The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-24
THE CONFEDERATE REUNION.

The reunion held IN New orleans
was the greatest and most successful
in the record of the organization OF the
United Confederate Veterans and fairly
ecliosed the reunion demonstrations IN
other cities. This IS not said to their
disparagenent, but to emphasize IN
kindly spirit the fact that in the midst
of the splendor and the glorltlcatlon OF
this gathering there have been given to
the world historical facts which are OF
priceless value as legacy of loyalty
and fealty to the sons and the daughters
of men who breasted the storm of bat
tie to maintain principle of the Con-
stitutior1 as handed down by the Faith
ers of the Republic.
While the display of glittering uni
forms was imposing and the social
features and functions were delightful
to the Daughters of the Confederacy
and The Sons of Veterans, their friends
and admirers, there is substantial conf
fort and satisfaction to Veterans
throughout the South in their vindlca-
ton against the stigma of Rebel and
Rebellion which has been ascribed to
them and with which they would be
branded forever by the North. In words
clear and logical the grand old man,
J. H. Reagan of Texas, the only sur
L
vivor of Jefferson Davis Cabinet, has
demonstrated that the South in her
cause of secession was guided by the
Constitution which had given their
every movement 1ega. support. The
South yielded when overwhelmed by
numbers. The contention was not to
maintain slavery, as has been declared
by the North, but it was to "perpetuate
all that which is noble and grand and
manly in the history of their fathers.
In the reunions of the past this ques-
ton had received little attention, but it
has been given a forceful awakening
through the, great Grafton of Judge John
II. Rogers of Arkansas. In words sub
lime and matchless he has rendered an
invaluable service to the South and the
canse of the Confederate soldier, and
TO the world as well, in challenging the
foul caIun1nies of hatred. inspired by
hellisl1 partisanship. Indeed, the ire
sistibIe logic of events is proof that the
South has been persistently maligned
and nisrepresented. 1t is true that Mr..
Davis in his history of the Rise and
Fall Of the Confederacy, that Mr..
Stephens in his Constitutional History
of the War, and that Mr.. Pollard in his
Lost Cause have sustained the reserved
rights Of the states in their authority
through the Constitution, but in oppo-
sition to these eminent writers and pa
triots heartless penny liners have
delnded the country with misrepresen-
tations and even the books of history,
so-cal1ed, from which the children of
Confederate Veterans have been taught,
in private and in the common schools,
have been more or less tainted with this
malignity Of hate and Justification. The
time has come when there must he a
change, when the maligners and the de-
tractors Of the South and her memories
must be met with the unchallenged, the
uncontrovertible facts of history.
Where is there an honest man who
would shrink from truth and justice?
Let all the facts be stated feariessly and
fairly; let the whole truth be made
plain, and when si1ch a record is writ
ten there will be nothing therein that
will bring the slightest tinge of zdiscredit
TO the South and her heroes. Having
done all that which was right and hon
orable in the fullest consistency Of the
principles of the Constitution, no Con-
federate Veteran, no Southern man,
should ever express regret, explanation
OF apology for his part in the great
struggle or his connection with the
South. Rather let him cherish the hal
lowed memories Of the past, and let the
sons and the daughters of the gallant
band, gradually passing away, assume
earnestly and periodically the work
where it may have been left undone,
incomplete by their fathers. After all,
{ It is on the shoulders of the progenitors
OF the South's heroes that her vindica-
ton must rest, and with such guides as
Judge Reagan and Judge Rogers, with
the teachings Of Davis, of Stephens and
other gallant men of the South, there
can never be any aspersion against the
Confederate soldier and his Cause. And
because Of the logic Of Judge Reagan
OF Texas and the brilliant defense OF
the South by Judge Rogers of Arkan-
sas, the reunion held in New Orleans
must ever stand as one of the most
memorable Of gatherings il, the South.