The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-21
WHICH WAS RIGHT?
The Old Question Brought Up In the
Blue and Gray Reunion--Part Of
General shaw's Speech did not
Please General Gordon.

Blue and Gray Reunion-Part Of
General shaw's Speech did not
Please General Gordon.
ATLANTA, Ca. July 2O.-Gpn. John
B. Gordon, COMMUNICATIVE chief OF tho
United Confederate Veterans, dIsobey-
ing his physicians orders. was present
with the other distinguished veterans
at the bite md grey veterans bnrbucue
this afternoon and sat by sldp with
General Albert d. Shaw, commanders
in-chicf Of the Grand Army OF the Re-
public. All the Invited guests nado
speeches, but the second on the pros
grammc. that OF General Shaw, did not
please General Gordon, and for n tlme
reconciliation was forgotten. General
Shuw's speech was for tho most part
conciliatory in tone and was well re-
/ ceived, yet his reference to tho man.
lner in which NIL memories OF the great
struggle should be blotted out in tina
islmilies IN the south wus not received
with favor hoped for. In his speech ho
uttered these words:
Disappearance OF Reminders.
what l am anxious TO see is tho dis
appearance OF all unworthy reminders
Of the terrible conflict aud tho culture
of present unity md righteousness over
all thc Union. There cnn now be but
one ideal of American citizenship, one
stars and stripes. one bulwark OF fu-
tire national glory and one line OF pa-
triotlc teachings for ALI and bynll. In
this vie.v, the keeping alive OF sectional
teachings as to the justice and rights OF
the cause of the south in the hearts Of
the chIldlen Is all out of order. unwlse.
unjust and utterly opposed to the bond
by which the great cheftain. Lee. SOL
EMMY bo,lnd the cause OF the south in
his final surrender. I denply deploro
oil asenclts OF this sort. because in
honor and Yin chtvalric American man
hood, and Somanhood, nothing Of this
nature sho uld be taught, or tolerated
for an instant"
Gen. Gon1on Comes Forward.
At the close. OF General Shaw's speech
General Gordon came forward. He had
spoken briefly before md his appear
anca again caused considerable of
surprise The enthusiasm quieted In.
stantIy. General Gordon said he could
not teach his children that he fought
for what was wrong. He entered bat
tie for what he believed was right and
only the Judgment day and God hlm<
self will ever decnle who was right. =
Let US cherish the memories" con-
tinued General Gordon, "and history
will record and heaven judge that both
sides were right in fighting for what
they believed was right. Let us settle
once and for all this question on q bn-
sis commensurate with the manhood
OF the sides engaged dn the great strug-
gle: let us settle 1t ON Il basis of that
immaculate truth, thmt both sidos were
fighting for the consttutlon Of their
forefathers." ts.;sr- s1--4r-
Gen. Shaw Responds Gracefully.
General Shaw responded gracefully TO
the generals exception. He stated that
he had prepared his speech with great
care, and much of the material therein
was gained from speeches made BY
General Gordon in the north.
"Our children should be t1ught." said
General Shaw, the true glory and sub
Unity of our one country; their fathers
will teach them this. Let them beso
alike, the children Of the north and OF
the south, that difference will be per-
ceptible."
This incident closed with threa
cheers for the blue and the gray