The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1889-08-03
Practical Views of Lover Of His COun-
try and Leader of His People.

try and Leader of His People.
special to N. .. Plcayune.l
LAKE, Miss, July 29.-This was SOL
dier's day at the encampment of the
Patrons Union and thers was an i'm
mense crowd present.
After the formal opening Of the days
proceedings, President Bailey OF the un>
ion turned the meeting over to the old
soldiers who were present in large num-
bers and who at once proceeded to
A PERMANENT ORGANIZATION,
which was christened the Patrons Un>
ion Commandery, and elected the folN
lowing officers President, Colonel !. B.
Graham; Independents, Irwin Miller,
Captain Bassctt and Major Berry; sec
retary, J. J. Crane treasurer, Captain j..
S. Lewis; committee on bylaws to act
as an executive committee, 9. L. Ander-
son, G A Huddleston, w A Thornton,
Irwin Miller and q Allen.
The president was authorized to ap-
point delegates to the national reunion
of confederate veterans and have all the
necessary steps taken to put the organ-
zation on a permanent footing, AID it
was decided that this should be the sn-
nual meeting place.
This done the old soldiers formed in
line behind the Ellisville Brass Band, and
keeping step to the tune OF "Dlxie"
marched
TO MEET GENERAL wALTHALL,
the orator of the day, who had just ar,
rivedJ and greeted him with the widest
cheers. Placing him in front they drill.
ed in lire, were photographed, and then
proceeded to the immense tabernacle,
where the General was introduced to the
assembled thousands by Judge T. B.
Graham.
Attempting to commence to speak he
could not proceed until the enthusiasm
of the old veterans was vented In three
TIRES "Three Cheers for Walthall!" The
entire audience joined in the grand ova-
tion, and the orator was deeply moved
by the glowing welcome accorded him by
his companions in arms as was shown by
his opening words. AT once he caught
The closest attention of his vast audience
and held it till his closing words. He
spoke without referring to a note, and
in a ricl, full voice, was grandly eloquent.
He was frequently interrupted by out
bursts Of applause and at other times
brought tears to the eyes OF his old soldiers.
His speech was corcise, clear strong,
devoid Of fancy phrases, and, as was clear,
" demonstrated, captured his audience.
The following is
A BRIEF OUTLINE
Of it's main features: .
After a brief reference to the object
and purposes of the Patrons Union AS
sociation General Walthall offered them
his acknowledgements for the triple tavors
thev had done him by their invitation TO
participate in the ceremonies OF "Conied
crate Reunion Day."
They had enabled him to witness the
evidence of the valuable work they had
done in their efforts to advance the inter-
ests of the state in its business, intellec-
tual and social relations; they had aifor-
ded him an opportunity to meeta large
number of his constituents in this section
of Mississippi, to whom he had long
desired to express his thanks for theil
good will, and confidence and support
and they had asked him to speak to th'
large body of confederate so' iers assem-
bled here, to whom be knew all other
present would pardon him for saying hi
heart went out in such affection an
devotion as none but soldier can fee
for those with whom he has shared tn
hardship Of war, thy dangers of the fiel
and the bitterness Of defeat.
He proceeded then briefly and TEN
parately 10 DISCUSS tho causes OF the wa
yinaicating the motives and conduct {
the southern people and showing irol
their standpoint at the time that it We
inevitable and unavoidable.
He reviewed the conduct OF the wa
with an array of facts and figures, draw
from official sources, showing the ode
and disadvanta ges against which Il
southern people contended to have bee
greater than generally supposed. /,
He eulogized the southern people tt
that devotion to cherished sentimeI
and sincere conviction which sustaine
them in their desperate struggleto mai
tain the principles which their conscien'
approved. Their constancy, the sacriic
which they made without complain
their cheerful submission to dlsciplii
and their marvellous achievements again
untold odds, and in spite of their restric
ed means of action cannot be account'
for without resort to something high
than mere physical courage and ordlnal
endurance.
He described the horrors and sorrows
the reconstructions era and tle strain
which the masses Of our people we
subiected--.he temptations offered the
Though their necessities and the q
tempts to bribe orr public men by t
offers of promotion which our ali
rulers had he power to bestow, to bre
their faith with those who had honor
them aud followed them. The manr
in which our noble people withstood
and endured all during these dismal yei
is more to their credit than even the u
eoualed aud unrivaled record which tt
made for themselves while The war v
raging. :,
He referred to the na1rer in VIII