The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-06-08

Washington, June 5.-Veterans of
the Confederacy gave President Will
son tremendous ovation here today
when he welcomed them to the nation
al capital at the opening meeting of
the twenty-seventh annual reunion.
AS the president, accompanied by
Mrs. Wilson, ascended the platform,
the old soldiers waved their hats and
the hall resounded with the "rebelP
yell of the sixties.
Many of the veterans who crowded
closely around the platform shook
hands with the president before he be-
gan to speak and they cheered his ev-
cry utterance. The great hall was
packed to the doors and thousands
stood in the streets outside, unable to
obtain entrance.
The number of veterans here is esti-
mated at nearly 1000, and the tents
provided for them on the union station
plaza could not accommodate all of
the late corners, and nearby buildings
had to be utilized. Officials who have
charge Of arrangements for the ac-
coramodations estimate the attendance
As enc q ths laleess sasa AEss =
-. ...st~ :. sflls inc laFss feliiss
ioa Ii point of attendance 81 Visitors,
ever held. The presentation of a
United States flag to General Harri-
son at the initial meeting Of the Con-
federate Veterans by COL Andrew
Cowan of the G. A. r., was the signal
for a patriotic demonstration led by
the veterans, and in which the women
and visitors who packed the hall to the
doors heartily joined. The Stars and
Stripes were hung side by side with
the stars and bars behind the nresid-
ing officer and viii remain there thru
out TIE reunion.
Presle Wilson told the warriors
from Dixie that ,.,o was glad to remem-
ber the heroic .hjags done on both
sides il the var between the states
and that there were many things
which make one proud to have sprung
from that stock.
"Th's IS a Ia. e mea!c- 'es," the
president declared, "and yet the vorld
does not live o. memories"
Some things, he said, We lave thank
fully buried. che of which is the divis-
ions Of strife which threateied to sep
arate the country half century ago
The president epoie IS follows:
Il esteem it very great pleasure
and real privilege to extend to the
men who are attending this reunion
the very cordial greetings Of the gov
ernment of the United States.
Il suppose that as you mix with ore
another you chiefly fad these to be
days of memory, vixen your thoughts
go back and recall those days Of strug-
gle in which your hearts were strained
in which the whole nation seemed in
grapple, and | dare say that you are
thrilled as you remember the heroic
things that were done.
"You are glad to remember that he
roic things were done on both sides,
and that men in those days fought in
something like the old spirit of chival-
ric gallantry. There are many mem
cries of the civil war that thrill along
the blood and make one proud to have
been sprung of a race that could pro-
duce such bravery and constancy; and
yet the world does not live on memories
"The world is constantly making its
toilsome way forward into new and
different ways, and / believe that one
of the things that contributes satisfac-
tion to reunion like this and well
come like this is that this is also day
of oblivion. There are some things
that we have thankfully buried and
among them are the great passions Of
division which once threatened to rend
this nation in twain The passion Of
admiration we still entertain for the he
roic figures of those old days, but the
passion of separation, the passion Of
difference of principle, is gone-gone
out of our minds, gone out of our
hearts; and one of the things that will
thrill this country as it reads of this
reunion is that it will read also of q
rededication on the part of all Of us tc
the great nation which we serve in
common.
"These are days of oblivion as vel
as of memory, for we are forgetting
the things that once held us asunder
Not only that, but they are days of re.