Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-30
IN GRAY
Louisville Extends Hospitality to the
Confederate Survivors.
ADDRESS BY GENERAL ]. B. GORDON
Glowing Tribute to the Dark and
Bloody Ground.
WHO SP O x F.

louisville. Ky. May 3o-Throughout
The early hours today rain came down IN
torrents, and the prospect for the COM
Portable opening of the reunion of the
United Confederate Veterans, which was
scheduled for noon. WAS not bright. by
q clock. however, the rain had ceased, the
sun came out and there was every promise
of a fine day 1t was estimated that there
were $500 strangers within the gates OF
Louisville.
Hours before the time set for the meet
Ing to commence in Reunion Han, the
streets leading to the building We're biocked
with crowds trying 70 gain admission an"
the detachment of police stationed in front
of the building had ali they cared to do
Gen. Poyntz Chairman.
Major General Poyntz. commanding the
Kentucky division of the Confederate Ncte-
rams, called the reunion to order shortly
after l. O'Clock. After the doX"iogy had
been sung by the assembly which packed
the great hall to the doors, Rev. J. William
Jones. chaplain-in-chief, made a snort
prayer, and then General PoJntz nitro
duced Mayor Weaver. who In a happS
speech welcomed the visitors to the city.
Then came a series of short welcoming ad-
dresses Colonel Thos. w Built extending
a greeting on behalf of the members of ire
board of trade: Rev. Garter Helm Jones
speaking for the Commercial Cup. Att!ld
Cox for the finance committee OF the re-
union, and Judge HaZelrigg of the SUI
preme court of kentucky on behalf of the
kentucky division of the Confederate Nete-
rams The last welcoming address was de-
livered by General Simon L. Buekner VINO
spokt. for the confederateS of Kentucky.
Col Bennett H. Young of this city, chair
man of the union committee presented the
building to the veterans in an eloquent
speech
After the GIee Club had rendered several
elections Cen John B. Gordon commander
of The United Confederate Veterans, rose to
respond 10 the address of Col. Young.
Gen. Gordon was received with enthusi-
as.ic cheers. In accepting the building
from the committee and in extending the
thanks Of the veterans To the city of Louis
Vile he spoke as follows:
Gen. Gordon's Remarks.
Gen. j. b. Gordon said:
General. Mr. Mayor ana Gentlemen Of the
Reception Committees: No man is gifted
enough. and no words are strong enough.
TO tell kentuckians what We feel at this
hour. and how deeply we feel it Shall
say for nv comrades and myself that we
are grateful? That would be. in the pres
ence of such demonstration, the rIerest
commonplace. the needless statement OF a
patent fact which YOU already know or can
lips. Shall l tell YOU that We are amazed.
that we are unprepared for such exuberance
of hospitality. such warmth and protiigality
Of welcome? ! cannot say that for it
would b. untrue. We knew beforehand
what to expect Of this great-hearted people.
Your distinguished fe!low-citizen. Col.
Bennett Young. who was the selected
nputhp:eC. II your delegates has answered
US a: Charleston, in words fervid and elo-
quent. that If we would come to Louisville.
kentucy's homes and hearts. Kentucky
wealth the products of her unrivaled pas
lures, her tendereSt lambs and fatted beeves
and The contents of her granares. transmit
ted by Kentucky magic into liquid corn and
rye-that all these should be ours. the sup
port and the soiace. the meat and the drink
Of these battle-Worn men.
The truth is gentlemen, that your state
holds place among her sister states that
Is not only unique, but decidedly pictur-
esque.
GeorGian's Idea of Kentucky.
'She is sui gener!s As a Georgian I feel
an unspeakable pride in my native state. in
her glorious past; and 1 confidently predict
for her great and enviable future. As a
southerner l glory in the uurivaled gifts
of this section to the general government:
in its iilustrious names. in the untarnished
honor Of its public servants and in the
brilliant achievements of its sons in peace
and in war. As an American who loves
his whole country. | confidently claim for
her the foremost place among all the ma
tons: l proudly challenge the records of
all time 10 furnish parallel To her career;
10 equal the practical and developing
genius If her citizens; TO match her high
and holy political aims; to present d sT,ecta-
Gle 50 inspiring to humanity; as We stand
the noblest representative Of all that is pure
in religion conservative in government or
ennobling in freedorn-the one comma niiins,
and cnnquertng republic, unchalienge{i in
her leadership and uuapprOachable in her
Isolation OF grandeur and glory. Loyal as
believe myself To be 10 all states and Sec
tons as well as to the great republic it
self. ] nevertheless declare my conviction
that kentacky's history. taken as a whole
entities her to a position in the front rank
Of states.
Tribute to kentucky's Women
Beginning her life amidst such surround
ings, reared 70 statehood upon food SO con-
duciye 10 exalted manhood and noble wo-
manhood. is It any wonder that Kentuclsv's
daughters Of today are the pride Of a great
commonwealth and challenge universal
recognition as among the fairest and ten
derest and truest of our peerless women?
In conclusion, permit me to recall briefly
another chapter in kcLtuckys life. a chap
ter which embraces the most momentous
period of her history or the history of this
republic. During tho stupenGous conflict
between the American states Kentucky's
most famous families and all classes of her
people We're represented in both the Union
fecundity. she had previously given birth TO
both Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln
These tH-o great sons. born within a few
months and miles of each other. nurtured
on tEe bosom Of this common mother were
destined in Gods mysterious providence to
ina homes III different sections, to grow
VI under different institutions. to become
the representatives, Of conflicting civi.iZa-
tons and the respective presidents of con-
terdlnE republics. This one was to die at
last disirunchised by the government which
he had long and faithfully served, and for
whose flag ne had shed his blood on Next
can soil. The other was to meet his death
by an assassin's bullet.
Could Not BE Neutral.
"In like manner. Kentucky's counsellors
were divided. some for the Union. some
for the confederacy The counselors ably
strove TO keep her aloof from the impend-
ing conflict: to render her passive and neu-
trial. but there was such word in Ken
tucky's lexicon. Neutrality never had been
and never will be Kentucky's role. 1t could
not be the policy OF such a people: for
neutrality is nowhere an attribute of prog
Iess nor of Gods economy. Neutrality mas
no place in masterful minds nor in heroic
hearts. Neutrality has never yet de-
velOped Il great character nor charac-
terized great people nor written on
sparkling page in human history Kentucky
herr WDIlll have of