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

echo through the ages. teaching the worlt
It's Qrandest lesson-how TO be free M,
countrymen, from some partiality which
cannot explain, and which / cannot hon,
to justify, have been summoned from ths
old Common that was the home, ant
from a county that bears the honored nam,
OF Campbell, to speak OF the portentou,
scene that was here enacted, and unite with
you 10 its commemoraiioD. When | recall
that q Bancroft, standing here, has depicted
IL In the vivid lines OF historic truth, and
that Preston has she'd over II that rare
and lustrous eloquence which belongs alone
TO the tongue that has been touched by liy-
ing fire, well may shrink from the unequal
task, and envy the silence which the medl.
tative mind brings TO its contemplation.
But. have considered that The things which
here came to pass are so engaging in them
selves that in their plaipest recital every
deficiency OF their orator would be forgot
ten, and as the men OF Kings Mountain
came in their rude, rustic dress, to do its
wondrous deeds, so let me, In all simplicity
Of speech, attempt TO tell once more its
wondrous story.
AS the victory Of Moultrie at the Palmet-
TO Fort was The early, the morning star, so
Yorktown was the glorious and undimmed
sunrise OF American Independence; and so
Kings M0untsin came like some vivid fash
from the storm-clouds OF expiring night,
dazzling darkened eyes with momentary
| flood OF light poured over the glorious
landscape OF our future triumph. By the
lambeDt light that played around this hoary
crest the patriots eye caught in prophetic
vision an inspiring glimpse OF Morgan and
his men emerging through the smoke OF the
Cowpens upon the heels OF the flying Tarie-
ton; bebeld Cornwalis retreating before
| Greene after the dreadful carnage OF Gull
ford, while at the close OF the vista rose up
| in luminous splendor that grand historic
| picture which marks the dawn OF a new era
| in the history OF mankind-tbe sword OF the
conquered conqueror presented humbly 10
the Father OF his Country, while the tri-
color OF France and the flag OF the great
republic floated in mingled glory over the
ramparts Of Yorktown.
All honor TO the gallant men OF the Caro-
| linas; all honor 10 the mountain men OF the
Old Dominion Pioneers OF victory! let
gratitude and glory write their names in
every star that shines. Not on this field
alone, but on many and many theatre OF
deadly conflict has their blood and their
children's blood flowed in common
stream not here alone, but everywhere
and at all times throughout the century that
has gore has fellowship OF patriotic passion
bound them together with hooks OF steel,
and kindred beroism refined and exalted
their mutual affections. In place Cf the
slender colonial league for which they
fought, grand republic, SURPRISING in all
that kindles the generous pride and genial
hope OF man, the glory OF ancient Rome,
that looked upon its feeble offspring with
derision, now rests its pillars upon the bor-
ders OF the great seas-a transcendant Tenn
pie OF Human Rights, whose dome is stud
ded with the stars Of hirty-eight States and
is crowned with the Goddess OF Liberty
pointing her finger to the heavens.
Here upon this altar OF bloody sacrifice let
us in the humility OF grateful hearts turn In
tender memory TO the names OF those by
whose deeds the blessings denied TO them
were wrought out and handed down 10 US !;
here let us offer up thanksgiving that peace
reigns upon the earth, and that good will
towards man has transformed the deadly
combatants OF other days into generous
rivals for the prizes OF kindly competitors
upon the sod that was trodden under hos
tile hoofs and kueeded with the life streams
that spurted from rended hearts. Let us
rejoice that we follow the guiding star OF
the century that is dawnng with the serene
grace OF this mellow autumn day-a CEN
tury that now comes forth 10 run its race
heralded by such signs as those which hailed
the nativity of Him who "sent down the
meek-eyed Peace" And again may it be
said as OF old:
When the morning stars sang together.
She with olive green safely sliding down.
with Truths, her ready harbnger, wing the armies
And waving wide her myrtle wand
She strikes universal peace through sea anu lan1
No war OF battle sound
Was heard the world around;
The iGle shield AVID spear were high up hung,
The broken chariot stood un.'ained with hostile
blood,
The trumpet spoke not TO the armed ihrong.
Here, where our martyred fathers rest in
undsiurbed sleep, where the brook rippi,s
in solemn. uDceaSing monotone, and the
mouldering grave-stone tells in double
sense the story Of frail ambition, let Us watt
the greetings OF fraternal hearts TO The sons
of those compstriOls in arms who strove on
fields, as did the mouDtain-men Oh this field !
for the "rignts OF the many against the
exactions OF the few" who signaled to
Moutrie's guns from Concord and LeXing- |
ton, and answered back TO their responsive |
voices from Bunker Hill. Let Ticorde- |
roea and Trenton and Bennington. Saraio-
ga and Stony Point, Kings Mountain and |
Guilford and Cowpens and Yorktown-let |
these be the names that blend their colors |
in the rainbow that now spans the sunlit |
arch OF our peace-illumined land. With |
these sacred waichwords of union, with |
these sacred relics OF memory and inspira-
tions OF hope, let us all rejoice that the |
great principles OF American liberty are |
still the lawful inheritance Of this people. |
BY these unforgotten graves let Us resolve |
that they "ever shall be-" and let the deep |
organ swell OF the peoples voice peal forth |
the sweet refrain OF "AuId Lang Syne."