The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-05-28
Great Crowds of Old COnfedrates in
New Orleans
The CITY FILLING WITH VISITORS
Decorations the Tost Elaborate and
Beautiful Ever Seen at a Reunion
Gathering of the Multitude.

New Orleans, Special.-The thir-
tenth annual reunion CT the United
Confederate Veterans was opened in
the great auditorium at the fair
grounds Tuesday at moor
The Weather vas perfect and all the
arrangements by the local entertain
ment committees the most successful.
Governor Heard spoke in behalf OF
the people of the State as follows:
Veterans. the outcome of the strug-
gle that you carried on for four long
years against the most powerful forces
and ornaments that the world has yet
seen. in no or sense a OBJ
scure the glory and fame that you wen
for DiXie's land. With a total enlist
ment of 600, 900 you confronted $780,
900. OR these in round numbers 500, 900
were of foreign birth and had Europe
been in formal alliance with the North
ii could scarcely have been expected TO
send more than this number of its o.
ganiZed soldiery for its quota in such
a coalition. Considering the zoe. 900 he
gro soldiers. the SOC. 900 foreign SOL
diers and the 2.100,00 native Ameri-
cans. it is not ~eXtravagant to say that
the 600, 900 C~onfederates confronted a
coalition of America, Europe and Afri-
ca.
When we consider these indisput-
able facts we cannot but have commits
Seration for the person who would
seek to detract from the unparalleled
resistance made by the armies in gray,
by i%mpugning the motives by which
they were impelled to make this truly
legendary defense Of their homes and
constitutional rights as they construed
these rights to be-
The governor concluded his address
by repeating the welcome of the peo-
pie Of Louisiana.
z. B. Kruttschnitt, of New Orleans,
chairman of the local executive COM
mittee. in charge Of all the arrange
ments for the reunion then made a
most happy address.
GEN. GORDON'S SPEECH.
AS Gen. Gordon rose to reply he was
enthusiastically cheered.
Gen. John B. Gordon said in part:
ITO my thought it is most fitting
that this proud and patriotic %organiza-
ton should meet again in this historic
city which gave it birth. The meeting
Of such men as you welcome today,
whose past deeds will remain forever
an inspiration to American valor and
to future sacrifices for constitutional
freedom. is an suspicious event in the
country's history, whenever and wher-
ever it may occur: but how peculiarly
inspiring is this reunion in Louisiana,
on this Tooth anniversary Of her birth
into governmental alliance with Amer
lean States. A Roman we would have
discovered in a meeting Of such men,
at such time, an omen of good to the
cause Of liberty; and, American eyes
should see in it nothing but good to
the whole republic. 1t must Of neces-
sity be beneficent and only beneficent.
We will not indulge on this centennial
this political millenial morning-nor
at other times in any bitterness. We
feel m We pity those who DO. W.
have long since drawn the curtain of
oblivion over the regretful and In
seemly things of the past; and we
cherish as Americans the valor and
noble deeds Of both armies and Of all
sections. We are satisfied with our
record; and the power that would at
tempt to make Us blush for it would be
both stupid and blind. We are heirs,
joint heirs, with the republics child
rem in the inheritance Of freedom left
by our sires. We are proud Of all the
past. Moreover, We are now facing a
future pregnant with tremendous pos
sibilities; but We face it with 4
strength of hope and assurance, born
Of an un~swerving purpose to discharge
Jul every duty to all races, and to the
whole country. We are growing old;