Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-11
OAKWOOD'S HEROES.
GRAVES OF THE DEAD THERE BURIED
DECORATED YESTERDAY.
Great Turnout Of Psopie-Dr. Goodwin's
Eloquent Trfbutc-Notes
and Incidents.

tWenty-lour ytdIS t'AO f--N'~ i"hico Va |
Richmond have visited the cemetery where |
sleep 1900 Confederate dead, and flowers
in profusion have been strewed upon the |
graves and the valor and patriotism of those |
who fought and died for the South has
been told in song and speech.
IMPROVEMENTS.
Those who went TO the cemetery yester- |
dav saw that many improvements have |
been made since last May
The trees are nicely trimmed, the walk |
WAYS are in better condition, flowers and |
shrnhberv have been planted, and the sec
tions show that they have been well-cared |
for.
OF all of Oakwood's Memorial-days yes
terday was the greatest; ana the ladieswho /
have labored so faithfully to make the cell |
ebration success have cause to congratu-
late themselves.
Flowers in some instances were sent /
there by the wagon-load and loving hands |
placed them over the graves Of the dead. |
The base of the soldiers monument was
literally covered with sweet blossoms.
BIG CROWD.
Not until about 4 o'clock IN the afternoon
did very many people besides the members
of the association with those who had vol
unteered TO nelp them in the work of deco
ration go TO the cemetery. By o'clock
the crowd numbered not less than 1000.
They gathered there from all parts of the
CITY and every kind of vehicle was used in
carrvInp them from the end Of the electric
line TO the cemetery. 1t was decidedly the
largest crowd ever gathered on Memorials
dav at OakwOOd.
Several notices were written and placed
in the soldiers section. Among Them were
the following: Tread Lightly: This is
Sacred Ground: The Picket on Duty
Forever; Until the Angel Calls Them
They Slumber."
MILITARY AND VETERANS.
The Lee Camp of Confederate Veterans
met at Twenty-ninth and y streets and
were escorted TO the cemetery by the Rich
mond Light Infantry Blues. The process
SION was headed by the Blues Band. The
military and veterans did not reach the
cemetery until the public exercises were
over. They marched around the soldiers
monument and the Blues fired three sa-
lutes.
A portion of Company d was also pres
ent.
THE PUBLIC EXERCISES.
A platform was built by the side Of the
soldiers monument for the pubic eXer-
cises. On il were seated Mayor Ellyson,
Dr. Goodwin, Captain Frank Cunningham,
V.
the ladies Of the lakewood and Hollywood
Memorial Associations, and Mrs. 7. W.
Mckinney. Several veterans from the
Soldiers Home who were taken TO the
cemetery through the courtesy OF the
Hollywood ladies also occupied seats ON
the platform.
At $3.50 o'clock Mayor Ellyson called the
vast assemblage 10 order aud introduced
Rev. Lewis W. Burton, of st. Johns Epls-
Oh hn a f9rTpHt
prayer.
Captain Frank Cunningham was now pre-
sented and sang Shall we meet beyond
the river!"
The orator of the evening was Rev. s. A.
Goodwin. ID. D., a gallant soldier who
fought with Company l of the Forty-siXth
Georgia regiment.
The speaker. after referring to changes
that have taken place since North and
South were engaged in the deadly stfug-
gle, proceeded to give somer reasons why we
should perpetuate the memory OF the Con-
federate dead.
This right TO public recognition" DR..
Goodwin SAID. - is based first upon their
yalor. The ages have produced no Drawer
men. We need not turn to Marathon or
Thermopyl@ TO find warriors who have
wreathed their brows with untading chap
lets OF GlOTy OF StdIcu INC a. NAAfN'
of Spartan valor for names that were not
born to die. We need not rife the mauso-
leums of Athens or decipher the moss
grown cenotaphs of Rome to find the
names of those who carved their way
TO glory through the fiery track of war ana
went up from battle to their home beyond
the stars. In all the galaxy OF fame Their.
is no brighter constellation than that OK
the heroes of the Lost Cause. They were
great in victory and grand in defeat; they
were mighty in war and majestic. IN woe.
Half-clad, half-fed, half-armed, they sus-
tanned against overwhelming numbers for
four years the mightiest struggle that has
ever shaken the earth, and through fever
and famine and shot and shell displayed
valor unriyalled in the history OF war"
TIE HONOR WON.
Continuing, DIR. Goodwin said; Who is
so mean as to deny them the honor which
they have SO Justly won? The defence OF
a nation Is the courage of its citizens. y
nation of towards is nation OF slaves.
nation that does not appreciate and honor
bravery Is not worthy of liberty. Woe be-
tide the day when our country shall cease
to honor the brave who land down Their
lives i'll her defence.
THEIR PATRIOTISM.
"This right to public recognition" the
speaker said, rs based IN the second place
upon their patriotism. Our Confederate
dead were no mercenaries bought with gold
and urged on by the hope OF pelf and
( plumber, but intelligent citizens contend
/ ing for principles which they believed 10
| be right and for which they willingly
| died" After referring to the fact that in
/ Westminster Abbey there are few monu-
ments 10 private soldiers. and giving as
/ the reason for this that England's
/ private soldiers have either been bought
/ with gold or were instlgated by the
/ pomp Of war or the passion for glory,
Dr. Goodwin said IN going to war the
southern soldiers, were moved by the
/ very same spirit that actuated Washington
and jefferson, Adams, and all the other
/ founders of this republic, when they threw
| of the yoke of British oppression and raj
| lied the lovers of freedom in the defence
! of their affairs and fires. The British Gov
eminent denounced our fOretathers as
| traitors, and the United States Govern
ment stigmatized our heroes as rebels. The
success of our forefathers is the admira-
! tion of the world the defeat of our Con-
| federate dead is stigmatized as rebellion
The Doctor then went on TO say that could
not be treason for which Stuart and Jack
son died and Of which Robert L. Lee and
jefferson Davis were the examplars and ex-
pOnents. when Islander has exhausted
/ its venom and prejudice has spent its force
/ the world VIII honor them as conscientious
patriots and unselfsh heroes. Impartial
history will accord TO them the same honor
( that it gives to kosciusko and Emmett, to
| Washington and Jefferson"
OUR HONOR DEMANDS 1T.
As the third reason why we should per-
petuate the memory of the Confederate
dead, DR.. Goodwin said the honor and fu-
ture safety of our country demand that
our Confederate dead shall be recognized.
THE war had TO come. II had its origin
far back in English history. The cause of
it was intensified by the climate, the soil,
the history, and the genius of the two
great contending parties. The Con-
stitution left underlined certain great
principles which the sword alone
could settle From the very begin
ming of the Government slavery and
State sovereignty were the sources Of
perpetual agitation. The North misunder-
stood the South and the South misunder-
stood the North. Each hated the other
each moderated the courage of the other ::
but since they have looked into each
others faces down the barrel of their guns
they understand each other better. Neither
l pOW doubt tha oourapa nor tho