Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-12
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
OPENING ON mEMoRIAL-DAY = ADJ
DRESS or GOVERNOR HOLT.
history Of the Home--A Grateful Ac-
acknowledgement Of the Veterans
Services.
snecinl ,elerrnm o ,he pIapalch.l

RALEIGH, N. c., May 1.-THE exercises
here to-day in honor Of Confederate Me-
morlal-day and of the opening Of the Sol
diers' Home were unusually interesting.
The public buildings were closed all day.
Business was suspended this afternoon.
The memorial exercises were held at Me-
tropolitan Hail, where General William u.
Cox delivered an address upon the life and
military services of General Stephen ID.
Ramseur. The widow and daughter of
General Ramseur and his sister, Mrs.
David Schenck, were present and q por-
trait of the gallant officer was on the stage.
Chief Marshal Octavius Coke introduced
General Cox At the conclusion Of these
ceremonies q procession was formed, IN
which were military from Raleigh and Ok
ford, and moved TO the Soldiers Home.
Mr.. f. II. Busbee introduced Governor
Holt, who spoke as follows in officially
opening the Home:
GOVERNOR HoIr's ADDRESS.
Mr.. President, LADIES, and Gentlemen,-
The General Assembly of North Carolina
at its last session enacted law providing
for home for the infrIn, disabled Con-
federate soldiers of the State. The same
law apprOpriates the sum of $4,000 an
such AN institution and its inmates. and
we meet on this occasion in pursuance OF
that law for the purpose of dedIcating this
home. The occasion marks an important
event in our history, for North Carolina
to-day gives to her gallant men who were
disabled in her service and true TO her cause
n home with the assurance of provision for
future comfort. II is grateful acknow:
ledgment of service rendered ut time OF
Sria1 aud dannpr and in dICqbarnInO
the duty that devolves upon my official
position my heart warmly responds TO this
act of gratitude on the part of the State.
This patriotic movement first began to ma
terialize in 1888 under the influences of the
press. but the movement was not then
successful.
COLONEL W. I. BEAsLEY.
Later the subject was again brought for
ward prominently by Colonel W. +. Beas-
lev with an unselfsh devotion which en-
titles him to tho lasting remembrance OF
our people. When the Veteran Associa-
ton was formed two years ago the move
meetingsOf that association, held in Febru-
airy, 1890 it was resolved to proceed and
directors were appointed tor that pur-
pose. At this meeting Colonel J. NJ. Heck
generously offered the use Of the large
hotel at Ridgeway for so long time as
was desired. The offer was accepted, and
the directors were preparing to take pos
session, but after mature consideration II
was decided to establish the Home at the
capital OF the State. September /, 1890.
the Home was opened in this city with six
inmates, the number being soon increased
10 sixteen, ten of whom now remain, and
there are about twenty applications pend
ing tor admission.
MIR. WILLIAM c. sTRoNACH.
During this period the entire manage
ment OF the Home has deyolYed
upon that patriotic Confederate SOL
der, William G. Stronach, who has
thought no burden too great for
him to bear in accomplishing this laudable
object. Such in brief are the leading facts
connected with this meTitoriOus movement
previous TO the charter of The Soldiers
Home Association by an act of the Legs
lature at its last session, which donated
Camp Russell as the location and makes
the appropriation named. Thus again we
express the love, the gratitude. and the
yeneration we have for those who have
rendered the noblest service that citizen
ever rendered the State. North Carolina,
welcomes them to this hearthstone, while
with each spring-timo she crowns with
flowers the graves of their fallen comrades.
THE HEROES.
Let them gather here. these heroes,
az they have been gathered to the bosom
of other southern States, and throughout
the whole South we will cherish these
homes for our living defenders rs we
cherish the consecrated memories OF our
dead. We do no violence to the restored
Union Of these States when we honor the
soldier of the Confederag. He followed
the standard of his State. To-day the
standard of the Union is the standard Of
the state. and the Stars and Stripes can be
borne in no safer hands than III his loyal
grasp.
CONFEDERATE SOLDIER.
Welcome, proud citizen, 10 your home.
and when the stranger pausing at your
threshold asks YOU of your fertile fields
saw. 4" was a soldier Of the Confederacy.
followed where duty called" Welcome,
thrice welcome, honored guests, and from
the hem of your garments may the virtue
of patriotism and devotion TO your State
90 forth into the lives OF all our people.
At the conclusion of this address the
State flag was hoisted. The procession
then made its way to the Confederate GEN.
etery, where the graves were decorated.
WILL BE BROUGHT BACK.
r. L. McPeters. who is charged with the
murder of Zeb. W. Cody, in Madison coun-
ty, is in Jail at Del Rio, Texas He will
be brought back to North Carolina III a
few days.
Grand-Sire Charles N. Busbee leaves for
Oxford tomorrow to attend the meeting
of the Grand Lodge of Odd-Fellows. He
ratpruad bara IN 1av from ST ouis