The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-04
Z WILMINGTON MEssENGEf. TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1901.

labor profitable in the north and agri-
culture with slave labor profitable in
the south. Therefore, economic and
not moral forces abolished slavery in
the north and established it in the
oath. Thus natural conditions ixed
upon the north and the south
distinct and diverging systems of
interest and labor and those played an
important role in all the troubles that
ensued.
The passions and prejudices
aroused by the war threatened to i'm
plant sectional ~animosities which time
could never heal. With the Anglo-Sax-
on race the embers of Observation-Disclosures
may shoulder for q season, but soone
or later they will blaze forth and con-
sumo the dross by which they are
stified. We southern people ono re-
garded Abraham Lincoln as one of the
most despicable creatures that ever
lived. Now while We do not endorse
the policy which he persued, We honor
him for mis- unGuestioned sincerity, pa
triotism and ability. On the other
hand. the people of the north once re-
garded jeff Davis as the incarnation of
~selishness and disloyalty. Now where
ever disabused Of prejudices they re-
gard him, using the language of one of
their ablest scholars, as one Of the
purest, most patriotic and most consist
ent OF American statesmen
After the adoption Of the report came
the election OF officers. The name of
General John 3. Gordon was placed be-
fore the convention and instantly some
body shouted: Let's make his r~e-elec-
ton unanimous"
With a mighty burst OF voices, Aye"
Numbered through the hall.
Let's do it again" came a voice, and
with one accord the convention arose
and with hats swinging in the air
Aye again Numbered forth.
With the same thunderouS unanimity
the reflections followed of Lieutenant
w. l.. Gable, of the trans-Mississippi
department: Lieutenant General s. d.
Lee, of the Army of Tennessee, and
Lieutenant General Wade Hampton of
the Army of Northern Virginia.
Immediately there were calls for
speeches and General Gordon respond
ed by saying:
My comrades, you must allow this
trembling heart of mine to express its
sentiments. ] love o my comrades,
/ love you more and more as the years
go by and the brightest hope that l
have on earth is that you shall be my
associates in the other world. God
bless. l am yours now; yours while L
live n 1 trust God, yours through all
eternity"
A resolution from the committee on
resolutions was presented to the con-
vention n adopted, that neither the
commanding officer nor the department
or the division commanders, nor any Of
fetal of his association nor our host
shall have the right to invite any one to
a confederate veterans reunion other
than confederates and this right shall
rest alone with the delegates in con-
Vention assembled.
Such reunion is to be held only at
points in those states which furnished
bodies Of troops to the confederate
army"
A resolution vas adopted objecting to
those who served through the war be-
in addressed as general "lieuten-
ant colonel or colonel that were
known only as captains" or majors"
during the war. n should SO be desig-
mated now.
The convention decided to hold the
next meeting at Dallas, and then ad-
iOurne0.