The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-11
DALTON'S DEAD HEROES.
A MONUMENT TO THEIR MEMORY
UNVEILED.

ROBERTS. COMMANDER Oh bue NoGeIhunt dud
Mrs. Brazleton, president Of the memorial
society, managed the exercises Little
Wales, son of a gallant soldier, unveiled
the monument. The Atlanta Artillery and
Capt. Perkerson, with two guns, fired the
national salute. Rev. R. S. Barrett made
thu PRAYER. Hon. L Z. Shumate made the
Introductory speech, and Col l. W. Avery
the regular address. Both speeches were
greeted with applause. Col. Shumate came up
to his reputation as an orator. A high
critic said Col. Avery's address was classic
and masterpiece of memorial eloquence
and craftsmanship. There was fine parade
OF military. Knights Of Pythias and fire
men. Dalton has had in this affair the
leading memorial event of the year. A
constant shower forced the crowd to the
large court house, and not fourth could
get into the building. After the speaking,
the large audience crowded around the
speakers, giving enthusiastic congratuIa-
tions.
COL. AvERY's SPEECH.
The following is Col. Avery's speech:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. PATRIOTIC WOMEN OF
THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL SOCIETY," AND
BRAVE Brethren OF THE WAR: When you in
vited me to talk to you to day, felt JOY at this
tribute from old comrades | thought this
homely crutch would be a fitting adjunct for
that sad shaft you have tenderly reared to the
defeated dead of the lost cause-an emblem OF
wreck and sorrow a symbol of wounds and fail
ure and a badge of defeat and blood, yet kind
aid and comfort to the shattered soldier. You
gave me noble regiment and practiced law
here and was glad to address the friends OF the
most vi; al part OF my life.
Upon the sweet afdor OF that moment came
the chill thought that was a feeble old war
bulk, too disabled to stand long, the fire of
youth gone. and the voice unfit for oratory, and
j wrote q regretfll deCiuatiOQ.
But there is a ruler in my homo. as all you
good men have, and it is not me either-a fe-
male sovereign, wise and sweet, and dear, as
well as despotic, and she tore up that letter,
and said must accept that l should not go
back on my old veterans that so long lead
That settled it, I yielded submissively, and l
must say, delighted. And here am, by order
of female army headquarters, glad to meet you,
and only asking all allowance for the old
cripple.
must tell you frankly that my brief say will
not be in the usual memorial track. Grave
problems environ the present and call for us
30 throttle prejudice and rise to lofty patriot
Ism.
The sincerity of southern principle and the
glory of southern valor have crystazed into
lasting fame. This country can never be
ashamed of its southern display OF American
heroism. The fact that Lord Wolseley the first
English soldier Of this day, has put Lee as one
of the five greatest captains of the world, fore
casts the verdict of history on southern war
genius. And you know the unique Toombs
used to say; 1--WE of the south wore ourselves
out whipping the other side" And it was an
honoring fact that our best generals, Lee,
Jackson, Polk, Gordon and Others were men
of prayer.
wish TO deal briefly with Georgias crucial
part of the war. The facts prove her the most
potent factor in the colossal contest. No other
state so impressed the revolution. That flaming
spirit, Robert Toombs the phenomenal Geor-
gian, was the main leader that drove the south
to secession, and Georgia's action decided the
wavering states, and riveted the rupture beyond
change.
The first hostility. the seizure of Fort Pulaski,
the wars start, was done by the frm-willed
executive of Georgia, Gov Joseph K.
Brown. on Georgia soil. The only vice presi-
dent of the confederacy was that miraculous
son of Georgia. Alexander II. stephens, whose
historic speech fixed the civilized world against
the confederate government by declaring
slavery to be its cornerstone The first presi-
dent of the confederate congress was Howell
Cobb; the first chairman of the military, the
important committee, of that congress. was
Francis s. Barlow; the author of the confed-
crate constitution was Thomas r. r. Cobb; the
1rst secretary of state, the premier Of the con-
federate regime was Robert Toombs: the main
ambassador of the confederacy to the United
States government to fix friendly severance,
and whose ringing defiance signaled the fight to
be on, was Martin j. Crawford; and the special
friend, conhdant adviser and regent of Jeffer-
son Davis, the confederate head, was Benjamin
h Hill; ali nation mol1ers and Georgians
Georgia gave the largest number of fighters
to population, lost more men, and had greater
wreck Of values than any other state, north or
south. Georgia's historic defense, by Gov.
Brown, OF constitutional principles and govern
ment made this state their apostle. The decis-
i've campaign of the war took place in Georgia
Quartering the confederacy, running the base of
supplies, and losing the contest.
And as this war was born so il died, on Geor-
Ria ground, the confederate cause going to
pieces with the final disinsegration of the cab-
net and capture of President jefferson Davis
And it will be forever vast historic distinction
that providence made Georgia the chief agency
In that vastest of human strifes.
One thought as.dwelt in my mind since the
end twenty seven wears ago, which you and
shared in and witnessed. In human experience
. the south should not have been vanqushed.
The mind, seeking causes in Christian philoso-
ply, could believe that God in his vast plans Of
divine good condemned slavery, and through
the grief of the south, its home, wrought Afri.
can freedom.
Inm thought on the past, the saving of the
union was the right thing, and the north mer-
its honor flor it. The principle OF division put
into fact, would likely have gone on, and a
hotch-potch OF petty republics, without COM
mon bond or umpire, would have blotched this
continent. And We owe the preserved union
the duty of loyal love, its flag a true devotion
and its people the feeling OF genuine brother
hood.
The south's chiefest glory was that she
warred to preserve the constitution, that she
fought heroically for this sacred object, and
that her stanch championship vitalized its i'm
mortal principals. and her sacrifices consecrated
them. The confederacy adopted the federal
constitution, and the north, in restoring the
union, only changed it as to slavery. The north
did her benefit in victory and the south tri-
umphed in defeat. The clash tested the repub-
lie and revealed its strength. The north saved
the bond and the south its essence Both were
brave and true, both exemplifed Am srican
genius, generalship and chivalry. and glorified
American manhood. Let each give the other
honor for its good ia manly way.
The south tried 10 break the union TO pre-
serve its principles; and her high motive, illumi-
mated by ner valor, grows brighter with time.
You have erected that monument TO do honor
to the manhood that gave life for duty. Nobler
spirits never lived or died. and higher test was
never seen than mourning death for conscience
which our dead heroes did.
We see to-day our noble women Offering trib
utes to defeated glory; clinging to unsuccessful
honor; revealing in the memory of heroism as q
consolation for defeat: drowning disaster in
the splendid "reminiscences of u noble manhood
throwing the luster of dauntless courage over
failure; and with tears in eyes, regret IN hearts,
and in their hands, fiowers-Gods fragrant
children OF Mountaineering the sacred mounds
of sacrificed kinsmen. and dediCeuing a noble
monument to their memory. These occasions
are unlike anything in history. Other DAYS
have been celebrated for national trumphs
achievements of genius, anniversaries of
victories, or the birthdays of demi-gots. But
we meet to commemorate lost cause. to re-
deem piety from treason; to denude valcr OF
the stain OF failure; TO elevate chivary above
defeat-to enshrine patriotism where storms
cannot move, calumny blacken, scorn vgither
or forgetfulness destroy 1t. The sweet hands
of woman do this mission. If zeal sacrifice
unconquerable spirit, fortitude and eternal de
votion TO what is believed 20 be true honors
humanity and teStities TO virtue not Spartan