Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-24
dupont Query Welcomes Them.

MACON, Ca, Oct 23--That there is no
greater orator in the state than Hon. sDu-
pont Query was demonstrated today
when he delivered his address OF welcome
to the old veterans who have assembled
in this city.
He spoke for nearly an hour and ex-
pressed the love in which the old heroes
are held by the southern people.
He spoke in part as follows:
General and Comrades: In the name and
by authority OF the COL X -, sS SnS anIer
Chapter of the United Daughters OF the Con-
federacy, I welcome you as the honored guests
pleasures but to our hearts and homes.
You come not az The posssssoES 81 wee as t ~
bravest and best 4soldiery the world has pro
duced and as the heroes Of the greatest oatues
- You t,ls come come among a loving and grateful
people. who are capable OF approaching you
for what you have been, Tor y IS mere re- nov Nv
II has been ever since, that there is 70 %
found the highest type of southern manhooa
a true womanhood, that are not only loyal 70
the duty of the present and the nope % t ~
future, but equally so to the glory OF inc
What is more, you come among a people
who are capable of approaching you for what
you have been since the. war and Tor "nat
you are now. = -,
When that struggle ended the southern sol
der became as a rule one Of the best OF Amer
lean citizens. He knew. from the teachings
Of his conscience and Of the orisinal gosp PEI
rebel and the United States government was
wise enough to signify its acauieseence IN tnls
correct and tust view by its release OF DAVIS,
the rreSident from Imprisonment, and It's
failure to prosecute Lee, the commanoer-h-
The south fought for the truths of the
Declaration Of Independence ana TOT the pro-
visions of the federal constitution; A.. ,ss
Of the general government Of which II hao
control. waged successful revolution
their followers Of treason, would not only have
been a prostitution Of the law ana OF the con-
stitution, but violation OF the pam Heahihe
- No Observation-Disclosures OF such guilt has ever
been made BY the the true true anhood Of the north
Mr.. Mckinley, though in his young Inan ns
he had fought on the other SIDE; Vas vas %biIs
president. TO proclaim to. the nation ana 20
mankind, In effect and in immoTtai wor as
solderv on the southern side of the mutually
patriotic and heroic struggle.
The southern soldiers returned to the p1trl-
ottsTn of peace not as hlrelings whose occu-
patton was gone, or as conquered ana n ~ M
seuritv. but as heroes of honest and honorable
war. and they were at once the praWn OF OuL
agriculture and industry the oacko9ne OF OF o or
professions; the luminaries OF cnurcn ana tns
"S Ths ,na,yiduals Of the great mass Of them
IN their lower spheres, followed the humble
but blessed example Of the peerless Lee IN
II war: they did the best they could under
the altered conditions for themselves and their
loved ones; for their country ana tor Goa ana
They have made no impatient elamor or
political warfare Tor pensions. Many Ias u I1itb
ont n1urnnur or complaint passed over the
river to rest with Jackson unoer v tn sI,stan
tial recognition from the great STATE WHO'S
hresides they had defended, and whose name mans
their heroisrn had helped TO make immor.AL
some of their like survivors have since &C
cepted and are now accepting the meagre az
iowances provided, not only without unInahly
Complaint. but with generous appreciation,
And vet after A year in which our values
nave o,IaTs and when we are growing in wealth
and population every year, ana our veterans
becoming fewer ana .ra sEs reasons which
make such a step utterly unnecessary, ~ Is
urged in some quarters tnat 9ur PEI abol.
God forbid that my native state snoulo, IN I'M
der such. circumstances as now exist DC suii'S
u THE aensions we have provided are not dona-
tions or charities gratuities or boun1es.
Lney y,,st debts we owe for services rendered,
sacrifces made and suffering and nardshlp en-
~ c cor as dear to patriotism, and as
binding in the sight of God as our bonds
not s ne pT Of the fast departing heroes Of
Generation. Many of the younger men IKE IKE
myself who as mere boys PsTciPs ye ~ IN tbe
Confederacy may live long into the present
century. but dozen years rom TO-DAY d tne
20 the thousands that slumber in the bosoms
of Georgia and other states. 49,,
D,rinsy last year the pension. roll, OF Bibb
.o,,otv Veterans was reduced by death ten per
cent, and i've of the members Of the Col co:
t ~ The ranks of the succeeding generations
If peace and plenty are thickening fast and
those of the older war veterans are thinning
The MANNED or mutilated old soldier of the
s,xties is not so often plodding his weary
&
ago The gray heads and faces that seem so
,psnv white flags for the last surrender, are
going down every day. ~, $50 rs.
Gonrades as we grow fewer and feebler,
LEI ms meet oftener and grow stronger in our
love for each other and for all others AS we
get nearer to God let us get nearer to human
ity also. - 81
older and feebler are more welcome. the Oldest
and feeblest most welcome. '4-zH ---r a---s-