Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-07-04
WELCOME OF BLUE TO GRAY.
Evidence Of Il United Nation-No
North, No South.

utmost for the comfort and enjoy
| ment OF the Confederate veterans.
| Gen. Geo. p. Harrison, commander
in-chief Of the United Confederate
| Veterans, responded to the address
Of welcome at the opening meeting of
the recent Washington convention.
! Il point with pride and pleasure to
| the reception which has been accord
ed us to-day" he said. Indeed,
am Informed that the suggestion of
| our invitation came from a gallant
colonel Of the Union army-Andrew
| Cowan, Of New York"
Gen. Harrison briefly referred to
| the arbitrament Of the sword, declar-
| ing that soon after the war they
buried the hatchet and scalping
| knife in the rough sands of the sea-"
| and were ready to "bury the bloody
spirit saying that it was the camp
| followers and politicians who were
| slow to recognize the result.
Gen. Harrison declared that when
| President Mckinley wore Confede-
! rate button and carried miniature
! Confederate flag, presented to him by
bevy Of Southern girls, it was evil
dence Of reunited country. "But
when | contemplate the fact that
| Woodrow Wilson, a Southern man,
has been twice elected and is to-day
President Of the United States, and
as such the commander-in-chi Of it's
army and navy, l know that the war
Of sections is over. And here re-
peat that those who wore the Gray
are as loyal to our country as those
who wore the Blue. All OF our past
differences are settled. Let us shake
hands and be friends" said Gen.
Harrison.
To-day our sons are registering in
answer to their country's call. Let us
encourage and stand by them, whe-
ther they come from Yankeeland or
DiNieland. The Importance Of this
reunion is without parallel or com
parison. 1t will pass into memory
as crownng event in the history Of
great nation, an epO, 4 never to be
1 forgotten or obliterated from the
pages OF history or dimmed by the
passing OF years. More than a half
century ago the men who wore the
! Gray. now revered by all as the even
ing shadows deepen upon us, were
snatched in youth from the loving
embraces Of devoted mothers. and left
our homes and tiresides in defense Of
what we knew to be right. With
bright hopes, stubborn determination
and that historic Southern chivalry
Surging through our veins, we re-
sponded to the trumpet's call and
marched to the tune OF Dixie with
heroism never surpassed, rarely
cqualed, and admired by both friend
and foe. Inspiring as the strains Of
"tDiXie" were to us in 81 to '65, none
the less, | am sure, was the feeling Of
patriotism that came to each OF us
lin, hi I~s
vania avenue under the Stars and
Stripes, our countrys flag, to the
Soul-inspiring strains Of our nation
al anthem. "The Star-Spangled Ban
ner." and with throbbing hearts and
steadfast purposes proclaimed that
long shall it wave DER the land of
the free and the home Of the brave"
If this reunion had as it's only OBJ
]ect the proof Of united country,
once divided, then this gathering
would be in vain. If it is to signify
any special fact it is that love reigns
and hatred lives no more. The 10y
atty to The Flag by the men who
wore the Gray has long and perma-
nently been established 1t Is ac-
cepted that there is now no North.
no South. no East, no West, except in
so far as geographical necessities re-
quire.
The welcome that we all received
was not only for the men who fol-
lowed Lee and Jackson, but also for
the sons and daughters, sponsors
, and maids. The welcome was with
out qualification or mental reserya-
tion-the freedom of the city, the
hospitality Of the people, was unlim-
lted to the men who wore the gray.
The doors of the city swung wide
open to us. This reunion will be
cherished as one of the precious
events OF my life. OF course there
Will always be some trough necks"
who will not agree with me when
they read this article; but | did not
use their glasses. have written
facts as | saw. heard and felt while
moving about among the great null
ttude. | shall always be glad that I
was at the great peace celebration at
gettysburg four years ago, and at
this reunion in the Capital City of
this great country Of ours. | have
been deeply impressed with what nv
eyes saw and my heart felt while
there, which made every beat of nv
/. heart, and "Tery throb of my mise
, ana every drop of blood that courses
through my veins take on new life
and left me tinctnred afresh with re-
newed patriotism and courage in nv
soul / Rusea,l yVriah,
Seneca. S. C.
(TO bo continual