The morning news., 1889-05-05
GUILFORD COURT HOUSE.
THE EVOLUTIONARY BATTLE
FIFTY CELEBRATED.

Senator Vance the Orator OF the Day
Jacobs Stone the First Monument
Hero Worship Good School for
the Youth of the Land-The War
Record of North Carolina Soldiers
Defended.
GREENSBORO, N. c., May 4.-The battle
| OF Guilford Court House, fought IN March,
l7Sl, about five miles from this place. was
celebrated on the spot by several thousand
people to-day. A parade was headed by
thirteen young ladies representing the thir-
teen original states, whose dresses were In
the national colors, stars and stripes.
Eight companies of state volunteers partici-
pated and a number of prominent North
Carolinians we're in carriages. The orator
Of the day was Senator z. B. Vance, who
can always command the attention of a
North Carolina audience. His address was
largely historical. Mr.. Vance began by
saying that from time immemorial that
portion Of the human race which has left
any record of its actions, has indulged the
practice Of concentrating notable events
of its history. The method by which this
was done was good test Of their civiliza-
tion.
THE FIRST MONUMENT.
In Genesis, it is recorded that Jacob took
a stone upon which his head had rested,
whilst a wondrous vision was displayed to
him OF angels ascending and descending
aud erected 1t as memorial pillar, and in
the records of the ages the progress Of art
Is traced from the rude unhewn stone of
Jacob 10 the exquisitely chiseled and pro-
portionel column Of the Athenian Acrop-
lIg ogn1t tha -Fv s.f
but we of the United States are not
satisfied with the mere erection of monu-
ments or piles of stones. We meet together
in multitudeS; we speak: we march in pro-
cessions with bands of music; we fire can
non and display banners; so that the deeds
which we wish remembered may not only
be fastened in memory by these adjuncts,
but may serve to excite the emulation of
the young, and tram them TO
that degree Of perfect citizenship
which leads to the surrender of all things to
the common good 1t is we'll that We do so.
BENEFITS OF HERO WORSHIP.
There is no better school for our youth
than this hero worship, this eXaltiug of
great deeds After all that can be done
with marble or granite, the truest monu-
ment by which the memory of any event
can beperpetuated is to be found in r. suits.
1t rarely happens that an event in peoples
which is not already everlastinglv embalmed
in the hearts of the people. Beyond all ques-
tion,n the senator said, "the foundation of
American liberty was laid on this spot in
March, l7S1." A brief and philosophical
consideration Of the military situation of
the American colonies, and Of tho events
Immediately preceding the following strug-
gle at Guilford, he thought, would satisfy
any one that the Importance of that days
work is not overrated by this statement
1T WAS FINISHING BLOW.
On t1is spot was given the finishing blow
to all of Cornwalliss prospects for subju-
eating the southern colonies, and which
drove him to his ships at Wilmington aud
finally TO the end Of Yorktown. From this
day dates the real freedom and Indepeud-
cnce OF North Carolina. Had Cornwallis
not here b en- successfully resisted, had the
army Of tieu. Greene been destroyed as
Ferguson's had been at Kings mountain,
beyond all question the independence of
these colonies would have been indefinitely
postponed.
A REPRoACH TO NORTH CAROLINA.
81 have said that the fruit of their labors
constituted the true monument of our
anc 'stors; that for themselves no other was
needed, but that others were needed for us:
that for our own sakes we should celebrate
and erect shafts in order to demonstrate
been a matter of reproach that North Caro-
lima has done so little to perpetuate in stone
her love for her sagei and heroes. The day
when the foot Of the first Anglo-Saxon
was placed upon American soil is known
historical y, but the spot where the colony
of the great aud splendid Raleigh landed IS
unmarked by single memento. This
genesis Of the mightlest revelation In the
history Of nations was upon North Carolina
soil. yet we have neglected both the time
and place. The men Of the Meckienburg
declaration have as yet no monument.
Until patriotic impulse inspired one man,
whose enthusiasm Inspired you, this sacred
spot had 10 commemoratiOn. This Grim
inal negligence continues to this day.
INFAMOUS UNTRUTHs.
"Some Of the stories and misrepressnta-
tions concerning the North Carolina troops
IN the late civil war are sufficiently scandal
Gus 70 make the blood Of every truth loving
man in the state boil with indignant heat.
We should not, in silence. permit these
Misrepresentation. The honor of those
who died for North Carolinl should be as
sacred TO us as the virtue Of our mothers.
repeat, it is due not 80 much TO them as TO
ourselves.
"But there is hope for North Carolina
yet" said the senator, aud he told the story
Of the German Prince Armilius, TO whose
memory was erected monument by his
country 1900 huldred years after no had
bro en- the yoke Of Roman L nperor Au-
gustus 80 effectually that it could never be
re-established upon the neck3 OF Germans
OTHER SPEAKERS
Mr.. Vance was followed by Hon. Daniel
g. Fowle, governor of North Carolina;
Chief Justice Smith and justices Davis and
Shepherd Of the supreme court of North
Carolina, State Auditor George w. Sander
lin and Hon. d. f. Caldwell.
Judge David Scbenck, president OF the
Gulford Battle Ground Company, said he
expected TO see two years from now 10000
naonle ON The grnnnd 10 dadlcnta n manu-.