Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-08-18

.O.o .:i-r1 salt- no.---sa02 g.
plause. He paid a graceful compliment
to Gov. Phelps, and was assured that
his earnest words were not needed to
show him that the Wilson's Creek vet
Grams We're welcome to the homes and
hospitality of Springfield He could
read it on the many faces and see it
in the profuse decorations throughout
the city. This was indeed the time for
such reunion, and he was proud of
the fraternal feeling manifested between
those who wore the blue and the gray,
and predicted the happy time when the
valor of Lee and StoneyTall jackson
would be as, much the ;prideltOf the
American people as that of Grant and
Sherman. He was gratifed to see in
the emblem of the lost cause, side by
side, as it was right that the soldiers of
both sides who fought in the memora-
BILE battle twenty-two. years ago, each
striving for what he believed right,
should now meet face to face as BROTH
era for the grand purpose of upbuilding
and bettering the welfare and prosper,
ty of this, the greatest and most glori-
Gus republic the world has ever Known.
ppThe address was heartily ;appladded
by all lwho were near enough to hear. it
and the speaker was warmly congrat-
ulated. r..
81 Gen. Blair, was followed by United
States Senator j. D. Walker, Of. Ar
kansas; Hon. ,Thos. Guelich, Of Bars
lington, 10. Gen. N. B. Pearce and
Cow James iH. Berry, of Arkansas,
who made brief and apNs hate speech
es that were enthusi .Yrreceived.
After the addresses !. cretary read
q number of letters Of regret from
various persons, including the presi-
dent, Gems. Schofield, Thos. L. Snead,
ex-senator David Davis and others, all
of which breathed the spirit of true
patriotism and fraternity, and wishes
that the reunion might prove, as it is,
a grand success. 1zs 1..,l1 a..lt a;,-5
Many Of the visitors to the reunion
anu others were entertained this after
noon with trotting and running races
at the Springfield driving park, where
some very good exhibitions of speed
We're made by home horses, and purses
distributed to the amount of several
hundred dollars. '''1 - '' ''' >.
> Shortly after the races light shower
of rain fell, which rendered the air
cool and pleasant. ..f ..;.. s-5...' 't
The city was Illuminated tonight and
again the great throng of people as
sembled at the public square, the Oc.
casion being the unveiling of the
MONUMENT TO GEN. NATHANIEL LYON,
Who fell at Wilson's creek. The mon
ument is of marble, about eighteen feet
high and located near the center of the
square. The money for its purchase
was recently raised by private subscrip-
ton through the efforts of Postmaster
Shipley and others. The presentation
speech was made by Col. j. P. Tracy,
who spoke as follows: a.ao- 81. :.
.I s.- COL. TRACY's SPEECH. % is
Mr.. MAYOR AND FELLowC CITIZENS
The task to which have been assigned
is no common one. | would to God
that l could bring to its performance
the elOquence of Henry, Prentiss, a
Clay or Webster. While cannot do
that, no man shall surpass me in de-
votion to the virtues of the heroic dead.
Twenty-Five years ago to day brave
and gallant man was seen riding from
his quarters i'll your city toward the
front. He had been called by his coul-
try to lead column of men as valiant,
as brave ,as chivalrous as ever loaded a
musket, fixed a bayonet or drew a
sabre. To the music of the Union they
marched under the old flag which Capt.
Gilwin of. the third Louisiana so feel
ingly calls the grandest flag of earth.
In his front was the foe, brave and
determined as himself; in his rear
were blanched cheeks, fearful eyes and
hearts filed with sad dforebodings of the
coming day. The sun rose in his course
upon that fatal day; the elements gave
no sign of the terrible drama about to
be enacted; but when the hills were
suftused with the golden tints of an
August evening-when the shadows
began to creep down into the village,
to bathe i'll the waters Of the historic
creek, a darker shadow had fallen upon
the houses of your city. The brave
captain of Yesterday had become the
hero of to-day, unmindful Of himself,
spurning the dangers which surround
ed him, he fell asleep on that bloody
field in the arms of a comrade, to
awake only at the final reveille. Amid
sorrowful demonstration and with dis
tinguished honors his body was borne
to his distant home in the north, but
his memory lives here in the hearts of
the people, grander and prouder mon
ument than was ever sculptured by the
chisel OF the most cunning artist.
Sirs, many changes have, occurred in
your city since that eventful period.
Less than 2 800 people comprised your
population then and manufactures
were unborn; to-day the hoarse breath
ing of the engine, the whir of the
spindle and the music of the forge are
heard upon every hand, while $1,000
people welcome the blue and the gray
with open arms to homes as hOspitable
as can be found Oh earth. In the midst
of this growth, in the busy hum OF this
prosperity, they yet find time to re-
member the heroic valor of Lyon in
defense of the city and country, and as
a token of respect for the memory we
cherish this single shaft has been erect
ed. 1t does not rear its proud head to
the heavens, but in its very humility it
is the grander tribute to the glory and
heroism of the life given at Wilson'S
creek to the country he loved. On the
monument, as you will soon discover,
the inscriptions are OH the east and
west. The shields on the north and
south are blank, and hardly need say
to you that is significant of the fact that
to day there is no north, no south. Alb
solved from The past, with its environ
ments OF strife, we haye put on the
garb OF brothers and with the spirit OF
fraternity animating our hearts and in.
spring our action, we turn resolutely
to the future, determined that the old
flag shall in truth float over the grand
est nation, the most progressive and
united people OH earth.
Mr.. Mayor, in the name and in be-
half of the people OF Springfield pre-
sent to You this emblem of their love
for the gallant Lyon. TO your care We
contide it, confident that it will be pre-
served through al the ages vet to come
THE RESPONSE.
Mayor McGregor, on behalf of tho
city, accepted the Offering in few
well-timed remarks, after which briet
and appropriate speeches, that were
loudly applauded, were made by Col
w. IL. Merritt of the first Iowa regi-
lnent, Capt. Dick Collins, Of LAFAYETTE
county. Missouri; Co. Sam Wood, o.
Topeka, Kansas; Col. II. N. Phillips
of West Plains; Mai. Pearsall, of For
Scott, Kansas, and Col. w. Z. Cloud
| of Carthage,