Asheville daily citizen., 1891-09-05
A SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM.
1T RREATHEs FROM EVERY
LINE OF THIS ADDRESS.

Major Chas. N. Stedman's Grafton
As Given At The Union of Con-
federate Veterans at PattOn's
Mill, On The eSwannanOa, To-day.
A number of people went from Ashe-
vile today to Patton's mill, on the
Swannanoa, to participate in the exer-
cises al the reunion of the Confederate
veterans. The roll was called at ~
O'Clock, after which bountitul dinner
was enjoyed. A business meeting was
held at . p. M, and at 5 O'Clock Mai.
Charles NJ Stedman began the delivery
of bis magnificent address which was as
follows;
"Friends and Comradcs-for such !
CLAIM you all to be-by the endurance OF
common suffering and the memory OF
common glory, | welcome you to this
encampment. am commissioned so to
do not alone by the aged loiterer upon
these mountain sides, whose son went
down to death beside you long Years
ago and whose name is the link which
binds his sire to you; not alone by the
sad woman from whose face the light OF
lov faded tar back III the past as the
blood.stained bulletin brought to her
message OF woe never to be forgotten;
not alone BY the young, the CAV tn,
happy, whose lives have yet known no
great sorrow; not alone bv those whose
ancestors for generations have peopIed
these enchanted heightsand roamed hap
pily in the valleys which laughiugly
spread themselves before YOU; but by your
fellow citizens OF all classes who have
come to this fair region for home,
whet her their steps hit herward journevtd
rom the northern portion OF our Repub-
| lie or from our more southern land. In
the name of all bid you welcome, and
| am the bearer to you from them OF
cordial greeting, with the best wishes
their hearts can give for this your re-
union after the lapse of nearly Il third OF
a century. What a strange, sad and yet
sometimes glorious dream it had been,
ii YOU had fallen asleep i'll May 1861 and
awakened today with the panorama OF
thirty wears passing before you,
you hear nrst the mutteriugs OF the
distant thunder along the northern hor-
zon and see the lurd flashes of light
athwart the southern sky which beto
ken the mighty storm which is to shake
the western hemisphere. You see young
'ucn hurrying to ana fro, bidding fare
well to father, mother. and to one per.
haps still nearer The heart, and who af-
forwards long listened for the fuotstep
which never came aga1n. You see them
! hasten to camp, and don the hablliments
| of war You see them again around
Richmond, as the waves OF battle roll
and surge about that beleagured city,
| You follow them along he eblood-staihcd
trenches OF Petersburg, hear their we'll
kno shout as 1t comes from / he height
of Fredericksburg. Your heart bounds
with joyous pride US they make the good
night III he tangled thickets OF the Wilder
ness with the tag OF Carolina tar to the
front You recognize them advancing
through he smoke and carnage ot Get
lysburg when the stern calm face OF the
great Lee tells you I he result on that fatal
held. You are with them III wiuter
quarters on the Rapidau, historic and
ensanguned stream Again, many OF them
YOU sec writ hing in pam amidst the fcs-
tering horrors Of the hospital, pale. sma-
ciated and haggard, still faithful to a
cause to which they consider their allie
glance due You see them like lions at
ray contestine every step OF the way
from Peters Durs to the held at Apo
mattox, as surrounded bv the immense
host of Grant and Sheridan. they make
their last hight lor the land thev love so
well.
Your dream is over You are here
again amid the scenes OF your carly days.
Where are those who went forth TO bat
tie with YOU They sleep canly upon
The fields they lmmOrt lzcd by their
glory. So often as the wild flower snail
bloom upon their unknown graves as the
spr,ng-time comes and goes, 50 often
should YOU by annual reunion keep fresh
in the memory OF all North Carollnians
the debt OF gratitude they owe t" the
dead heroes who answer not TO your
roll-call today.
entihC and neral, everywhere greet YOU
as you awake from this dream OF a third
OF century. Vast lines Of transconti-
mental railway, ike great serpents, in
many directions thread their way through
thee EN- less prairl,s 1f the west seeking he
shores OF the Pacific, aud carving the
helght ot the new world. Your own
mountains have been pierced and the
scream OF the engine CRATES harshly upon
the ever gentle lullaby OF the savanna.
noa. In every state OF the Union can be
found great highways ot commerce
Electricity has reyolutIonlzed many OF
the physical forces OF the world and sci.
ence stands amazed at the magnitude oi
its own achievements.
Millions of slaves have become tree.
men, and both sections OF our country
alike rejoice that it is so, and will alike
strive TO aid them to work out the un.
solved and difficult problems of their des-
tinv. Great cities have arisen attract
ing he admiration OF the traveller by the
splendor OF their architecture and the
vastness OF their commerce. Sixty mil
lions OF people rejoice in their allegiance
} to the great republic. Ours is the favor
ed land OF the world. No people are SC
blest, none enjoy so fully the privileges o.
liberty under proper restraints OF law
none are so free and happy. Every
where is peace, prosperity and plenty
save where the brutal, coarse and inso
lent tyranny of money has made ever
liberty mockery and home ghastl,
unreaiity.
LAS the evidences Of mighty change pre-
sent themselves, amazement and wonde
first seize upon your minds and lead cap
tive your imaginations, Then new idea
come thronging to you and you ask your