The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1913-07-02
wlLsoM III eETTxssuRe.

The reconsideration by President
Wilson Of his determination not 10
attend the reunion Of the veterans Of
the Northern and the Southern armies
en- the field at Gettysburg upon the
occasion Of the fiftieth anniversary Of
the great battle fought there, and his
consent to make an address to the
gathering are very gratifying. It
would have been great mistake had
the PARLIAMENTARY to preserve the
consistency Of his resolve not 10 par
ticipate in public celebrations during
the first year of his administration
rcfrained from this appearance. It
need not constitute a precedent and it
VIII not, in practical effect, impose
upon the obligations Of his time or
responsibility. Congress will be al
most wholly disengaged during the
period of The reunion by the reason
Of the desire and the resolve of many
OF ifs members to attend the gather
Ing themselves. 1t Is q regrettable
fbat the president should not be able
10 employ the cessation OF activity
at Washington In a much-needed yaea-
fion and rest, but his foregoing Of per
gonal comfort and satisfaction for the
sake Of what he believes to be not
merely an official obligation, but an
opportunity for beneficial impression
Of an historic occasion is eminently
characteristic of him.
The argument presen4 ed by Repre-
sentative Palmer to the president,
which seems to have moved him to
change his determination in this mat
ter, was admirable, and well nigh
Irresistible, The appearance and ad
dress Of q president Of Southern birth
and sentiment, the first since the
great war, upon the field of Gettys-
burg, where veterans OF the mighty
forces that contended in the struggle
between the North and South -
assembled In amity and reunion, viii
be peculiarly illuminating and inspir-
ing, and, in the hands Of such a mas
ter mind as that of Woodrow Wilson,
the occasion may we'll be made not
able by an utterance that VIII 80
down in history as the complement
of Lincoln's immogtal speech and be
known as the sec a Gettysburg ad-
dress
The spirit Of the REUNION now under
way on the field of Gettysburg is in
fun measure consistent with the
splendid valor that was illustrated in
the great struggle that there marked
the high tide of the Confederacy's
tremendous effort fifty years ago,
There is nothing of tawdry display
nor anything of artificial interest in
the celebration. There is no dis
elimination between victor and van
pushed in the struggle that reached
it's climax on that field The event Ii
far enough In the past TO have as
sumed perspective and it is viewed,
as it should be viewed, as a terrific
and conclusive debate which deter
mined certain great issues of deep
| Importance to the nation whose
course by that conclusion was fixed
anew. Every man who contributed to
the determination of those issues, no
matter on which side he contended,
contribuFd patriots share, and is
Justly ignored for the might and the
sinceritb OF his contention To such
~ oce' Zion il is eminently fitting
chat &ian who illustrates in his own
purposes and practices the highest
sense Of civic duty, himself a product
Of the section against whom the yer
dict was given by the court of war,
should come as the president of the
United States to address the remnants
OF the oontending forces. The partici
patton Of President Wilson in the OBJ
servanee Of the Gettysburg semi-cen
tennial will give the GROWING toucl
to truly great and a fine occasion.
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