South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-06-13
THE 9Th OF JUNE /.


ON Decoration Day there has ever
been on q similar occasion IN Rom.
Dey. The Court House WAS filled TO
its utmost capacity early in the fore-
noon, and At ] l o'clock was called To
order by Hon. S. l.. Flournoy-aciing
President. Prayer was then offered
by Rev. ID. L. Reed. After the elcc-
tion of officers, Senator Flournoy in
n few fitting remarks introduced as
oIa'or Of the day Dir. Wm. Is. Corn.
we'll, who delivered an ad
dioss OF some 20 minutes duration.
which was highly commended by
those who heard it and showed the
speaker TO be young man of much
ability and promise. After tho
speech poem was read by DR.. G.
w. Finley. written by Prof o. w.
Schaeffer.
The meeting then adjourned and
the large procession took up their
march for the cemetery, beaded by
the Romney band, the ladies and
children followed by the Alliance
band, and the old soldiers. After the
graves and monument had been deco.
rated, DIR. Finley walked to the foot
of the monument just as it began to
rain, and with uncovered head, in
voked the blessings of Almighty God
upon our Common Country, and the
posteri,y Of the dead soldiers. At
ter which the large crowd began TO
move back TO town through the
~drenchiDg rain.
This was a day long TO be rcmcm.
bered by the old soldiers.
The strictest order prevailed
throughout the day.
The two bands furnished excellent
music for the occasion. The Rom.
ney boys had made special prepara.
iion. aud did better than ever before.
Ths lunch and lemonade in the
Literary Hall was we'll pstronized. Civ.
ing them a clear profit Of $50 to g.
wards the improvement Of tue GENE
terry.
Below is the address OF our young
orator.
Dir. President, ladies and gentle
Fmen: In accepting the invitation
rendered me by the ladies OF the com.
mittee Of the memorial association"
to speak word concerning the scenes
which this days CO nmemoration ava.
ken, l am impressed with the pccu-
liar circumstances tasy Ioust necos
sh'h3 ccuF on, cue whose lnow.eoa ,
.. nose whgse memory sou are tbrs
glad 40 perpe,ussts, has Ncen gsthGYsd
Only lfom tbC seCOtdB OF history, a-d
ma traditions vi your people. know
that one thus attempting 10 speak,
must embark somewhat upoH-an I'M
known voyage, and proceed without q
precedent.
The scenes which you are this day
by sad memory impressed, thank God
never knew. | only know that
your brothers and fathers, sacrificing
every Thing which man holds near
; and dear-save principle left their
d LONE aud friends, and mado sacred
ihese wales aud hills by their deeds
of valor. And l have often wonder
ed what Visions must break upon The
view of the old soldiers in the two
ViTginias. There's not a mountain
top that towers on either side the
Sister of the stars but what has
looked down upon deeds or brave men
and heroic women. Tue privations
they endured, tho deeds which they
accomplished. have robbed poetry OF
her ideal cong. and romance OF her
land OF story. But have not come
today to pronounce an eulogy on
those your Confederate dead. No
words OF mine could add TO the heri-
tsge they left their sons in their pa.
trIotiC death.
Nor shall speak Of the causes
which Summoned them to tho scene
OF war, hut only briefly of the ulti.
mate effect, and in so doing. I she'll
not attempt to revive any dead issue.
! know what was put 10 the test Of the
sword, and what Yves settled by it.
The right OF one State to secede fiom
the sistsThood OF States was put to
hs issuo OF the sword, and was for.
ever settled by II. But the rights OF
"a State 10 the Union, are--in The lau-
guage Of your illustrious Grady-as
"open for discussion TO day" as they
were before Lee handed up his sword
NJ AppomatLOG." and il is TO these
Fundamental principles, TO these sac
red truths you should cling vita abld .
Jog faith.
But now a word in regard 70 your
memorial services. We are told by
some who consider themselves more
.conseFvaive, that after Is years Of
posos no memorial service should be
held. No tribute should be paid to
the Confederate" This doctrine
vas recently promulgated on the field
ct Gettysburg, and IT is TO these
gentlemen 10 a few briei words pro i.
pose TO address myself And in order
to better appreciate the doctrine
which those gentlemen promulgate,
let IA turn back two decades and q
half Of orr country's history, and as
. conservative people stand Tor a few
moments IN the past II is now She
eve Of great na.i onsl etruggle
Mighty armies are marsballed on yons
der field. The fraletnal ties that have
loug bonud nation together are nov
sevetel, and great anxiety IL seen
on every face
Down there W. tho door IN state.