The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-31
ALTERING OF THE VETERANS.
CONTINUED from First Page)

n H.
CONVICTION that Kentucky's history takerA
as a whole, entities her to position in
the front rank of states. Look al her
carly struggles with stealthy and blood
thirsty savages in the wilds of an un-
broken wilderness, when her bold pion-
GERS were all heroes and their wives and
daughters were all heroines. When even
i <hsr faithful black slaves caught the con-
tag. on of courage and of sacrifice. What
story in fiction. for example can com
pare in romantic interest to that of Ken |
tuckys three maidens captured and borne
4 away by Indians, and rescued by their
i three lovers after long and eager pursuit.
day and night, through dense canebrakes
and tangled jungles? What creation of
4 fancy ever equaled in thrilling details
the story of Kentuclzy's brave matron,
Mrs Woods who barred her cabin door
Il against bowling savages, while the only
one who forced an entrance met his death
at the hands of her dauntless daughter.
4 who with uplfted AK struck him down
and chopped off his head as he was held
to the floor by the lame but heroic black
Il slave. Would that the short time allotted
me permitted reference to the long list
n Of other heroines of Kentucky's early his
tory, and to her Daniel Boones, and her
Clarks, and host of other stalwart men
and brave women who thus blazed out
the highway of progress and of freedom.
Beginning her life among such surround
ing, reared to statehood upon food so con-
ducive to exalted manhood and noble
womanhood is It any wonder that Ken
i tuckys daughters of to-day are the pride
OF a great commonwealth and challenge
universal recognition as among the fairest
the truest and tenderest of our peerless
women? Is Vt any wonder that the Ken
1 lucky of to-day boasts of the proud array
of her great sons, of her Breckinridges,
OF the Clays and her Crittendens, her
Helms and her Hansons Her Marshalls
and her Morgans; and her almost endless
catalogue of soldiers and statesmen worthy
the highest inches in our republican Pan
theon? Is it any wonder that from such
hed sown with such seed, we should
today gather this harvest of generosity
and lavish tribute to the heroic remnants
Of the immortal Confederate armies? Is
It any wonder that such planting and such
n culture should have produced hospital
II ity as free as the air, and as boundless
as the ocean?
Kentuckians in Both Armies.
In conclusion permit me briefly to recall
another chapter In Kentucky's life: a
q chapter which embraces the most moment
Gus period of her history, or of the his
q Tory of this Republic. During the stipend
a Gus conflict between the American States
II kentucky's most famous families and all
classes of her people We're represented
in both the Union and Confederate armies
Il In her marvellous fecundity, she had pre-
viously given birth to both Jefferson Davis
ard Abraham Lincoln. These two great
sons born within few months and miles
Of each other nurtured on the bosom of
this common mother were destined IN
q Gods mysterious providence to find homes
in different sections, to grow up under diff
fefeut institute ms, to become the repre- en-
tatives of conflicting civilizations and the
respective Presidents of con tending Repub-
hcs. The one was to die at last dis
Irtnchlsed by the government. which he
had long and faithfully served, and for
whose flag he had shed his blood on Mexi-
can soil. The other was to meet his death
by an assassin's bullet.
In like manner Kentucky's couusellors
were divided; some for the Union, some
Tor the Confederacy. These counsellors
ably strove to keep her aloof from the i'm
pending conflict; TO render her passive
and neutrali bur there was no such word
as neutrality in Keutucky's lexicon. Neu-
trallty never had been and never will be
hentuckys role 1t could not be the
policy of such a people; for neutrality is
nowhere an attribute of human progress.
nor OF Gods economy. Neutrality has no
place in masterful minds. nor in heroic
hearts. Neutrality has never vet devel-
oped great character, nor characterized
a great people. nor written on sparkling
page in human history. Kentucky there
lore would have none of it. Governors
A "'5iit BAOOidlll ftutIdiltXs legislatures
might enact it; but no edicts nor statues
could chain down the unconquerable spirit
Oh Kentuckys sons. Into the one army or
the other they went as their convictions
guided them. And wherever they fought
whether for the Union of all the states
or the independence of the Southern
states; whether; they followed the flag
Of this great republic, or the fiery cross
OF battle which represented the aspira-
Il tons of the Southern people for separate
nationality and constitutional freedom;
Fl under whatever banner or leaders thew
q we're marshaled. Kentucky's sons wrote
their noble record on history's most lu-
mnOus pages.
n Heaven bless, protect and guide Ken
lucky May harmony and Christian fell
81 lowship rule in all her counsels and peace
q joy and plenty abide forever in all her
n homes.
81 At the conclusion of Gen. Gordon's
& speech, which was punctuated with APP
81 pause. he stepped back 10 the front of
the platform and said
II Now, boys''--a yell of delight was the
reply.
n Now" went on the General az want
4 a'l you who can sing to sing Aud Lang
II Syno,' and those OF you who can't sing,
a pretend that you can"
II The Orator of the Day.
Il AT the conclusion. which was roared
Justify by the boys" Gen. Gordon intro-
a duced Dr. B. NJ. Palmer of New Orleans,
Il me orator of the day. whose address was
81 as follows:
Il Confederate Veterans and Fellow Citi-
zens:
II Accustomed through sixty years 10 adj
Dress public assemblies, am, neverthe-
II TESS subdued with awe in your presence
81 to-day; for we stand together under the
shadow of the past. 1t is the solemn rev.
erence one might feel in the gloom of
Westminster Abbey, surrounded by Eng
lands illustrious dead Indeed, we are
81 mere, the living representatives of count
gsxTT RScr1 . ' SSoI5 ErusEa