The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-16

without his reward. Watchful as a thority as a servant. as loyal in author ity as a king Such was the type of men who constituted the ideal of the Con- federate soldier. Is 1t saying too much that the Confederate soldier, in propor- tion to the ratio of genius, culture, power and responsibility, possessed these ideal clements of character of the great Robert F. Lee. Certainly, for patriotism, cour- age, fortitude, sacrifice and devotion, the Confederate soldier was without a paral- Tel in the worlds history. When 1t is remembered that in addition to the CO., 900 foreigners and negroes enlisted in the federal army that there were more than 100000 of his own brethren, native, while of the Confederate soldiers there were not more than 600, GOO, and when it is further remembered that the federal army had the equipment, resources and sympathy of the civilized world and that 1t too four years to overcome the resist ance of the Confederate armies, some lit- tie idea is evolved as to the valor of the Confederate armies and the Confederate | soldier.
 Birth of New South.
 "The immediate cause for which he fought was lost, but the results which followed are an indissoluble union, uni versal freedom and the birth of a new commercial and industrial south These results were impossible without the war and in them the Confederate soldier con- CUTS.
 Therefore, when tried by the justice of his cause, the valor with which he de- tended 1t and the results which followed the Confederate soldier stands today and will forever remain in history the peer of any American in patriotism, his equal upon the field of battle and with out a peer in sacrifice, forttude, endur- ance and suffering. This proud heritage is given to the, which, as an inspira- tion to his posterity, will be of greater value than the business policy which would have yielded to the sentiment of abolition and to the principle of an in destructible union, thus bringing into contempt the constitution and his lawful rights, in consideration of his pecuniary interests. As patriots and soldiers and veterans of a righteous but lost cause, we greet you, and upon the part of the whole state give you hearty and cor dial welcome"
 Welcome By Mayor Lyons.
 The welcome to the city was delivered by Mayor P. J. Lyons, who said the Mo- bile of today was happy to entertain the old soldiers who had known 1t for years He was pursuaded that the bravest pa- triots of the war never carried a gun or wore straight jacket, though with mod ern tailor-made gowns he might not be able to say as much now. The woman of the Confederacy were the bravest of the worlds history, and gave her all for the cause she loved. He received great ap- plause.
 Hon. O. J. Semmes spoke for the con federate camp. MT. Semmes paid a trib- ute to the confederate soldiers, and to the warriors of the more recent con flicts in which men of both sides fought for a common and unite. country. Dew ey and Hobson and ole Wheeler were loudly cheered.
 A round of applause greeted General Harrison as he rose to reply to the ad- dresses of welcome. He thanked Gov ernor Cunningham for his kind words and assured him that his presence was especially appreciated because of the fact that he was the only governor of the state who had ever attended one of she state reunions.
 Tribute to Women.
 To Mayor Lyoos he gave warm grati- tude and grateful thanks and following
 
 to women, spoke of them and. their de- votion to the cause. He referred to Col onel Semmes as the son of a gallant sailor, brave on water and as effective as Lee on land. He knew that Mobile would make the veterans welcome and he knew that every woman would help in the service.
 General Harrison read some of the pro- visions of the constitution of the state reunion, showing what the body stood for. He also recalled the good work that has been done for the old soldier and raised a great thunder of applause when he spoke of the work of Col. Jeff ferson M. Falkner in establishing the old soldiers home at Mountain Creek. He urged the ei ection of monuments to the dead heroes of the confederacy and the establishment of slabs to mark historic places Let us send out to the boys of the confed tracy the truth that they may hand it down to future generations, that the men who followed Lee were not rebels hut patriots" said the speaker in urg- ing the writing of true histories of the | war. At the mention of William McKin- ley,s name there was applause. Refer once to the careers of Wheeler and Hob. l son was also cheered He said that the | Almighty saw cause to disappoint the confederacy, and perhaps it was best. He 1 monument to Gen. John B. Gordon to be erected in Atlanta.
 Dramatic Scene Enacted.
 At the conclusion of the address of General Harrison occurred one of the most dramatic incidents of the conven- tion. He announced that one was pres ent who was known of and had part in the struggle, the commander of Alabama troops and patriot. T present your one of the Lees still living. General Stephen D. Lee of Mississippi"
 i The convention rose en masse and shouted itself hoarse. Cheer after cheer was given and again reached prolonged shout as the band struck up Dixie. Gen. eral Lee paid high tribute to the soldiers of Alabama whom he had the honor to command.
 General Harrison Reelected. After the speech of General Lee the convention reelected General Harrison commander of Alabama division. with all the brigades officers. as follows: First, General John w. A. Sanford; sec