The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-02-02
Gen. John b. Gordon in Belfast.

Gen. John B. Gordon of Georgia lectured
on The Last Days of the Confede ,acy in the
Belfast Opera House last Tuesday evening,
before large and appreciative audience.
The rear of the stage was draped with the
Stars and Stripes, and members of T. H.
Marshall Post, G. A. R., occupied seats ex-
! tending across the stage, while in front of
| them sat a delegation from A. E. Clark
| Camp, Sons of Veterans. AS Gen. Gordon
| stepped upon the stage the veterans and sons
rose and saluted, the General returning the
salute very impressvely. Hon. W. H. Nc
| Lellan introduced the lecturer in few we'll
| chosen words, speaking of him as man who
| had won distinction in war and in peace, and
| then for two hours Gen. Gordon held the
| close attention of his audience applause
alternating with ripples of laughter, and the
| two nearly continuous.
| We shall make no attempt to report the
| lecture-no printed report could do it JUS
tice. 1t needs the man behind it, the pathos,
| the humor, the sentiment, the deep-rooted
patriotism, illustrated and emphasized by
| General Gordon himself and by his wonder
fui powers orator. Those who heard
| th0 iOCuult Sou d DttltT lutd VI Uut war Ol
| the rebellion than could be obtained from
reading a hundred volumes. He spoke from
| full experience, and his descriptions of army
| life were living pictures. His characterize
! tions Of the leaders in the Union aud Con-
federate armies were just, and his tributes
| to Grant and to Lee alike drew applause.
| The incidents he told Of the exchange of
| rta nd Of al Oft hot tLo
opposing armies on the Rapldan, of the
| Union woman at whose table he sat when in
| Pennsy lvania, of his attentions to Gen. Bar
low on the field of Gettysburg, and of the
courtesy shown by some unknown Union Of
Ger to Mrs. Gordon and her child in Virginia,
could be many times duplicated. His trb-
utes to American valor and chivary, based
upon his personal experience on many
bloody battlefield; his recognition of the
| part borne in the war by American women
on both sides; his words of counsel to the
rising generation; his declaration of the un-
swerving loyalty of the Southern people to
the flag of our forefathers; and in closing,
the story of an eyewitness and participant of
the last scene of all, the surrender at Appo-
ANo ScOhA ~ SN"9OhA'
exchange well says:
Gen. Gordon's lecture, GRAFTON it may
be better termed, is matches sermon from
the gospel of peace by matchless fighter in
| the days of war. He had the courage of his
convictions when they led him to the battle,
(! and he utters them as ely today i'll Gem
enting the ties of soldierly admiration for
the men who fought, and patriotic love for
the great republic which survives the con-
fict. . Without taint OF dlSluNalty
to the cherished traditions of the South,
without word of otfense to the champions
of Northern opinion, he klndles anew the
love of every follower Of Lee he deepeus
the admiration of every Federal surgiv or
of the military genius and manly maguauinl-
ity of Grant; and he awakens i'll both d
loftier patriotism and more cousecrated de-
VOtiOn to this nation, which, IN the InI-
mortal words Of Abraham Lincoln, "uuder
God, shall have new birth OF freedom and
/ that government of the people, which shall
not perish from the earth"
One of our Grand Army men remarked
the other day that some of the boys had met
/ Gen. Gordon during the war and he had
given them a warm reception, and they
proposed tie reciprocate when he came TO
Belfast This took the form of a supper and
reception at Memorial Hall after the lecture
and no pains We're spared to make the oCcas-
sion a thoroughly enjoyable one. The hall
was tastefully decorated with flags, ever
green and bunting and tables were arranged
1 in hollow square around the sides of the
room, with a tablein the centre for the guest
| of the evening bountful supper was
/ provided for all, the tables We're tastefuly
| laid, and members Of the Post, Relief Corps,
and Sons of Veterans were untiring in their
efforts to provide for their guests. The Bel
fast Band, stationed in the autHrOom dis
coursed patriotic airs during the supper.
There We're no formalities, no speech max
ing, and after some time spent in social in
tercourse Gen. Gordon took his leave and
the company dispersed.
Although Gen. Gordon has lectured in all
the other New England States this was his
/ first visit to Maine. When asked if he did
/ not find our winter climate rather trying he
said, no; that the ozone in the atmosphere
and the warm welcome received everywhere
| from his comrades of the Grand Army We're
| doing him good. A few years ago he was
1 quite Invalid, but now he was gaining in
health and strength. Twenty odd years have
elapsed since the writer knew Gen. Gordon
| in Washington Senator from Georgia,
and save that his beard is silvered and his
| locks thin, he does not appear day older
now than I'll en-. Gen. Gordon was a guest
| at the Revere House while here, and left on
| morning train yesterday morning for Ban
! pOr, here he was lecture last evening