Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-05-29
GOV. HOOPER
IN WELCOME
TOvETERANS

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, May 28.-
In welcoming the Confederate Veter-
ans to Chattanooga, Governor Ben W.
Hooper said:
~ deem it the proud privilege of a
lifetime to welcome to Tennessee soil
the venerable survivors Of the world's
greatest war, From the dawn of his
tory down to the present hour, the
measured tread of soldiery has echoed
upon the earth and the vibrant strains
Of martial music have stirred the
hearts of men. There have been wars
Just and unjust, wars necessary and
unnecessary, wars of cruel revenge, or
selfish aggrandizement. and OF exalted
patriotism. Among all the military
conflicts, ancient and modern, which
have swept our planet with tlre and
drenched it with blood, none have pro
duced more splendid examples of
military prowess and heroic valor
among men and loyal devotion and un-
compiaiuiug self-sacritice among wom-
en- than the war between the states.
"The heightened vista of the centur-
les lends stature to Alexander, Caesar,
Hannibal and Napoleon, and invests
with extraordinary splendor the val
liant deeds of those who followed
them; but when history has obtained
the lust irrespective of Lee and Jack
son they will loom large among the
colossal military figures of all time
And, what is better STILL, they will
, stand supernal among the chieftains of
every race and cline. because they en-
tered the smoke of battle with prayers
rather than curses upon their lips,
There could have been no such com
manders as these without such men
AS the South furnished to the ranks of
the Confederate armies.
INHERITED WAR.
"We of this generation which has
come on since tue war OF the sixties
should not forget that the soldiers on
both sides of that contest drank to
the bitter dregs a cup which had
been prepared fol them before they
we're born and which otherwise might
have been passed on to us. The wal
between the states was an Inherited
war. Tue seeds of inevitable conflict
had been sown in our Federal Constl-
tuition at its very inception, and the
aged men we see here today were ia
ted to live at time when these seeds
BuOulu bpTluB up anu OAihB Aol oh UHSAA
awful fruitage of civil war.
'sIn the calm light of this peaceful
day it is hard for us to realize that
fifty years ago the hills and valleys OF
this immediate country resounded
with the roar of artillery and the clash
of arms, We habituate ourselves to
think of such terrible things as being
far away in distance and in time. But
there are gray heads here today which
vividly remember the village of Chat
tauooga as an armed camp and her
surrounding ridges and mountains
crowned with all the pomp and cir
cumstauce of war.
SACRED MEMORIES.
lyon are gathered here today to
perpetuate the sacred memories of thc
,yast ana to renew the coml adeship
bagun back in the days when your
steps we're light, your eyes were
bright, and tue tide of youthful bore
surged hign in your courageous
breasts. No love save that arising
from the tenderest ties of nature can
exceed the love of man for the com
rades who camped, messed, marched,
fought, bled and suffered by his side.
No music can ever quicken the pulse
of the old soldiers like the calls of
bugle corns.
'In behalf of every man, woman
and child in the great Volunteer
State, / welcome this reunion of Con- /
federate veterans. / likewise greet !
your strong, manly sons and your sur
passingly sweet and beautiful daugh-
ters.
1--WE naturally judge all Confederate
veterans by those of Tennessee, where,
for half century, they have strug-
gled to build up the waste places, and,
even now, they stand as leaders OF
public thought and action in almost
every community Of our state.
HOSPITALITY OF CITY.
"The pleasure of your sojourn amid
these historic scenes will be immeas-
nrally augmented by the unexcelled
of city which rarely per-
mits herself to be second best in any
particular.
"Lst me say, upon this impressive
occasion, that trust that the wisdom
of diplomacy and the justice of arbi-
tratiop may restrain the passions of
war until the Prince of Peace shall
have gained supreme possession of the
hearts of men, but, il this hope can
not vet be realized, / can then wish for
our Republic no greater boonthan that
her defenders. shall be such men as
YOU were fifty years ago.
'As a last word, permit me to ex-
press the hope that our days may yet
be long in this goodly land which the
Y Gol kn1 e.srra IN 11S