The Washington herald., 1907-12-17

On December day-just forty-three
years ago yesterday-the Western armies
Of the Confederacy were at the high tide
Of their glory.
few hours later the army Of Hood
was no more, for Gen. George II. Thomas
The Rock of Chickamauga, " in the great
battle Of Nashville. had done his work,
and had done it well.
Last night few gray-haired men.
who served in the civil war, a few others
who desired TO hear of Gen. Thomas, and
some who were, perhaps, only curious
filed the Metropolitan y. E. Church to
participate by their presence in the cele-
bration in honor of the great Union
leader. The celebration was given under
the auspices of Burnside Post No s
Department Of the Potomac. c. A r
Gray-haired Men Speak.
The speakers We're all old men-men
who. in some capacity or other. were
connected with that great army which
saved the country in the days Of civil
strife Patriotic airs and hymns were
mingled with the speeches Of the soldiers.
Above the altar hung the emblem for
which they fought years ago. while the
suits OF blue. and here and there medal,
lent true background TO the scene
Following an organ voluntary by A.
p Tasker and the singing Of "The Star
Spangled Banner by the Metropolitan
Church Quartet, A. S. Perham intro
duced Hon. Washington Gardner. who
acted as chairman Of the evening. Rev.
c. w. Gallagher, D. D. made the invo.
cation.
The first speaker was Mr. Gardner.
He said he had been surprised 10 see in
the newspapers that Gen Thomas was
supposed TO have contemplated joining
the Confederate army instead of that of
the Union, He said he has since found
out, through the man who was said TO
have given out this information. that
there was no foundation for such a
Iamor
Mr. Gardner told how he had seen Gen.
Thomas and his staff ride out OF Nash
vile on the December morning just forty
three years ago. He said he had gone 70
night a battle which ended by breaking
the power of the ConIederacy in the West
Gen. Thomas. he said. was one Of
the really great soldiers developed by the
civil war. This irresistible conqueror
stands before us to-day as a man who
loved the United States more than he
loved any one State"
son of the south.
Rev. Gallagher spoke next. He said
much of the tribute which must be paid
to Gen Thomas is due. because he was
son of the South. who saw the right
OF the Northerl cause, and who, against
his friends his companions Of youth. and
family ties, saw the duty clearly which
lay before him. and took up arms for
the side which he believed right.
No man. F-said the speaker. has pa
triotism who sees only part of his coun-
try. II was the merit OF Gen. Thomas
that his patriotism was as broad as the
entire country. Cen. Thomas stood for
the principles which time has demon
strated were right for the continuance Of
the republic. Gen. Lee stood for the
principles that time has proved were not
right. These two men were alike "a many
things. but they must stand as far apart
as the East and the West when we come
70 judge their actions"
Gen. John c. Black. president Of the
Civil Service Commission, and past com
mander-in-chief of the G. A R, intro
duced Wendell Phillips. who made a
great address which was frequently in
terTupIed by applause.
To-day" he said. great guns shock
the earth. and the greatest aggregation
Of fighting ships ever gotten together
have sailed away bound whittier we can
only conjecture. They go with a force
we cannot estimate. They go to that
shore where II is said. the empire Of the
future will be located Let Us hope that