The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-11
UNWILLING OF A STATUTE.
FREDERICKSBURG'S TRIBUTE TO
THE CONFEDERATE DEAD,

The Parade of the Veterans and Other
Organizations - Gen. Bradley It.
Johnston the Orator of the Day--An
Eloquent Address-De Description of
Monument and Statue.
FREDERICKSBURG. VA, June 10.-The
town is profuseiy decorated to-day with
bunting and confederate and national flags
in honor of Memorial day and the unwilling
of the confederate statue. Thousands
of visitors are in attendance, includ-
ing a number of confederate camps
with their drum corps. About 8 O'Clock
a line Of procession was formed and
marched through the principal streets to
the cemetery, where 8, 200 confederates are
buried, amid cheers from the throngs which
lined the route. The procession, which was
under the direction of Grand Commander
William P. Smith and marshals, comprised
carriages containing members of the La
dies Memorial association and distinguished
guests, bands OF music, uniformed con-
federate veterans, Sons of Veterans, fire
department and civic organizations
The services at the cemetery were opened
with prayer by Rev. /. w. Canter of the
Methodist church, and then Gen. Bradley
T. Johnston of Baltimore, the orator of the
day, delivered the unveiIing address, which
was in part as follows:
GEN. JOHNsToN's ADDRESS.
FELLOW CoNFEDERATEs, MEN AND WOMEN
For the last twenty years have been observ-
ing with growing wonder the phenomenal feeling
toward the actors on the confederate side Il
is fact,hand a wonderful fact, that the pathos
sentiment and romance of the war between the
states, is concentrated and crystahzed about
the of the c0nfadnrapV In h. 70
day no name thrills human hearts like that of
Lee; no name electriAes the people
like hat of stonewall JACKSON; no
flag flashes, no saber glistens like
tnat of Stuart. Neither Grant, nor Sherman,
nor Sheridan, great and successful soldiers of
the victorious side, have left such an impression
on the imagination or hearts OF the people as have
the leaders of the confederates- who died in
battle or yielded to overwhelming force when
further resistance would have been criminal |
do not mean to intimate, for do not believe that
the north has changed its opinion as to the wis.
dom of our course. They thought then, and
they think now, it was foolish to break up the
union, because, first, the union was profitable,
and, second, because it was impossible
before overwhelming forces for us to succeed
But do say that the idea is dimly pressing itself
upon the northern mind that we tried to avoid
the war and did not want a war. but that it was
brought on. waged and continued for the pur-
pose of keeping faction in power and ena-
bling controllers Of faction to make profit out
oft
He declared that the confederate soldiers
we're the greatest the English race had ever
produced.
A TRIBUTE TO SOUTHERN WOMEN.
Gen. Johnston then paid warm tribute
to the confederate soldier and to the women
Of the south. Occasionally one of the lat
ter, he continued, has picked up
handsome, dashing and gallant yam
kee officer. "The temptation TO get
even,n he went on, Twas so strong for even
confederate woman, but she has since held
his misfortune at having been a yankee over
his head, and has made better man and a
better soldier of him every tlme."
The speaker was frequently interrupted
by applause. The statue was then unveiled
by Capt. John w. Barney amidst great
cheering. The band played, and then the
exercises closed with an artillery and il
fantry salute.
THE STATUE AND MONUMENT.
It is bronze statue Of a confederate SOL
der 91s feet high. He is represented as
Standing at parade rest with musket in hand
and with blanket thrown over the left
shoulder. His haversack swings from the
same side while from the right side swings
canteen and bayonet and scabbard. On
his head rests The familiar slouch hat
The cornerstone of the monument,
the apex of which is now crowned
1874 by Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4, A.
F. and A. M, and the monument was M
pleted and unveiled Memorial day, Thur
day, June 8, with imposing and elaborate
exercises. The monument was erected Us
the Ladies' Memorial Association, and the
stone was taken from the farm Of Mrs. Bow
man, in this county. 1t is of gray granite
and stands on a mound of five feet six
inches in hight. There is column ON each
corner Of red granite, with gray granite
and plynth base.
THE INSCRIPTIONS.
1t contains the following inscriptions:
On the east side, "South Carolina, Vir-
ginia and North Carolina
North side, missouri, Kentucky, Ten
nessee. Arkansas"
On the west side. Louisiana, Mississippi,
Texasn
On the south side. Georgia, Florida,
Alabama"
On the west side are muskets, on the south
SIDE castle with battlements; on the north
SIDE sabres; on the east side cannon and the
words ITO the Confederate dead"
Almost every camp In Virginia was rep
resented at the unveiling ceremonies, and
tne observance Of the day was without par
aiiei In this historic town. The grand camp
VI Ine confederate veterans of the state met
IN fredericksburg at noon, but adjourned
Until tonight without transscting any busi-
4 ness of interest.