The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-14
Hundreds of Survivors Meet in Reunion to Again- Shake the Hand of the Living and Pay Tribute
 to Dead.

AThe people here want you to make yourselves at home. They want to meet and know you. in this. your Capi- tai City.
 "Forty-odd years ago a soldier, fresh from the Virginia trenches, tramping from Georgia, landed in the wake of war, and, having been welcomed by those struggling here, he feels a sense of grateful satisfaction in extending welcome to comrades and children of those who were good to him. Friends, let us go further and fnr yite you to take up permanent resi- dence in this town and help up swell our numbers to the enticing figure of 100000 by 1910, or in the near. sweet bye and bye. What better acquisition for us than few thousand veterans and the families of those who. for four of campaigning in the '60's?
 Comrades! Allow me to suggest that 1t has been a noble privilege of the storm bronzed survivors of that struggle to teach their children and grandchildren to be lovers of the homes their ancestors fought to defend. civic patriots. and iaw-abiding citizens of these indestructible States in this in- dissofuble Union. Comrades! Pardon an earnest plea! Let us teach our children and grand children to love home and family al- tars first, then city and country, then our beloved State, and fiinally, this. the finest, fairest land with brothers North, East, South and West, the exposure of art, science and religion for the world!
 Tt was an Alabama regiment, the 10th, led by John H Forney, that with Kirby Smiths brigade forded the Shen- andoah double-QuiclSed across the country, raised the dust, the devil and the rebel yell and scared the Federals and caused the stampede of Bull Run to Washington.
 But if I tried to tell all the gallant things that you Alabamians did, 1t would take all day and all night.
 Pardon the flush of pride. if, af- firm that after the gallant, noble ser- vice of Southern soldiers during the four years of war, the work done by your during Reconstruction and after, down to this good time, is as chapter ever enacted in the wondrons history of the word.
 But what have we here to interest? Why over wonder, beyond the new Ex- change replacing the old hotel home for many weeks Of the family of him who served his country in war with Indiaus. in Councils of State. In the then gave up all. save 4fgnI.y and honor, to lead his people in that mag ntftcent struggle for their rights. fs .When struggle and bioodshed could no longer avail. he retired to counsel his co-patriots for. peace. to prepare faithful account of what they knew to s5s their cause ss right, aaA te furnish as noble an example of endurance as ever burned upon the page of martyred lives. Let us cherish the name and house of this great one, of our coun- try's Jefferson Davis.'"
 Upon the corner of Blob and Com- merce is the administrative office of the late Confederacy and the hospital where our devoted Mothers in Israel soothed the sick and took the last messages of dying Confederate sol- diers
 '.Time does not permit to recount the many places here, made dear to us by memories of the historic past.
 we have modern palaces of busi- ness kissing the clouds. We have moving pictures and vaudeville to bring smiles to your time-worn faces. Montgomery is living picture of the tragi-comedy of life: we have gardens and factories and shops and electric plants of light and power; We have suburbs of beauty; we are to have college where 1t may be shown that constitute the most valuable assets of e state; we have excellent schools and
 
 libraries.
 we have parks and baseball fields an grounds for football, where our boys may learn the gentle art of tripping and falling upon the fellow who tries to get ahead of them in business or politics, the art of punishing him with in the rules of the game, of holding him back while we boise the ptg-skin of our prosperity, and kick it to the goal of our happiness and delight.
 Comrades! in the name of old time hospitality and on behalf of the progressive city bid you cordial. honest welcome to our altars and our marts, to our hearthstones and our hearts You have shed undying lustre on the history of this land.
 "'on the stones of the past have we builded our steps of the stairway that leadeth to Now. The mortar is mixed with our tears; uneven the stones. ill., fitted and scared by many weak strokes; but grand is the structure thou Jehovah builded through us, out of the days that are done
 Responses by General Harrison.
 For the veterans, Commander Harri- son responded to the addresses of well come, saying that he was sure that all in Montgomery as they did, almost in their own homes.
 Lieutenant Colonel John. B. Fuller, Major A. F. Prince, Major Saffold Ber- ney and Captain P. B. Creagh were ap- pointed a committee on credentials to report at the afternoon session. Just before the adjournment for the noon recess Colonel Jones stated that he has not yet completed his report. conse-- ouently this matter was deferred.
 At the afternoon session, following the report of the committee on creden- tials, Miss Claire Ely sang "Lorena," a song familiar to the veterans dur ing the days of the war between the States. The applause indicated the sim cere appreciation of those present.
 happy incident of the afternoon session was the presentation to the State of a life sized portrait of Gen eraI John B. Gordon. This picture was hung in the middle of the stage and was immediately recognized by the vet erans as they filed into the theatre.
 PresentaIIOsa Gs Picture.
 The presentation was made in the name of the veterans by Captain Charles P. Rogers, who said:
 'It is my pleasing duty on behalf of the Confederate Veterans of the State of Alabama to present to You as inc custodian of the Archives and His tory of the State of Alabama this mag nificent life sized portrait of our late beloved commander in chief of Con- federate Veterans, General John B. Cor don, who led Alabama troops to victory on many a bloody field.
 General Gordon belonged to Ala bana as well as Georgia, entering the