The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-11
"BOYS" ARE DIVIDED
As TO Government Care Of Confad.
crate Soldiers Graves.
Some Favor Presidents Idea, While a Large
Number Are Opposed 10 H.

oHclal act or the ninth annual reunion
OF the United Confederate Veterans was
an attempt by General Stephen ID. Lee
or Mississippi TO secure an Endorsement
OF President McKinley's 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 frustrated by motion 10
refer IL TO the committee on resolutions.
As this committee is yet 10 be appointed
the ultimate fate OF the resolution Is
problematical.
The motion to refer originated with
DIR. William ID. Jones OF Virginia and
met with some opposition. and IL is be-
ieved the matter eventually win cause
some discussion, as there Is decided
faction in favor OF General Lees senti-
ments, while the opposition is said TO be
strong The reference 20 committee
probably will result In amending the
resolution so that while thanking the
president and acknowledging his action
as graceful one IL will declare that the
care OF its dead Is "a duty OF the south.
conservative estimate places the
10000, while southern enthusiasm is at
food tide.
The business session of the reunion
was called to order by General G. j.
Walker commanding tho South Caro-
lima division. in tho handsome audi
torium erected for the occasion by the
city Of Charleston. Its enormous floor
space was crowded and thousands were
unable 20 gain admittance When Cen
eral John 3. Gordon. tn commander-in-
chief, appeared upon the stage he was
greeted with thunders Of applause. The
bands struck up Dixie" and the veter-
ans cheered and cheered again. In
calling the assemblcge TO order General
Walker spoke Of Charlestons invitation
TO the veterans to meet at the birthplace
| of secession. and said that the gavel he
was using was that which In 1860. had
been used TO call 20 order the secession
convention. The chairs used 10y the Of
flcers yesterday and the table OF the
presiding officer werS the same as used
on that memorable occasion.
DIR. j. w. Jones. the chaplain general.
then invoked the divine blessing upon
the convention. He asked IL of the God
OF our common country" and prayed
that all Confederates might be true TO
the principles OF constitution and free
dom for which our fathers fought" and
that these principles might be handed
down 10 OUT chfttreu ara fT-.rTen-g C1I1r-
dren." He invoked the divine blessing
upon the President Of the United States
and ali IN authority.
Mayor Smyth extended 10 the visitors
welcome. General Gordon was then
escorted TO the front Of the stage and
his appearance was the signal for a
storm OF applause. Cheers and shrli
yells for the commander-in-chief
mingled with the crash OF the bands, ard
hats. handkerchiefs ard flags were
waved frantically.
When order was finally restored the
Old Confederate commander was pre-
sented by General Walker and delivered
an eloquent address. lie spoke with all
the vigor eloquence and grace which
have won for him a national reputation
as an orator
General Gordon said: II should es-
teepl IL a stiH higher honor II, statrtti here
today as the herald OF both the host and
guests i'm proclaiming a message of good
will TO all our countrymen and TO send
the fraternal greetings OF this people, OF
all Confederates. and Of their children
to all patriots OF all sections: TO unite
with our American brethren OF every
state i'm ascribing 20 the guiding hand
OF God the unparalleled victories OF
American arms I'm the late war on land
and sea; and. lastly by the memory OF
the fathers whose spirits live i'm their
sons. to pledge the souths unfailing sup
port to every worthy cause for strength
ening the bonds Of American unity. and
thus accelerating the onward march of
the republic in its benign mission to
humanity
After the applause had subsided. Gen.
eral Gordon led Mrs. Stonewall Jackson
to the front Of the stage and she was
Enthusiastically applauded. AS he pre-
scented Mrs. Jackson and in the first lull
General Gordon said:
81 will shake her hands for you ALL"
and i'm an instant he added: II will 10
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 st this stage General Lee pre-
sented his resolution. the full text of
which follows:
whereas, i'm Atlanta, Ca, Dec. 20.
1898. the President OF the United States
of America gavc utterance TO the senti-
ment: 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 COM
rades-in-arns. frank and generous re-
sponse TO so lofty and magnanimous
sentiment
Therefore. be IL resolved by the Con-
federate Veterans. In annual convention
assembled that i'm this act OF President
Mckinley. ana I'm its reception by our
brethren OF the north. we recognize au-
thoritative evidence that we are again
united people, and one in determination
10 exhibit to the world the gentler. as
well rs the stcrner traits or American
character. aud that We accept the state
ment OF our chief executive i'm the spirit
I'm which IL Was made. believing that
such legislation by the general govern
ment as he has suggested, would show