The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-04
Twill BE A BIG TIME.
GEN. EVANS TALKS TO CONFEDER-
ATE VETERANS OF REUNION.

of the Georgia Division at COnfed-
crate HaII-MOre Present Than Has
Been the Case Since the CeIebra-
tion of Memorial Day, in May-Gen.
Evans Had Encouraging and
Cheering Things 10 Say to the
Veterans-He Anticipates That the
Reunion VIII BE a Grand and
Glowing Success.
Gen. Clement A. Evans. commander OF
the Georgia Division of United Confeder-
ate Veterans was the guest of the veter-
ans Of Savannah last night There were
few minutes that the general was permit
ted TO call his own. for his importunate
nosts insisted that he should see and talk
10 as many Of the veterans OF them as
was possible.
Cen. Evans was met al the Central
train, upon which be arrived. by Gen. P.
McGlashan. president of the Confederate
Veterans Association, whose guest he was
and will he during his stay in the city.
The commanding general drove TO the res
idence Of Gen. AIcGlashan fer short rest,
ana thence 10 the meeting of the Veter-
ans Association, at Confederate Hail.
There he received an enthusiastic ovation
and greeting from his old comrades. who
were assembled there, TO the number of
nearly hundred 10 do him honor.
No such meeting of the association has
been held since the Memorial day exer-
cises, in May last The han was COM
fortab,y filed. the old veterans were alive
with the enthusiasm of the occasion and
shouted and cheered like sshoo, boys at
every sentiment that excited their interest
or aroused their appreciation. Gen. Evans
was introduced TO the members by the
pres dent, Gen. McGlashan, as the com
mander of the Georgia division. Something
of the part that Gen. Evans had played
in the reunion work and the assistance
he had rendered the executive committee
was touched upon in the Introductory talk
and brought forth rounds of applause
scarcely less enthusiastic than those that
greeted Gen. Evans, when the latter be-
gan to speak.
The commanding general prefaced what
he had 70 say with a tribute TO the brav
cry and the sacrifices Of the Confederate
soldier, and of the unselhshness and Valor
with which he had given Up an that his
heart held dear and offered on the alter
of his country and the r ght II was SEN
riment, said the general. that dictated this
course, and after all it was sentiment that
has dictated every noble and generous ac-
ton that the annals of the wo.ld record.
What is patriotism. bur a sentiment"
said the speaker What was It that i'm
peeled the brave boys that went out from
Savannah, in the spring and summer of
61 to leave behind the things that made
life beautiful and those they loved and
who loved them, to embark upon the
doubtful and dangerous enterprise in
which so many yielded up their lives? 1t
was moi the hope of gain nor the love or
pelf for they received nothing for their
services 1t was not ambition, for most of
them left behind more than they could
hope to gain on the field of battle was
not the lust for conquest, for these men
fought but in defense of their native land.
II was a sentiment the truest, grandest,
noblest sentiment that ever animated the
breast of man"
Sentiment. my comrades. is the guiding
star Of the better life. The immortal
principles for which we fought and for
which so many of our comrades died are
hoarv with age, and yet as fresh and an
stained as when they first emerged from
the temple Of justice and of right. II IS
well then that we should strive 10 instiH
into the minds and hearts of the young
men of the Southland something of that
lofty ambition that is worthy to live for
and 90 die for Now that time has cleared
away the misapprehensio and the il. Will,
there is no man, North or South, so ven
/ turesome that he will strive to disprove
or dispute the correctness of the princi-
pies upon which the Confederate States of
America were founded, nor to proclaim
that ever principles of right We're better
or clearer expressed, than in the constitu-
ton of that commonwealth that lives now
only on histOry's page.
Therefore. my comrades, you should be
In a position to appreciate the privilege
that is yours when youfentertain in your
beautiful city the veterans of the state,
I Nl..N lrag fVaNrN tIEfF
| you to extend the invitation and il is a
| sentiment that has caused their glad and
Almost unanimous response. 1t viii be a
/ great gathering of Confederate veterans
that will meet here in November, who will
/ come from every part and section of the
| state to join with you in celebrating the
| events in which we have all a common
/ interest and in fighting over again the
4 battles in which once we all bore com
| mon part"
Remember that these old heroes, many
] of them poor now and decrepit and time
4 worn and tired with the stress of life,
! were willing in the olden time to sacrifice,
/ and did sacrifice, everything. They were
willing TO bear all things, endure all
/ things, suffer all things, in the hope that
their trials, their eXertions and their sac
| rilces might serve to bring to a success
| ful conclusion the cause they believed TO
be just"
Let us remember all this, and let us
! teach ii 10 our children. They are the
/ ones who finally must stop the mouth OF
a gainsaying world and bear proudly the
heritage their fathers will leave them.
! Why, Il we had confessed that We were
/ wrong, there might have been something
/ in the confession that would have brought
/ the blush of shame to the cheek Of our
/ boys. 1t is well that we have said, and
can now say after all. we were right,
! for ln so saying We maintain and uphold
! The dignity OF The manhood of the South.
! We remember that in peace or war, in
good tmc or in bad, the world IModuces
/ no noolcr or truer or Drawer boys. none
/ that can better fight It's battles than those
/ that spring from Southern soil"
1t is this chat has left US wi no feel
/ ing OF surp lso, whtn so many Of the chi f.
as. hon1rs of the Spanish war, have be n
borne off easily by he "a from our sunry
/ South. II was no surprise TO us that Ibis
/ should ave lie the case; We should have
/ loea surprised had It no."