The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-10
Governor Holiday.

HIS SPEECH At THH KINGS MOUNTAIN CEN.
| TENNIAL cELBBRATI0S-THIs wOND.RPUI
COUNTRY OUR HERITAGE.
| TCharlotie Observsr.l
Until Thursday Virginia had not been
represented in tue proceedings. On that
day Governor Holiday came. and, as pre-
vlously stated. presided over the ceremo-
nies. In assuming the duties Of the posi-
tion assigned him be said:
| NV COuntrymen,-I did not come to
speak; your chosen orator will speak elo-
quenily, and tell all that need be said.
am here simply, like yourselves, to pay tri.
butte TO the memory OF those who made this
spot immortal. and 10 join In the chorus OF
admiration for deeds the like of which, all
things considered, have never been surpsss-
ed on the field OF arms. Heavier battles
have been fought aud many more men have
fallen; but we claim that no more unselfisb
heroism has leen displayed aud few grand.
er results have followed any issue in any
| age.
Here on this height was the turning tide
| OF the Revolution. Clouds and thick dark
ness rested upon the cause OF our fathers.
Defeat everywhere over the southern De-
partment had fallen-defeat everywhere
threatened, and gloom and dependency
hitherto sustained the great fight. A few
plain, brave men gathered from Virginia,
the Csrolnas, and what is now the State Of
Tennessee, and on this mountain lifted a
standard which was no more iurled till the
last gun of the Revolution sounded.
Out Of it came the republic. One hum
dred years OF various and striking vicissi-
tudes have 2One-sometimes in halcyon
peace. sometimes in bloody foreign and do.
meStic war. Can we not now look each
other in tue face and say that from these
yicisstudes we have emerged stronger, bet
ter, more patriotic than everf Can we not,
rising above the transitory strife that has
so sadly torn us, look over this wonderful
country, our heritage, and say with pro-
found earnestness that we are willing, as
our fathers were on this ground a century
ago, to unite our hearts and hands, and
bring all its vast treasures 10 uphold the
ensign and advance the welfare Of COM
mon government?
Fer one, / make bold to say that am.
The men who fought the battle OF Kings
Mountain fought not for themselves alone.
They were soldiers with Que aim and IN
one cause. Their deeds were not TO give
fame TO themselves or their descendants.
They were to strike a blow which would be
IeIt rs wei III DOSiOu Us Ill tutlt wv II SOutu-
eru land and their desolated homes. The
ring OF their rifles as they charged these
heights was 10 herald the guns at York
town, and screening no section, they were
quite willing that their shouts OF victory
should 90 to swell the anthem OF confed-
eration's triumph.
SO with us Of this generation.
The sun does not visit in his circuit
country OF yaster resources than that which
sweeps from the Potomac to the Rio
Grande. Beneath it lies the wealth OF en-
pires; upon it lives a population not un-
worthy the men whose memory we this day
honor. They are working out with restless
will a grand destiny-unfolding the riches
Of their land, educating the coming race
with honest effort, bearing upon their
shoulders an enfranchised people toward
the blessings OF high civilization, and
with the patriotism OF their sires bringing
all to increase the wealth aud eXalt the
glory Of the republic.