The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-16

represented, and that there were a.. .dition a large number of Sons a''esu'ns l the reunion. "a. ,,s Major Edward M Robinson Tie saio in part:
 Welcome by Robinson.
 Tn the opening hours of an nistofic century. standing In the gloeu
 bu1e which marks the entrance so M@ M@ gorgeous temple of an nr unr'',as nn ssnti. ment which could betoken olsioya,.s to the flag and fortune of the repuune, or hinder It's inevitable and dazzHns destiny.
 True. it may be. that above tne lS
 of November have arisen dark ana poI
 tentous problems. accompanied by dire predictions that racial perplexities VII
 be burned with relentless denance I..o the hearts of our brave ana pdtIio.lo people. Should such an exigency con.e have but this to say; IT we @ animated by one-hundredth part or tne calm forbearance and steadfast courage which mantled the bosoms or tne heroes of reconstruction days we snaii safely tide those troublous times anu, In the end, shall witness reViNal V, that sectional and racial tolerance ano peace which was almost consummaEeo by the gentle. great hearted, martyred Mckinley.
 "Eut against such painful prophesles let me set my prayer and confident pre- diction that the present chief execu- tive. in this period of his proudest ex- ultation, will catch a glow of states manship from Lincoln. the great pacifcator. and, turning his generous heart to his native Georgia nils, VIII declare that the delicate problems n the arithmetic of Southern raciai oit ferences should never be propounded for solution north of the Potomac ana Ohio Rivers. As for myself. I would rather be chief palIbearer at the obsequies of sec tionalism than best man at the nuptiais of my chosen political party to per petual presidential power. And. l be- lieve that if wonder magnificent convo- cation of Confederate survivors could sound one conglomerate note that would reach from the turbulent St. Lawrence to the gliding softness of the Sewanee River. they would borrow the undying declaration of the lament ed Lamar, when he spoke to North and
 South, and said Know one another and you will love one another.
 Major Robertson painted a glowing ord-picture of the bravery and hero- ism of the Confederate soldier, and concluded as follows: -. Let others tell the sad concluding chapters of that war. Let the impar- tial narrator show how. through two more long, memorable years. the army
 
 to an ever-increasing enemy. gained victory after victory and then fell back before an avalanche of troops-baok. back. struggling scattering death through the hosts of their enemies, but back. until at last, when human endur- | ance had reached it's limit, with re- sources exhausted. regiments annihl :. lated. brigades reduced in numbers al- yearning for food and clothing: starved. ragged. desolate. waiting for the inevitable destiny that had over- taken them, but with confidence in their great, spotless leader that knew one moments diminution. the frag- ment of the Confederate force stacked arms forever on that valedictory day in April of '65. when Southern hopes were bowed beneath a burden greater than Pilgrim ever bore and Southern flags were furled forevermore. Let others tell of 1t. The limitations of the fearful task. But let me say, before leave the closing act in this memora- ble dramaI that 35.00O of the bravest, truest. noblest, grandest soldiers that ever barred their breasts on the field Of carnage. unfixed their bayonets and sheathed their swords when the bugis of surrender sounded at Appomattox. How vastly atting then that the de- scendants of such glorious ancestry should entwine the memory of their forbears with the evergreen of immor- tality. and how appropriate 1t is that the annual gathering of the two organ izations shall be contemporaneous. in order that thesstwo generations may reverentiy bendsin common veneration above the sacred urn wherein repose the ashes of the cause they loved and love.
 welcome. therefore. to the hearts and homes of hospitable people. There is no soul in all the citadel of Fort Mobile that does not throb with generous joy int contemplation of the personnel of our. besiegers We make complete capituiation. q -The order Is Raise. the portcullis and let the draw :. bridge fall And yoii. Sons of Veterans. can climb the highest parapet ss and plant the sacred standard of Nle Con federacy. so that the Stars and Bars and Stars and Stripes, blending in the magnolia -burdened breezes of this Southern garden of the gods shall proclaim to all the world that we of of the flag that Is furied. can yet turn to that other flag and Feel our pulses thrill for
 The union of lekes, the union of lands,
 The union of States none can sever,
 The union of hearts, the union of hands,
 And the flag of our union forever.
 The reply was delivered by Michel Screws of Montgomery, Mir. Screws said: r.t
 Reply of MT. Screva.
 MT Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen: On behalf of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, I return thanks, for the well come which has been so eloquently ten dered us by the gentleman who has Just preceded me. an orator wh0s for gracetulness of delivery and elegance l of diction. has not a superior in Ala l bama. His gl acious words fall gratc- | fully upon our hearts.
 | Mingled with our appreciation of your | welcome Is deep pride that there ex- ists in our State a city so lovely in its natural environments, so rich In his- | toric associations of a past of gallant deeds and noble sacrifices, so imbued with the spirit of chivalry which made and ma'I4tains the old South the admi- ration of the world, and, above alI l which contains within its borders U citizenship who, while keeping apace with the progress of the age, never for | get. even in these days of materialism the higher and better qualities of man | hood and womanhood. and who have | caused the name of Mobilian to be- re- | spected and beloved wherever it, s | known and to be accepted as syn onymous with gracious hospitality. | generous entertainment. warm affection | and all the attributes of the Southror l of the olden days and golden, whose | houses were as open as their hearts | and whose hearts were as open as the free sunshine. They are indeed
 The knightliest of the knightly race Who since the days of old
 Have kept the lamp of chivalry Alight in hearts of gold"