Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-28
OLD VETERANS IN CAMP.


MACON, Oct. A.-General Clement A.
Evans delivered his annual address to
the Georgia division of Confederate vet
Grams here today.
The auditorium, or that which passes
for an auditorium-the market house-was
filed with 1900 veterans who had as
sembled to transact the business of their
organization. The streets were packed
outside and many did not try to get
about the place. knowing the incapacity
of the building to hold them.
General Evans had been unanimously
and most enthusiastically reelected COM
mander of the division, and the compli-
ment that had. been paid him caused him
to rise to very high pitch Of eloquence
and to show deep feeling in his speech.
He paid a glowing tribute to the souths
cause, for which her soldiers fought so
valiantly during the war and declared
that:
'"There comes times when expediency
cannot substitute principle, when life and
property cannot be willingly retained at
cost of independence and when the arm
strikes out bravely at the earnest call Of
the soul from within"
He gave the northern men credit for
loving the Union above all things, and he
said it was historically true that st was
with inexpressible sadness our fathers
feared that the rising sectional spirit
would be .reave our country of the safe
guards of the constitution. and by the
use Of power make the Union one-half
oppressor and the other half the OPP
pressed"
He spoke of the fact that the south
since the war had doubled in population
and wealth He saw. the south and north
getting together again, and declared that
sectional tyranny is hideous thing.
General Evans here left general obser-
vations and expressed regret that there
are counties in Georgia with no camps,
but he said the list of unaff1liated counties
is growing less and less every year.
He advocated plans for gathering his
torical data, so that the story of the old
south and her struggles could be truth
fully preserved.
General Evans expressed much joy at
the interest shown all over the state in
rebuilding the Soldiers home He also
spoke encouragingly of the Battle Abbey
movement and said the indications are
that Jefferson Davis presidential home,
the white house of the Confederacy, could
be secured as building.
The speech was one of the most schol-
arly, the most patriotic and yet the most
soothing speeches heard in long time
on a similar. occasion. l.
Many old soldiers express deep regret at
the absence of General Gordon, who has
been unable to get here.
The four brigadier generals who served
last year were all enthusiastically re-
elected yesterday afternoon. They are:
Northern division-General A J. West,
Of Atlanta.
Western divIsion-General @. N.-Wheat-
ly, of Americus
Southern division-General P. Nc
Glashan, of Savannah.
Eastern division-Charles M. Wiley, OF
Macon.
Last night the veterans sat about the
campfires and sang war songs and told
stories and had good time generally.
The big dining hall, with a seating ca
pacity of 500 at a time, was kept going
all of yesterday and since o'clock this
morning, feeding free of charge all vet
Grams and their sons And in addition to
this the First Baptist church last night
rendered a reception to all who cared to
attend it, One thousand accepted the in
vitation and enjoyed novel function. A
short sermon was preached by Rev. ]. L.
White, the pastor. Mrs. Stallings sang
"Old Folks at Home" at the conclusion
of which the veterans applauded, regard
less of the fact that they were in church
building, and after this refreshments were
served. The veterans declared that at no
reunion heretofore has the church opened
its arms in this way to entertain and well
come the visitors. 4.,
This morning the big parade was partic-
ipated in by about 5000 of the veterans
and about 1000 Sons of Veterans. At the
head of the procession were the sponsors
and maids of honor, prominent among
whom were the Atlanta young ladies,
who looked charming in their uniforms
of gray.