The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-24

general, DIR. X. Il. Slower.
| At the conclusion of the election n
unanimous vote Of thanks was rendered
to Grand Commander Col. w. p. Smith
| for his able and Jealous services during
the past year. A vote Of thanks was
also offered by the body to the William
Watts Camp, of Roanoke, for the cour-
| tesy and entertainment OF the encamp.
ment during its II Getting in this city.
The resolution was unanimously
adopted. The encampment then, on
motion of Mr.. Brown, Of Richmond
rendered vote of thanks to the COM
| mittee, the citizens and the press of
Roanoke, particularly TIE ROANOKE
TINES, for their hospitality and couI-
tesies to the encampment. Then. on
motion, the body adjourned until 4
o'clock p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At o'clock the house was called to
order by Com mander Smith. Mr.. John
son, in most appropriate speech.
sparkling with humor, introduced ex-
Gov. Lee as one whom we all knew and
loved and whose fame needed no trum-
pet to sound it as it had long ago gone
forth, founded upon his gallant deeds,
and was destined to live as long as his
tory shall survive. Gen. Lee said
N
cAMrMENT; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: In ac-
ccpting the invitation of your committee
informed them you Tint upon ' 81 eud 0cc no
liver lecture but would come and talk to you
upon themes dear TO the hearts of all who live
beneath the bright skies OF the South and love
her ms did the heroes who gavo their lives aud
limbs. and who pcricd all in following her for
from 1861 to 1865. We have n country whose
glory time will never dim, the South-the loyal
south, who loves the union 10. day Us much as any
nero VINO wore the gray, is ultt of the
The South has written her glory so indclibly
upon the scroll OF Time aud 50 brightly will i
shine, that nothing will ever enace it and its
Drliliancy will remain undimmcd by the cnacing
influences OF ages:
Without Virginia we would have had no reyo.
luton, ut least nj that particular time. and II it
had not come then no ono can say but that TO day
VIC would not he dependency OF Great Britain.
TO Virginia VIC owe the conception of constitu-
tional government rs we to-day have 1t. To Vir.
Einin belonged that - eat and Immaculate patriot
you were callcd-rebc lie loved the British flag
saw that beneath the 70 DIS OF that flag looked
injustice and oppression he turned and fought
against it. So VIC had had officers and privates
who tonight beneath the Union flag on the burn
ing plains OF the Montczumas. browning it with
glory and pouring ont their blood like water for
thought that flag had become oppressive they
turned and fought against it for four years with
y bravery and hcroism that needs no praise
The odds that we fought against the world Dies
not Know from history as ii is Ow recorded. You
arc right in holding these encampmcnts hot for
the purpose OF &c mcnting strifc and sentiments
OF disunion, but to renew the memories nj long
you made Is correctly recorded. doing even and
exact Justice to all The people OF tho North
camps and leagues where they meet to renew and
discuss tho memories OF the y ST. We are told
sometimes son; that our greatness is past, that fur
nishcd Presidents thcn but have ceased to FUR
nish them now. That is true. We do not fur
nish them now, and, until the mode OF clclcctlng
our Presidents is changed, Virginia. nor any
Other State with the exception OF three or four
favored ones, will furnish them.
Our greatness Is not past, and but change the
order of things as they now exist, so that living
without the limits or few States is not barrier
and Virginia will furnish as many Presidents as
ever. history affords us no example of greater
men than the South has produced. When Heres
invaded GREECE with his superby appointed
mountains close upon the ,ea in the narrow pass
OF Thermopyloc Lconidas, obcdient to his comn.
dicd spar;ans, noble examples OF patriotism
In ls2i, before sebostopol, the Earl OF Cordeani
hundred into the jaws of DEATH into the mouth
Of hell, while all the world wondered
Late In the afternoon. when the rcd was
slarn. through the smoke OF battle, when the
great Napoleon stood with agony marked upon
his brow. the Old Guard came up, and they
ringing down their lines, he in his stirrups
and pointed in silence to the cmncnec crowned
with steel. where stood yelling ton and his stub.
born squares. Commanded by New. the bravcst
OF lie brave they dashed themselves against the
unfolding foe time and time again and died
hurg, Manassas and Sharpsburg have seen the
so.d,crs OF the South staud ms CALAMITY as ever
did LcOnidas and his three hundred
Al these and in other battles have seen them
charge n calamity and die M braycly did the
noble six hundred on the field of Baaklava. At
Gettysburg, zee again, the thin gray lines ad-
vance down tho Gcclivity, across the valley and
up the mountain side crowned with batteries and
.iitt.rlng with bayoncts Cannon 10 RIGHT nj
them, cannon to left OF them, cannon in front OF
them volleycd and Numbered hut on went the
ten twelve thousand into the Jaws of death, into
Inc mouth OF nell, diving ne olOriOusly led the
three hundred Spartans, the noble six hundred
or The old guard OF Napoleon. Let us look for
ho a" os qs OF the 6 greatest OF history
river banks contemplating suicide as
soldier mingling the cages on the
standards OF france with the eagles OF the Alps,
dashing across the narrow bridge OF I.adi; waiv-
ing the tricOOrcd nag In a storm of shot and
shell; laundering the guns on the plains OF Aus-
terlitZ, whose sound caused Europe to tremble;
triumphant beneath the shadows OF the Pyra-
mds; leading OH his soldiers where the army OF
snow and ice mailed cavalry thinned and deci-
mated his rankt; captive emperor OF Elbas
Isle: lending again and by his own genius win.
ming an empire; alone, restless captive on the
barren rock OF ST. Helena; and as we contcm-
plate him we think OF the low, wife put aside at
the command OF cold AMBITION OF the despoilcd
tn zones wrcscd from their rightful owners to be
bestowed upon kinsmen, and OF the blood and
tcnrs this man has caused to he shed 10 sustain
his ovcrwccning ambition.
Go with me to the little mountain town OF Lex
| ington. There is the lowly, unprctcntous col.
| lese professor. lover or peace nm adorer OF
God; content to teach and train the youth of his
| land. Only at the summons OF the rude tocsin
Of war that babe him arm In defense OF his native
| state caused him to btat the piOughshare OF
| peace into the sword of battle Behold him stem.
ming tho tide of defeat and stanc ing like stone
wall en- the field OF Manassas, Wrestling from mn
army. his superior in everything but genius and
bravery, victory as glorious rs that that crowned
| the arms OF the .Man OF Destiny at Lndi be.
hold the soldier OF the South, with the indomita-
coupled with the fire and dash OF Runert. holding
the heights OF Fredericksburg with valor i,nsur.