The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-16

two commanders met and talked over the events of the day before.
 At the residence of John c. David- son in this city these two veterans met again for the first time In forty one years The meeting had been ar ranged. and 1t could not have been more cordial or affecting had the men been brothers.
 The first business of the conven- tion today after the invocation. which was by Rev. James H. smith, of Richmond. Va. one of the two sur lviving stan officers of Etonewall Jack son, was the reading of the report of the committee on credentials. As there were no contests this matter was quickly disposed of. There was considerable confusion among the dele- gates and General Lee took tho vet erans sharply to task for delaying the Twas about to be resumed when the ar lriyAf of a drum corps win flies play | ing Dixie set the veterans wild Quiet was restored but only momen- tarily as the drum corps marched out and few minutes later reappeared. escortinR a group of sponsors to the l platform.
 The report of the history committee was then submitted by General Evans of Georgia, it's chairman. The object of the committee is to secure accurate history which is to be incorporated In the text books in Southern schools. The reports says In part: During the first two decades after the surrender an effort was evidently made to cast the general record of the Southern States into an opprobrious shadow and also to infect the minds of the youth of the entire country with the opinion that there was nothing noble, nothing true. nothing good in tho Confederate cause
 PerversiOns Resented.
 These attempted perversions of his- tory were resented. but the South was without facilities for reaching by any kind of literature the masses of their countrymen of the Northern States to correct the errors into which they were led./
 Therefore unfair history and other pernicious publications ganed en- trance into the schools and homes of nearly every section, North and South, and a disastrous inflammation of the sectional spirit was the result. The protest of Confederate associations caused Investigations which resulted in the appalling discovery that the South was permitting its sons and daughters to be taught that the gross charges against the Southern people, of rebellion, treason and war atroct- ties and the like were historical facts. This discovery was followed by ap- peals to boards of education and other civil authorities, to Southern self-re- spect and to honorable publishers with result that the most offensive of the false histories have been driven from Southern schools.
 This conference body Is pleased by the changed attitude of many North ern leaders and honorable publishers and will welcome their alliance in the production of literature which snail be just and generous to every section Of the Union. Sincere cooperation among those who desire impartial his tory which will Inspire all citizens of our country with similar patriotic spirit is a consummation most earnest ly sought for by this association, es- pecially is this desirable in all histo- ries of the strife which was the great est American war May not the story of that struggle be told with fairness to both sections? In the part of the South there is nothing. to fear from truthful history. We ask for histori- cal generosity and will give as much without stint"
 The report recommends that each State establish department of archives and history. The reading of the report caused great enthusiasm An amendment by Member Davenport of Americus, Ga. that the future his tories show that Jefferson Davis was cruelty treated and unnecessarily shackled was accepted. and the report adopted.
 Delighted the Veternhs.
 At the opening of the afternoon ses- sion General Lee introduced Capt. N. E. Harris of Macon. Ga, who delivered the annual address to the Veterans. Captain Harris spoke for more than two hours and held the attention of his au- dience throughout. His vivid pictures of Stonewall Jackson, John B. Gordon and other leaders aroused the Veterans to a high pitch of enthusiasm. and when Captain Harris concluded he was given an ovation, the audience rising en masse and singing The Bonnie Blue Flag In closing Captain Harris said:
 T have said oftentimes and l say to- day that I suffered more hardships and trials and experienced more dangers after the war had ended and peace had been declared than I had ever en- countered during the four years of the struggle in the field.
 T look back upon the horrors of those days in my own native State with a shrinking at heart that has never been lesened by the lapse of time. A
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