The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-07-31
| yell.l Comrades of the Legion! bring

| yell.) Comrades of the Legion! brins
back to You, as the fittest offering t.
| grace our first reunion in peace, tina
banner which you so nobly illustrated il
war. Though it will mover again "brav,
the battle and the breeze" yet as long as
one shred Of its battlo-scarred folds cling.
to another, it will tell you, in Language
moro eloquent than words, of the impe
| rishoble renown you won for it and fol
yourselves. 1t will speak constantly tc
your hearts of our dead comrndes, and il
serves to remind you always that, ,chcn 40,
.furled ii forerer you pledged yo,r soldicrls
honor TO obScrre mri0lutc The terms on rhicI
y0n Surrendered. 1t will thus stand, rs Il
perpetual symbol of your plighted fnith
not alone in the past but for the future.
1t ,cM be the strongest guarantee To MoSt
,ohQ so often met IN the dea'Iy right, that The
men ,rhO prorcd Themselves so h'uc tn il
,rhiic claimed their dH,9;t,ncp, cannot
pr0rc false to the ncr ObiijotiOus Mcy hurt
incurred All brave men who met you in
buttlc will honor you for lonorin1 tho
flag you once upheld SO br,vcly, clunc
to SO dcvotcdly, and which you now che
| rish asa memorial of your fallen brethren.
And while you cannot expect them t.
sympathiZc with the cause i'll which il
was borne, they will not fail to respect
the men who bore it in so loyal and
linightly fashion.
The people of Carolina can point with
pride to one historic banner whicl! ex-
country. When your forcfatllcrs and
mine followed the heroic Washing
ton, us his meteor flag swept to victory
Mt Cowpens and Eutaw, they could scarce
ly have hoped that their descendants
should see that flag, honorcd by 40, 600,
0O0 Americans, ere the young republic,
for which they gave their blood, had at
tanned the first century of its existence.
The brave people who were our enemies
100 years ago, forgetting the animOstics
and strife which then nrrayed England
and America i'll arms, forgetting that they
once called Washington, and Rutle.lge.
and Laurcns, and Sumter, Pickcns and
Marion, "rebcls," this day pay willing
honor to the devotion, the patriotism and
the courage Of our revolutionary sircs.
If justice, truth, moderation, concila-
ton and craftsmanship direct the coun-
scle of those who were the victors in the
recent war; if free citizens of free and
equal States can maintain and pcrpctuate
in this confcdcracy, under the constitu-
ton our fathers established, the liberties
for which they fought, then it may be
that when another century has rolled by
this banner of yours will be deemed by
others than ourselves worthy us repre-
scnting truth. faith, honor and courage
to be placed by the side of the honorcd
flag of Eutaw! 1t may be given to our
children to see this auspicious day. To
us, who are standing on this great divid-
ing line which separates the first century
of our countrys life from that unknown
future which lies before us, will remain
only the aspirations and the prayers of
the patriot. Chcercd by these, we can a.
least rc-ccho the words of Carolina S
gifted and lamented patriot and poet:
bid liberty rejoice! Aye, though its
day
Be Ear OF near, these clouds shall yet be
With the large promise of the coming
day"
In the meantime, solemnly appealing
to the great tribunal on high to vindicate
the purity of our motives in peace and III
war. we tendcrly and rcvcrcntly place
among our most precious relics oIr loved
though conquered banner.
''Furl that banner softly, slowly;
Treat it gently, it is holy,
For it droops above the dead.
'Ioucl, it not; unfold it never,
Let ii droop there furlud forevcr
For the peoples hopes are doa!"
1t only remains for me to Introduce to
you Gen. II. NJ. Logan, who has been III
vitod to address you on this occasion
CONNECTED with TIE Legion from IL; o.
gani%ation to the close OF its career, ..har-
ing i'll nj It's tolls AMI dangers from Ma
nn;'.i;,s to ApromattoX. and winning for
himself. ly distinguished service on
many a hard fought .irld, rank, fame and
the devoted attachment of Lis comrades,
no on" Is better fitted 10 recount the
deeds AMI rcrr2scn; Ia. spirit OF the
Legion.
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