The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-22
THE ELOQUENT GORDON.
The Grand Old Commanders
Speech at New Orleans.

The thirteenth annual reunion of
the United Confederate Veterans is
in session this week in New Orleans;
the attendance is great and enthusi-
asm unboundeT The News regrets
dresses of welcome to the veterans
by the mayor of the city and the
governor Of the state. But il gives
the address Of Gen. Gordon in re-
sponse, and follows it with a picture
that will stir the blood in the veins
of every old Confederate soldier who
gaZes upon it. AS General Gordon
rose to respond he was greeted with
enthusiastic cheering. When quiet
was restored he said in part:
THE SPEECH.
"To my thought, it is most fitting
that this proud and patriotic Organi-
zation 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-
stitutioIed freedom, is an auspicious
event in 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 govern
mental alliance with American
States. A Roman eye would have
discovered in IL 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 necessity be beneficient, and only
benefcent. We will not indulge on
this centennial-this political millen-
ial morning-nor at other times, in
any bitterness. We feel none. We
pity those who do. We have long
since drawn the curtain of oblivion
over the regretful and unseemly
things of the past; and we cherish as
Americans the valor and noble deeds
of both armies and of all sections.
We are satiiied with our record; and
the power that would attempt to
make us blush for it would be both
stupid and blind. We are heirs,
joint heirs, with the republics chill
dren 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 tre-
mendous possibilities, but we face it
with u strength of hope and assur-
ance born of an answering purpose
to discharge our every duty to all
races, and to the whole country.
We are growing old; but we still
stand firmly on the narrow strip of
land which separates us from II
bOundless ocean.
"And as we go hence, we will
calmly drop our mantles on the
shoulders of our sons, who will
wOrthiIy wear them; and in no crisis
Of the republic, whether in forum or
field, will they be found wanting"
THE PICTURE.
At the conclusion of General Cor
don's address he turned to greet Il
lady gowned in black, who had come
TO the front of the r0strum during
the lattet portion of his address.
Then, leading her to the front of the
platform, he said:
at was my fortune, and ] will
never cease to thank God that it was
my fortune, to follow, to know well
ana to love StOneWall jackson. He
is not here, but the best half Of him
is here in the person of his wife.
Comrades, | present to you Mrs.
StOnewaIl Jackson
"To your feet boys! TO your feet!"
was the cry of veteran in the Ten
nessee delegation, but swift as came
his cry, it came too late. The
boys" were up, every man Of them,
and in the wild cheers that swept the
hall, the fair-faced lady from Vir-
ginia was made to know once more |
how Southern love remembers.
"And here's young Jackson"
called out the General, leading for
ward very pretty girl, miss Julia
Jackson Christian, the granddaugh-
ter of the famous soldier. AS he
spoke, he kissed her, and the cheers |
were redoubled for the General and
the girl