Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-12
THE QAKW DEAD.
THE rWsNTy-FIFTH ANNUAL PIT
GRiMA6E or THE LADIES' MEMO
RIAL ASSOCIATION.
The Decorations on the Confederate
Alonnmsnt--The Address Of Ms. ID. Q.
Rscharason-miiis and Veterans

YESTERDAY for the twcnty.ffsh time the
ladies OF the lakewood Memorial Associa-
tion made their annual pilgrimage OF love
and patriotism 10 that beautiful city OF the
dead. and offered their floral tributes to
the memory OF the sixteen thousand Con-
federate soldiers that sleep there.
The crowd that witnessed the ceremonies
demonstrated that interest in these occa-
sions Is by no means on the wanc. There
were people there from ell classes in all
parts Of the city.
TnK DECORATIONS,
The arched entrance TO tho cemetery
had been decorated with flags and crossed
fnuskcts, and in the several soldiers sec
tons were planted banners bearing suita-
BILE Inscriptions.
Within the railing enclosing the soldiers
monument aud at each OF the four corners
was stack Of muskets. the base and
plinth OF tho monument were literally
hidden in wrcaths and other floral designs,
and the shaft was wound with evergreens
and bore crossed swords.
The crowd began TO assemble as early as
half-past 4 O'Clock. Lee and Pickett
Camps Of Confederate Veterans also ar
rived early, and the FIRST regiment, headed
by their band and the Stuart Horse Guard,
O'Clock.
THE CEREMONIES BEGUN.
The appearance OF the two last-named
organizations was the signal for the cere-
monies to begin. Colonel Alexander
Archer acted as master OF ceremonies anu
introduced Rev. Preston Nash, who offered
fervent and patriotic prayer. Captain
Frank Cunningham sang Rest" ana
Colonel Archer then introduced ID. T..
Richardson, the orator OF the occasion.
who spoke as follows:
The Grafton.
Comrades, Ladies, and Gentlemen, TO
those who tread these grounds with heed
less feet VIC would give the edmonton
which was written at Thermopyl@; stop,
traveller. you are treading upon the ashes
of heroes"
Standing here to-day upon this holy
ground in this city OF the dead, amidst
boards marking the places where heroes
sleep, surrounded by many who were par
ticipants in the bloody drama in which the
lives of loved ones were yielded up will
ing sacrifice upon tho altar of liberty
amidst these associations and surroundings
the realities of the present fade away, the
tide of time turns backward in its course.
and the scenes OF thirty years ngo arse be-
fore our mental vision.
We see highly favored land, fertile val
loys, rolling plains, towering mountains;
rushing rivers. magnificent cities, and
pleasant rural homes. We see Govern
ment framed by the wisdom OF sages and
cemented with the blood Of patriots. We
see a glorious union Of independent States
ioined together under one federal head.
and millions of people grown rich by the
pursuits of peace. o land of liberty,
ASYLUM Of the oppressed, abode of happi-
ness Could not the Angel of Peace still
abide in this fair landI
But now the spirit of discord arises, dis
sensions divide the people, and soon the
cloud of war at first no larger than man 8
hand, is seen above the horizon. II grows
larger. blacker, and more portentous
The skv grows dark and mutterings of the
coming storm are heard The southern
States withdraw from the Union and re-
assume the powers delegated by them to
the Federal Government
VIRGINIA AS sUPPLIAST.
We see Virginia standing apart in the at
titude Of suppliant. With the Constitu-
ton in one hand and the olive branch IN
the other she begs for the Union, she
strives to stay the tide of passion, and
avert the horrors of fratricidal strife. But
her pleadngs are in vain. Madness rules
the hour. The Angel of Peace takes her
Aipnt and Liberty wells her face. The
thunders Of war reverberate through the
land and the sons Of Virginia are called on
10 march against the people of her sister
States of the South. Arising in her dig
nity from the attitude of suppliant she
girds on her armor, and joining hands with
p her southern sisters she commits her all TO
the God of Battles. She bares her bosom
10 the storm, receives the stroke, and
strikes back the blow with giants
strength. And now the conflict RACES and
blood and tears are mingled in the strife.
THE SOUTHERN CROSS TO TIE BREEZE.
We see the mother kiss the fair brow of
her darling boy and bid him farewell for
ever. We see the man whose locks are
whitened with the frost OF age marching
in ranks by the side of the beardless
youth. Shouts of victory now rend the air
and the Southern Cross floats triumphant
over many a hotly-eontested battlefield.
Rut the victory il dearly bought. Many of
the brayest and best go down in the strife.
The soil of Virginia drinks up the blood
of the chivalric sons of the South. The
men in gray following their immortal
leaders are invincible when opposed by
equal numbers.
But the deadly struggle is protracted and
the contest is unequal. The devoted sons
of the South die bravely fighting and
there are none TO take their places, while
with overwhelming numbers the enemy
pours down upon them. BY mere attrltlon
the southern army is worn away, and the
Confederate lines grow thinner and
thinner.
And now q new enemy appears. The
fields of the South have been wasted, her
homes destroyed, and gaunt famine stalks
through the land. While men half-starved
are fighting, their loved ones at home are
crying for bread.
THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH.
We see the women of the South--gentlo,
and enduring hardship. As angels OF
mercy they minister to the wounded and
suferlng in hospitals and at their homes.
They cool the fevered brow, soothe the
anguish of the sufferer. bind up the gaping
wound, whisper hope to the despaIring,
point the soul 10 Heaven in Its flight, and
close the eyes in death.
But the unequal struggle must come TO
n close. The thin line of weak and fam
ished Confederates is slowly wasting
away. The increasing forces of the enemy
surround them, Tho capital city of the
Coniederacy, which so long has been but
"a looming bastion fringed with fire." IS
abandoned and given over TO devastation
and rum We see small band OF heroic
souls turn their faces southwark. They
are still true TO country and TO duty, but
with avenging swoop the enemy comes
upop them. They are cut of from the
way OF escape, but they will fight to the
last And now the curtain falls upon the
bloody drama, and the long struggle ends.
The immortal Lee would spare the useless
sacrifice, and the banner of the South is
forever fu-led on the field of Appomattox.
DEFEAT But NOT pIsHoNoR.
II goes down in defeat but not in dis
honor. A noble army is blotted out OF ex-
istence but its heroic deeds will live in
song and story.
The contest has ended. forever ended.
The bitterness and hatred, the suffering
and sorrow, the tears and blood, all are
past and gone, forever gone; but the he
roic achievements of the Confederate sol
diers are ours forever. Peace and pros
perity now smile upon us. In restored
Union we are loyal citizens, faithful TO the
laws and lovers of liberty, but We cannot
forget our dead. and may the lightnings OF
Heaven forever blast us If We ever admit
that these--ouT husbands, fathers, broth
ers, aud sons-who died for US sleep IN
dishonor.
eOI7Tu WAQ RIGQT