, col
"a fronted by wild beasts and savage 1
dams that the highest honor and gres
no est privilege was to fight for countr
er- it's safety and its honor.
lag eff the people of the North excel
Ids some qualities, it is also true th
~ those of the South excel in others.
has been said that tenacity of purpos
oi thrift and perseverance predominant
Old the Northern character. This m
!, . probably be SO, but it is also tr
m, that other characteristics are more n
u.s. ticeable among the people of t
vor South"
var "rhe battle SCARED veterans, W
re- during four years OF bloody warfa
ere dazzled the world with the splendor
md their heroism are fast passing ava
red The few who remain gather annual
lor to renew the friendship which, form
among such scenes. is the warms
lef- and most enduring. No greater here
the were in the legions led by Alaxand'
not Hannibal, Charlemagne or Napoiso
ing for your achievements excelled
Tin theirs.
sIt was war fought to settle gu,
lere tions that for more than half cent?
me, had been matters of the most earne
and might say bitter contentious,
au- creasing in intensity until an app
ises to the Goa OF bssties was renoel
lima ipesi'ap,e 81 .nd' os nv ., nosa;hla WI =.
Q OF the South yielded, it was to numbe
MES battalions. artillery, to unlimited
ito sources of the Federal government.
,itv "The armies Of the South laid do
by 'nei; :; ~ tr,'4S Inv and T ;rs.;ce 80 of -
,oke 80 5;a thov anrraniar With ana