The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-27

OBER "a !, 1875 OJTBLE
this day. do honor to themselyesin rendering
homage to the memory of Ffrginia's illus
trieus SON. "a
I Icannot repress an emotion OF awe as I
yainly attempt 10 overlook
b THE M1GaTY THRoxG
extending as it does beyond the limits Of
these Capitol grounds, and covering spaces
which cannot even be reashed by the eye Of
che speaker. More impressive is this assem-.
blage OF citizens and Representatives from all
parts OF our own and Of foreign lands than
ever gathered on the banks Of the ancient
AIpheus at one OF the soIemnilies which
united the men of all the Grecian States aud
conntriess There was indeed one pleasing
feature In the old Hellenic festivals. The
entire territory around Olympia was conse-
Grated to peace during their celebration, and
there even enemies might meet as friends and
brothers, and. In hsrmeny rejoice In their
ancestral gIosies and national renown. tits
80 with us today. But how deficient In
moral interest was the old Olympiad. aud
how wanting In one feature which gives
grace to our solemnity: No citizen, no stran-
ger, however honored, was permitted to
bring with him either mother, wife, or dauRh-
Ter, but here to-day how many Of the noble
women Of The land, of whom the tabled Al
cestis, Antigone, and Iphigenia we're but
the imperfect types, lend the charm Of their
presence 10 the scere-C Christian women of 9
nobler civilization than Pagan Antiquity ever
knew.
We have come from the ses.shore, the
mountains, and the yslleys of our south land
not only to inaugurate statue, but new
era 10 our history. Here on this Capit0line
Hill, on this 28th day Of October, 1875, and
In the one hundredth year of the Common.
wealth Of Virginia, In sight of that historic
river that more than two centuries and q half
ago bore on its bosom the bark freIgbted with
the civilization Of the North American Con.
tineht, on whose banks Powhaian welded
his sceptre and Pocahontas launched her
skiff, under the shadow Of that Capitol whose
foundations were laid before the present Fed.
eraI Con, titution was framed, and from which
the edicts Of Virginia went forth over ber
realm that stretched from The Atlantic to the
Mississippi pi-edicts framed by some of the
patriots whose manly forms on yonder mon.
ument still gather around him whose name
is the purest In human hstory-we have met
to inaugurate new Pantheon to the glory
of our common mother.
In the story of the empires of the earth
some crisis often occurs which develops the
genius Of the era, and impresses an imper-
ishable stamp on the character of whole
people.
Such q crisis was the Revolution of 1776,
when thirteen thirl ;-settled and widely y.sepa.
rated colonies dared to offer the gage of bat.
tie to the greatest military and naval power
on the globe.
TIE STORY OF THAT STRUGGLE
is the most familiar 10 American annals:
After innumerable reverses. and incredible
suffsr,ngs and sacrifices, our fathers came
forth from the ordeal victorious. And
though during the progress of the strife, be-
fore calm reflection had quieted the violence
of infiamed passion, they were branded BY
opprobrious names and their revolt de-
nounced as rebellion and treason, the justice
of their cause, and the wisdom, the .Valor,
and the determination with which they vim
dicated II, were quickly recognized and gen.
erously acknowledged By the brayest and
pnrest Of British soldiers and statesmen; 80
that no when we seek the noblest euloges
of the founders OF American republicauism
we find them in the writings Of the essayIsts
and historians of the mother country. We
honor ourselves and do homage 10 virtue
when we hallow the names of those who In
the council and In the field achieved such
victories! We bequeath an influence which
will bless coming generations when With the
brush and the chisel we perpetuate the i'm.
AGES of our fathers and the founders OF the
State, Already has the noble office been be.
pnn. Here on this bill the forms Of Wash.
ingtop. and Henry, and Lewis, and Mason.
and Nelson, and Jefferson, and Marshall, ar
rest our eyes and make their silent but salu-
lary and stirring appeals to our hearts. NOR
are these all who merit eternal commemora-
ton, As look on that monument miss
James Madison and Others of venerable ana
illustrious name. Let US noteease our patri'
Ollie work until we have reared Pantheon
worthy of the undying glory Of the past.
But this day we inauguratea new era. We
Law the cornerstone OF new Pantheon In
commemoration of our country's fame. we
come to honor the memory Of one who was
the impersonation of our Confederate cause,
and whose genius illumined the great contest
which has recently ended, and which made
an epoch not only in our own history but 10
that of The age.
We assert no monopoly in the glory OF
that leader. It was bis happy lot to com.
mand, even while he lived, the respect ana
admiration Of right-minded and right.neart.
ed men in every part OF THIS ianG ana 10 al
lands. It Is now his rare distinction TO re-
ceiye the homage Of those who most dinefeo
with him on the questions which lately rent
this republic in twain from ocean to ocean.
From The North and from the South, from
the East and from the West, men have gath.
cred on these grounds to-day, widely diver.
gent in their views on social, political, and
Religious topics, and yet they find in the at
traction which concentrates their regard up
ON one name place where their hearts un.
expec,edly touch each other and beat In
strange unison.
Il was this attractive
MORAL ExCELLEscE
which. winning the love and admiration OF
the brave and pure on the other side OF the
sea. prompted them to enlist the genius OF
one of the greatest of modern sculptors IN
fashioning the statue We have met 10 lnau-
eurate this dav. ~ ~,
Itisa singular and striking illustration OF
the worldwide appreciation Of his character
] that the first statue OF Jackson comes from
abroad aud that while the monument 10 our
own Washington, and the efhgies OF those
| who surround hims were erected by order Oh
the Commonwealth, this memorial is the trl'
bute Of the admiration and love of those who
| meyer SAW his face and who were bound TO
him by. no ties save those which comm on
| sympathy for exai:ed worth establishes oe-
tween the souls of magDantmous ana nefoie
men. We accept, this noble gift aii the more
gratefully because ir comes from men OF Kln'
dred race and kindred heart as the express
| sion of their good. will aud sympathy for our
neonle as well as OF their admiration for the