The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-20
FELL UPON GORDON
WILD ARDOR OF VETERANS FOR
THEIR CHIEF.
GIVEN A GREAT OVATION
WHEN HE APPEARED BEFORE
THEM AT NEW ORLEANS.

of gen. Gordon This Will Not,
1t Is Thought, Prevent His Parti-
cipatiOn-Scenes in the AuditO-
rium-Mrs. "StOnewaII' Jackson
Presented and wildly Cheered.
Addresses Made.
New Orleans, May 19.-The thirteenth
annual reunion of the United Confed-
crate Veterans was opened in the great
auditorium at the fair grounds to-day
at noon.
The weather was perfect and all the
arrangements by the local entertain
ment committee most successful. There
were thousands of veteran soldiers,
hundreds of beautiful women, and
above and around on every hand pro-
fusion of fluttering flags and waving
streamers. There was martial music
without limit and enthusiasm unbound
ed.
over the beauty and success of the
day there was but a single shadow, and
that promises to disappear before the
morning This was the illness of Gen.
Gordon, the -chief of the
organization. He was not we'll when
he left his hotel for the auditorium, and
has not been in his usual health for
several days. His strength was not, in
reality. sufficient for the ordeal to
which he subjected himself, and before
the close of the opening session ne
was a greatly wearied man. Nothing
but his grim fighting spirit carried him
through the day without something
akin to a collapse.
He was not able to attend the after
noon session at the auditorium, and re-
manned quietly in his room at the no
tel. receiving no visitors. HIS condl-
ton is in no manner serious, out II
is possible that he may not be able 10
preside at all the sessions at the audi
torium between now and Friday noon.
He expects, however, to be present To-
morrow.
Then Gordon Appeared
When the hour for opening the con-
Vention arrived the platform was
crowded with fair women ana men
whose names are household words
throuehout. the South. Gen. Gordon
was delayed somewhat in reaching the
grounds and his entrance into the nail
meant an ovation. Cheer after cheer
rang through the building as he came
rapidly down the aisle leaning on the
arm of AdJt. Gen. Mickle. He was sur
rounded instantly by a group OF
friends as he reached the rostrum, and
for a time was unable to reach his
chair.
No sooner was he seated than fair
Young woman-Miss Tarlton of Waco,
Tex.-approached, and bending down
kissed the general. He sprang quickly
to his feet to acknowledge the honor
with repeated bows.
Gen. j. B. Levert, commander OF the
Louisiana division of the Confederate
Veterans, called the assembly to or
der and introduced the chaplain-Gen.
j. William Jones-who delivered an
eloquent invocation. Then, in success
sion, came speeches of welcome to the
veterans from Paul Capdeveille, May
or of New Orleans; Logs Charbounet,
who spoke for the local organization
of the Sons of Veterans; Mrs. William
]. Behan, representing the Confeder-
ate Southern Memorial Association,
and Gov. w. w. Heard, who spoke for
the people of the state of louisiana
What Gov. Heard Said.
After a few opening words of well
come the Governor said:
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 manner or sense can OBJ
scure the glory and fame that you won
for Dixies land. With a total enlist
ment of 100000, you confronted 100000.
OF these, in round numbers, 100000
were of foreign birth, and had Europe
been in formal alliance with the North,
it could scarcely nave been expected TO
~. lNlr nf c r.
ganized soldiery for it's quota In such
a coalition.
considering the 200, 900 negro sol
diers, the 1000 foreign soldiers and
the 100000 native Americans, it is
not extravagant to say that the 100000
Confederates confronted a coalition OF
America, Europe and Africa
when we consider these indisputa-
BILE facts we cannot but have commits
GRAFTON for the person who would seek
to detract from the unparalleled resist
ance made by the armies in gray py
impugning the motives by which they
were impelled to make this truly leg
endary 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 people
of Louisiana.
E. 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.
AS Gen. Gordon rose to reply, he was
enthusiastically cheered. His address
was, in part, as follows:
Gen. GOrdOn's Speech.
ITO my thought, it is most fitting
that this proud and patriotic organ
ization should meet again in this his
toric city. which gave it birth. The
meeting of such men as you welcome
to-day, whose past deeds will remain
forever an inspiration to American
valor and to future sacrifices for con-
stltutional freedom is an suspicious
event ia the country's history, when
ever and wherever it may occur; but
how peculiarly inspiring is this reunion
in Louisiana, on this Tooth anniversary
of her birth into governmental alliance
with American states.
"A Roman eye 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 II nothing but good 10 the whole
republic. II must OF necessity be bene-
hcent, and only benehcent
We will not indulge on this centen-
nial-this political millenial morning
nor AZ other times In any bitterness.
We feel none. We pity those who DO.
We have long since drawn the curtain
fsr.tf-,s..g 80 rslffh Par