The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-21
WAS RUFFLED BY A SENTIMENT
SPOKEN BY GEN. SHAW
At BLUE AND GRAY MEETING.
SAID SHOULD STOP TEACHING
SOUTH WAS RIGHT.
Gen. Gordon Said He Fought for
what He Believed Was Right, ana
WOuId So Teach Ills ChfIdren-Gen.
shaw Responded Gracefully and
the Incident Was CIosed-specch
of the Grand Army Commander.


Atlanta. July 2o-A genuine Georgia
barbecue this afternoon closed the reun-
ion in this city of the Blue and Gray.
Although 1t was given out at its incep-
zion that the reunion was for the benefit
only of those who participated in the bat
ties around Atlanta. and the citys tnvit-
ed guests. veterans from all parts of the
South were present. swelling the crowds
to large proportions.
Gen. John b. Gordon, commander In
chief OF the United Confederate Veterans,
disobeying his physicians orders. was
present with the other distinguished
guests, and sat side by side with Gen.
Albert D. Shaw commander in chief OF
the G. A. r.
All the invited guests made speeches,
but the second on the programme, that
of Gen. Shaw, did not please Gen. Cor
don, and for a time reconciliation was
forgotten. Gen. Shaw's speech was for
the most part conciiatory In tone. and
was we'll received. and Yet his reference
to the manner in which all memories Of
the great struggle should be blotted out
ceived with the favor hoped for. In his
speech he uttered these words, and they
went deeply into Gen. Gordon's heart:
what l am anxious to see is the dis
appearance of all unworthy reminders of
the terrible conflict and all the culture OF
present unity and righteousness over all
the Union. There can now be but one IDEAL
American CitiZan
stripes, one bulwark OF future national
glory and one line of patriotic teachings
for all and by all. In this view the keen
ing alive of sectional teachings as 20 the
justice and rights of the cause of tbs
South in the hearts of the children of the
south is all out of order, unwise, unjust
and utterly opposed to the bond by which
the great chieftain Lee solemnlv houoa
the cause OF the South In his final SIR
render deeply deplore all agencies of
this sort, because in honor and in chivaI-
ric American manhood and womanhood
nothing of this nature should be taught or
tolerated for an instant"
Gen. Gordon Took Execution,
AT the close of Gen. Shaws speech, Gen.
Gordon came forward. He had spoken
briefly before and his appearance again
caused considerable of a surprise. The
enthusiasm quieted instantly.
Gen. Gordon said he could not teach his
children that he fought for what was
wrong. He entered battle for what he
believed was right. and "onIy the tudc-
ment day and God Himself viii ever de-
eide who was right"
Let us cherish the memories" contin-
ued Gen. Gordon. land history will rec
ord and heaven judge, that both sides
were right in fighting for what they be-
lieved was right. Let us settle once and
for oil this question on basis commen-
surate with the manhood Of the sides en-
gagged in the great struggle; let us seule
1t on a basis of that imma culate truth
that both sides were fighting for the con-
stitution of their forefathers.
Gen. Shaw responded gracefully to the
Generals exceptions
He stated that he had prepared his
speech with care and much of the mater
ial therein was gained from speeches
made by Gen. Gordon in the North.
Our children should be taught" said
Gen. Shaw, "the true glory and subIimity
of our one country; their fathers Will
teach them this. Let them be SO alike.
the children of the North and of the
South, that no difference will be percepti-
ble"
The incident closed with three cheers
for the Blue and the Gray
speech of Gen. shaw.
The speakers of the day were Gen. Al
bert ID. Shaw, Gen. John 3. Gordon, Gov.
James A. Mount of Indiana. Hon. W. C.
p. Breckenridge, Gen. ]. c.. Breckin-
ridge, inspector general U. S. A; Gen.
A. P. Stewart of Chattanooga and Gen.
o. O. Howard.
Gen. Gordon spoke briefly in introducing
Gen. Shaw. who spoke in part as follows:
II am proud to be present on this bat
tlefeld of the great war; and to meet and
greet comrades and veterans of the
North. and OF the South, on this anniver-
sary of the Peach Tree Creek Battle OF
the COS. 1 am net here to speak of it's
details for others will recount he rem
iniscent features of this famous fight. who
were partic pants on either side; but am
present as a Union veteran, to show my
full sympathy with reunions of this sort
where brave former foes once engaged in
the hot rush of ccntendng armies now
meet as fri nds and fellow citizens, with
common ms and IN common loyalty to
the greatest republic of the world. / am
to speak to-day not officially as the COM
mander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the
Re7ublc, but as a veteran and a private
soldier of Company A, Thirty-ffth New
York Volunteers, in which / carried a
gun for two years-what wells up in my
heart on this great occasion. | believe
the time has come when plain words
should be spoken of a past that will for
ever witch the world by it's great deeds
ard great men, covering the par!od of
American history between 1861 and 1865.
The Cavalier and the Puritan.
"The end came a. Appomattox. and the
Cavalier Lee and the Puritan Grant fac
ed each other on the closing scenes of the
most pathetic and bloody drawn OF all the
sges The half drawn sword was motion
ed back, and the victorious leaders words
sounded forth the death knell OF past ma
tional division-and greeted the glorious
dawn of a new destiny, when he said:
How many rations do your hungry SOL
diars need ?" And then followed the bless
ed assurance that horses and side arms
could be retained, The former as helps in
the new life Of peace. and the latter as
Continued on Fifth Pags)