The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-07
GIN. WALKER
TALKS TO VETS
DECLARES CONFEDERATES WERE
NOT REBELS BUT PATRIOTS,
NOT TRAITORS BUT MARTYRS.
(By Associated Press.)

Macon, Ga, May Gen. c. Ir-
vine Walker, OF Charleston, s. C..
cOmmander-in -in-chief of the United
confederate Veterans, on behalf OF
the organization, delivered the re-
spOnse to the addresses of welcome at
the opening OF the annual reunion OF
the veterans here today. In begin
ming his address Gen. Walker paid
a tribute to Gen. George w. Gordon,
who died soon after his election as
cOmmander-in-chie of the COnfeder-
ate Veterans at the last reunion, and
OF whom the speaker said:
"A wise Providence has, since We
last met. gathered him to Himself
My comrades, Gordon loved you; he
treasured ever the sacred memories
OF hallOwed past; he was proud of
the glories which cluster around this
federation. May the memory of his
life and work inritc us to higher ef-
fort for the good of the United Con-
fcderatc Veterans he SO truly loved
and faithfully served"
Asking the question What is it
that brings to this meeting the
boys from the distant corners of
our spreading land?" The speak
er said:
"Thc principles for which We
fought were buried under the shat
tered ruins of the COnfederacy. SO
their maintenance cannot be the reas-
on for this great gathering. Our be-
loved Confederate banner is but
cherished memory, but, Oh how deep
ly cherished We can never hope to
unfurl it. We can gain nothing of
material benefit from these reunions
Then what powerful impulse of our
nature draws us here? 1t is surely
some deep, vivid, imperishablc senti-
ment Is 1t not proof of how much
these old boys loved that COnfed-
eracy which
Rose SO white and fair,
And fell so pure of crimes
and of how they must have impressed
that devotion upon their descendants?
This strong sentiment is partly the
Happiness we anticipate and partly
the good we hope to accomplish. II
is a happiness to meet our dear old
comrades and brothers, who stood by
us, facing death, and who served
their beloved country with uncX-
ampled devotion, uneXccllcd courage
and grieyous suitcrings. Confederate
cOmradeship is the strongest bond
between man and man. II is Il great
happiness to dwell lovingly upon
the pathetic and the amusing Incl
dents of our war experiences. 1t Is a
happiness to meet these fair daugh-
tcrs, who gather around Us and hon
or us and our cause.
Now, what good can We expect?
"In considering this do not forget
that whether we were right. as we
will forever claim, or wrong, as our
enemies assert, it is all now purely
an academic question, one which can
not in the slightest degree affect our
present prosperity or happiness. The
greatest good to be obtained by these
reunions is our vindication, a justi.
fication OF the righteousness of the
cause for which We fought This. not
selfishly for ourselves. but for our
descendants. Then let us be sure
that our children and their children
TO the remOtest generation. know
that their fathers were not rebels
but patriots, not traitors but mar
tyrs. They should know that We
fought not for conquest. but for de-
fence, not to maintain slavery. but
TO preserve the precious rights won
by and handed down to us b. our
We fought for our free
dom. our firesides. our women and
our God
We accepted with loyalty our pa
roles at the close of the war. We
returned to our homes to devote our
selves to the maintenance of peace.
harmony and concord. We took our
new duties, We faced every trouble,
and with a mighty effort triumphant
" rose above thousands of difficult
ties which confronted us. The war
had brought us ruin. desolation. de-
feat. but its hard-earned lessons. self
reliance, patience. persistency and