The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-12


Those upon whom rest the cares. duties
and burdens OF government have en-
conntered no emDarrassments or com
plants or criticism from Southern States.
None OF their brave volunteer regiments
have asked to be returned from fields OF
active duty, and when the request has
come from governors OF other common
wealths. volunteers from the Southern
States have promptly begged for the honor
OF flling their places in the front OF battle.
inc position in which the American
people find themselves today was not
sought by them, but IL is the logical result
OF conditions thrust upon the country by
course OF events beyond our control II
1t be said they were foreseen and q sdicted.
1t must also be admitted that no E.wer In
our grasp would have stayed the tide and
now we stand before the gaze of clvliza-
ton confronted by grave responsibilities.
Inc supreme test OF American Institutions
is involved, and the American aystem of
government Ia on trial.
1t is said by some that while England.
Holland, France and other nations may
extend protecting hand to peoples and
iahcs separated from the home country
benefting both the protector and the pro-
tected, that we shall be utterly unable to
accomplish such purpose. To admit this
proposition is TO admit that our system Of
government Is lacking in The essential
qualifications which every sovereign power
should possess In one year we have risen
to the first place in the family of nations;
to make the smallest retrograde step would
be at the expense OF the prestige we have
won. 10 return to the starting point Of a
year ago would be to lose what It would
take century to regain. In answer to
those who say that the policy OF our fore
fathers forbade the extension of territory,
| would point to jefferson and the Louis-
lana purchase. Monroe and Florida, Polk
and Texas, ard the vast territory ac-
CURED from Mexico. and later TO Andrew
johnson and the acquisition of Alaska.
IT there he any who contend that We
should not permit the island of Cuba 10
become a part Of the United States, and It's
people, II they desire 1t, to enjoy all the
rights Of American citizenship. have only
to point to the official declaration Of our
great statesmen commencing with Thomas
Jefferson and running through almost the
entire period OF the first half OF this CEN
tury. During all that period our honored
statesmen and presidents from jefferson
TO Buchanan laid down in their messages
and State documents the imperative neces-
sIty of making the Pearl OF the Antilles
a part OF the United States"
In concluding his address. General
Wheeler paid an eloquent tribute to the
women OF the South and the part they bore
in the war and the dark years that fol-
lowed, saying;
Although some Of these blessed women
are sttll with us, many more have long
since gone TO their reward, but they have
rocked in cradles the principles, minds and
characters which are to control the future
of their beloved land, The thought which
| wish to Impress upon the minds of the
generation TO whom we must soon inlrust
a sacred charge for the Confederate
soldiers race is nearly run, and the in
junction which | would leave with your
sons and daughters-for the daughters
have the noblest part, and | know they
viii faithfully perform It's this:
see to 1t that the women OF the Con-
have. in their posterity, monu-
ment more lasting than any that could he
built OF stone,
lie then asked Bishop capers to deliver
a prayer, and when the bishop concluded
General Gordon introduced the orator Of
the occasion, Colonel Bennett II. Young, OF
Rushville. Colonel Youpgs eulogy was
of tender eloquence, and many
persons in the audience were visihly al
fected
The Louisiana Glee club then sang
Nearer My God to Thee. and at tho cor
clusion OF .he hymn General Lee arose |
aud said that for many years Mrs Davis !
lad been unable, owing TO il-heaNh, to |
attend the reunions OF the association, but
that on this occasion she was represented /
by Miss Waller Of Mississippi As General |
Lee bowed toward her Miss Waller arose
in her box and received the salute OF the
This closed the exercises, and a moment
or so later Mr. II 4. Lockwood OF Mobile
Ala. arose and moved that the convention
express its deep appreciation OF those
"chiyalric and tender people of the North
who had ministered with tender care to
the last hours OF the Daughter OF the Con
General Gordon put the motion and the
response was so hearty that no
did not ask for negative vote.
Major William NJ. Robbins. the Confcd-
crate OF the National Park committee and
from Louisiana, offered the
resolution, which was referred:
"Whereas, The government of the United
States has undertaken and Is pushing for
ward the work Of permanently marking
tho lines and positions OF the troops OF
both the contendlng armies On several
great battlehelds of the civil war, among
them Gettysburg. Ch!okamauga, Shiloh.
and others. with the design OF
making these battlefelds permanent me-
MORALS Of the prowess OF "a rcaR SOL
iers without respect to sections,
Resolved, That we as Confederate Vet
,rans sympathize with and commend this
patriotic purpose OF the government and
will lend our Influence toward It's roaliza-
ion.
Resolved That we trust the people OF
he Southern States will take early and ct
ective steps 20 act on these questions. and
o erect suitable monuments to the heroes
" our cause who fought and died for what
hey believed to be right
Resolved That we rejoice with our
brethren throughout the Union that thu
sectional discord Of other days Is ended
aud that We are a reunited people with ons
country and one flag"
The report OF the Jefferson Monument
was then submitted
II was decided to make the selection NJ
he next place of meeting a snecIal order
Tor tomorrow morning at II oSloak
This mornings session opened at II
''clocl with the singing Of the Dcxology.
ollowed by prayer by Chaplain smith
The committees on credentials and reSn-
utious were appointed, one member being
elected BY each State.
The following letter from General Fltz-
ugh Lee was read: ~ am ever so mucn
bllged for your kind and complimentary ,
otter. don't know OF anything that
would give me greater pleasure than o
'e at the reunion IN Charleston. but my
uties here are so pressing and constant
hat ! fear l will not be able to leave,
only for a few days. Then. too, / think !
he quarantine regulations would prevent
ne from gettinG to Charleston or any
lther Southern tort in May You see.
ffpr M n.tapapt(pc NC L., &C.,. |