Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-04-24
COL. BOTELER'S LECTURE
..rllE CENTENNIAE." ~

IRE Dung Men Chrlstlan AsSOcia-
aon, through whose good offices the
lion. A: r. Boteler was induced to lee
t,re at Court House Hall on Thursday
night last has again entitled itself TO the
,nanks OF the community. -.
Mr.. Boteler is. a, great favorite In
Manchester, and his appearance, upon
ne platform awakened pleasant memoir
les OF the Old Virginia-as she was
before the separatiOn-when his elo-
quent voice was often heard at our pub
&c gatherings.
Tue subject of his lecture was "The
Approaching Centennial" and his man
per of treating it was both interesting
and instructive.
Perhaps, the highest compliment that
can be paid it is to say-as can be SAID
IN truth-that it changed opinions, up
rooted prejudccs and disposed persons,
who have heretofore looked with an
untriendly eye upon the Centennial, to
regard it Will, favor We are among
the number of those who originally
opposed any participation by Virginia
in this celebration, supposing that 1t
woulc be nothing more than Yankee
4th of July on grand scale, and would
te seized upon by the Radicals ior
jubilation over their success IN destroy
ing the rights andliberties OF the South.
If this were true, of course no Southern
man could attend it without cOmpro-
missing his self-respect and dishonoring
the cause for which his brothers had
fought and died We harboured the
suspicion, too, that it was huge job
1or the liking IN OF strangers from all
parts of the world, i'll order that the
city OF Brotherly love might put money
i'll its purse.
Besides this-when the project was
inaugurated, Radicaism was rampant
some of the Southern States were under
military domination, Others under sur
veiance, and all more or less the objects
OF suspicion. The political heavens
were black, the constitution and llber-
ties of the country apparently dead;
altogether the celebration seemed a
mockery, and so far as concerned the
South an invitation to dance at its own
funeral.
But the aspect has entirely changed
since then. The clouds have split, the
sky cleared, aud the masses of the North
seem to be in earnest in their desire ''to
shake hands across the bloody chasm.
We are satisfied, too, not only from
what Col Boteler (who is the commits
sioner for West Nirginia) told us, but
from intoi nation derived from other
trustworthy sources, that our first I'M
pressions of the Centepnial were entire
~ erroneous.
There is to he nothing narrow, mean
or partizar about it. 1t is to he grand
representative gathering of nations and
States in the interests OF peace and the
uiumphS OF peace, where men from all
parts of the world will meet and mingle
on the friendlicSt footing, and without
the risk of having their sensiblities
wounded.
The Exposition is to be the chief part
OF it, Space in the immense buildings
Is to -be allotted to every nation and
State for the display of its arts, manu-
features, minerals, agricultural and other
productions.
The world is going to advertise itself
there.
And the question arises, shall Viz
GINA participate in it! We say yes
unhesilatingly yes. TO refuse the invl-
tation so kindly profcred would be
charl:sh Were she to decline, what
cxplal atiol could be given of her alb
sencr! 1t would be said that she had
nothing to cxhiLit-that her boosted
resources (richer, we believe, than those
of anv State this side OF the Mississippi
were a sham and a prctence-the Viz
rimians were still living on rcd her
rings and past recollections, sulking.
repining, sitting i'll their ashes, cherish
inc resentment and spurning all Protfers
of Cancellation.
This Virginia cannot afford 10 do.
There is life in the old land yet, and
her people must put themselves abreast
of the progress Of the age. She c"n
participate in the Centennial not only
with honor but profit There is nothing
to be lost, much TO be gained in every
way. Such an opportunity may not
occur again in century, and to neglect
TO avail herself of it would be suicidal.
This article might be extended lndeti-
nitely, but We have said enough to at
tract public attention TO the matter, and
10 put ourselves right OH the record
U,nrhesfpr Times.