The Anaconda standard., 1899-05-12
FRENZY OF ENTHUSIASM
Aroused by Gen. Wheeler at the
Confederate Reunion.
THE LESSONS OF THE WAR
America Has Risen to the First Place
Among Nations - Expansion the
Precedent Of the Past-Truth
OF the Lost Cause.

Charleston, S. c., May 1.-THE morn
ing session of the confederates' reunion
opened with the singing of the doxol
ogy, followed by a prayer by Chaplain
Smith. A letter of regret was read
from General Fitzhugh Lee. General
Gordon then introduced General Joe
Wheeler
Il need not tell you" said General
Gordon, that here is one of the wisest
of confederate wizards. l need not tell
you that on that day at Santiago when
he saw Spanish flying before him, and
when in the wild enthusiasm of
the moment he forgot where he
Torwar5 add saVs easd tbe qp0n vahks his men
running. II I should tell you any Of
these things l would strike chord in
every heart, but I am not going to do
it. l am going to strike every chord at
single stroke at once by calling the
name of Joe Wheeler"
The audience appauded wildly. Ev-
cry sentence of General Wheeler's
speech brought shouts of applause and
stirred veterans to a frenzy of enthu-
siasm. AT times it was impossible for
the speaker to proceed General Wheel
er declared that the military history of
the Southern people has been a promi-
nent feature in history from the first
settlement of this country.
While our civil war was, l may
truthfully assert the most sanguinary
recorded in history it was also remark
able that in it there was no element of
personal hostility, and the soldiers as
individuals could not in the nature of
things have entertained feelings of ma
tired for each other They fought not
f7v- MOTT n
sire to shed blood not for ambition,
but simply because they felt that there
lay the path Of duty. The armies Of
the South laid down their arms, but not
one iota of their belief in the truth and
justice of their cause did they surren-
der. With energy and determination
they met the new problems confronting
them
General Wheeler declared that South
ern soldiers and Southern statesmen
had ever taken prominent part in all
things looking to enlargement of our
territory. Those upon whom rest the
cares, duties and burdens of govern
ment,' he said. '.have encountered no
embarrassments or complaints or crit
icism from Southern states. None of
their brave volunteer regiments have
asked to be returned from fields of ac-
tive duty, and when request has come
from governors of other common
wealths. volunteers from Southern
states have promptly begged for the
honor of filling their places in the front
of battle.
I'm one year we have risen to the first
place in the family of nations; to make
the smallest retrogmde step would he
a. the expense of prestige we have won.
To return to the starting point of
year ago would be to lose what it would
take a century to regain. In answer to
those WI of
fathers forebade extension of territory
would point to Jefferson and the Louis
lana purchase, President Monroe and
Florida. Polk and Texas and vast terri
tory acquired from Mexico. and later to
Andrew Johnson and the acquisition of
Alaska In concluding 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.
The memorial to Winnie Davis was
one of the features of to-day's session
of the confederate veterans. Col. Ben
nett H. Young of Louisville paid a tri-
butte to the memory of the Daughter
of the Confederacy"
A resolution was unanimously adopt
ed extending the thanks of every vet
eran to the people of the North who so
tenderly administered to Winnie Davis
at the time of her illness at Nara gan
sett Pier.
The Jefferson Davis monument com
mittee submitted the following report:
Resolved, That it is the earnest and
unanimous wish of the united confeder-
ate veterans that the committee shall
undertake the patriotic task of building
the monument to President jefferson
Davis at Richmond, Va, feeling conf
dent that under their direction the work
will soon be accomplished and we shall
have in the capitol city of the confeder-
acy memorial worthy of the president
and of the people over whom he ruled
with such fidelity and wisdom"