The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1892-04-28
MEMORIAL DAY.
The Exercises Largely Attended.

1t was memorial day-the day that
Southern people delight to do honor to
their dead-in repairing to their last rest
ing place and there scatter flowers over
their lowly mounds.
At three o'clock in the afternoon. all the
stores We're closed. and there assembled in
the park q long procession of the pupils
of HARDWOOD Seminary and Male Academy,
and with additions from our citizens.
marched 10 the Confederate cemetery. A
large number of carriages were seen wend.
ing their way. Some six or eight hum
cred people gathe' ID at the stand erected
beneath an outrageous oak Here on the
platform were an organ and a splendid
choir, while there foated in the breeze the
battle>tattered flag of the 9Th Georgia reg
iment, under whose folds our fellow>citi>
zen, Col. ]. R. Towers, marched, being
Colonel OF that gallant regiment. Another
flag foated from the opposite corner, it
too showing that itshad been begrimmed
by the smoke of battle. Flowers and ever
greens festooned the speakers stand.
The exeacises were opened by singing
''Nearer my God to Thee Rev. Mr..
Manget introduced Rev. J. Fl. Patton who
offered up feeling prayer. After another
song, Col. W. s. Cheney in very appro-
pirate manner, introduced the orator of
the day, Rev. DR.. ]. B. Hawthorne, of Att
lanta. The speaker is one of the South 8
famous pulpit orators. 1t was expected
that he would deliver fine address, hut he
surpassed himself on this occasion. DR.,
Hawthorne was Confederate soldier and
passed through Marietta during the war.
he had brothers who wore the gray and
were prominent officers in the civil strrg>
gle. 1t was beautiful and grand tribute
he paid to the valor and heroism of the
soldier dead as well as to the patriotism and
loyalty ofhis living comrades. His speech
was Astounding in beautiful and thrilling
sentences and lofty sentiments, which
created great enthusiasm and frequent ap-
plause.
Ia opening his remarks the doctor said !:
IF Pericles deemed it debt of justice
to pay superior honors to those brave
Athenians who fell in the Pellopenesian
war, what do we owe to the southern
heroes who laid down their lives for the
lost cause2
Mark Anthony said: 1 come to bury
Cesar, not to praise him, but we can do
more than bury our southern braves we
can praise them. We could, if we would,
write their names where stars are lit.
I'm commemorative the virtues of these
heroes it is not our purpose to revive any
Of the issues that were settled by the arbi-
trament of the war. Slavery and secession
are dead and buried beyond the hope OF
resurrection, but while we abide by the
settlement then made we do not surrender
and we never will surrender the right to
commemorate in every becoming way the
deeds and the valor of the men who fols
lowed the bonnv blue flag into the smoke
and. flame of battle.
Recently, great and good man of the
north said, I am New Englan6er, and
am bound by the strongest ties of blood
and affection to assert and vindicate here
and elsewhere the JUST renown of New
England's sons? The Srave men of the
south will applaud the sentiment to the
echo. Shall we say less for the true sons
of the south2 If there is a man among us
who is afraid or ashamed to stand up in
this presence or elsewhere and cay L am
southerner, and am bound by the
strongest ties of blood and affection to vim.
dictate the just renown of every loyal son
OF the south, his southern instincts are
gone. his southern blood has degenerated
and his boaste1 chivalry is sham.'
He spoke of the South, her history and
her great men from Washington. Jeffer-
son, Madison, Patrick Henry, Clay. Alex
Stephens, Ben Hill and Grady, and last
the immortal Robert E. Lee. We had
surrendered in good faith, but had not
surrendered our convictions and rights to
honor and commemorate the virtues of
our kindred dead who fell battling for q
RAChb pLiuCiptc nc Nu6W q NOItu, b
South, an East and West, 1T was clearly
marked in his thoughts and feelings-but
while he loved all sections, he loved best
and honored most the South, under whose
bright skies he first saw the light of day.
Ifthis was treason, make the most of it.
DR.. Hawthorne was eloquent in delivery
and impressive in the thrilling, and pa
thetic sentences that fell from his lips.
His Grafton was one that will not soon be
forgotten. 1t was liberal and loyal, to the
union in sentiment, but none the less SO
in fealty to the memory of our dead heroes
After his speech, the benediction was
pronounced by Rev. Fl. ]. Ellis. when the
crowd dispersed over the cemetery and
bedecked the graves with flowers.
There were number OF Northern peo>
pie there, who contributed flowers for the
same sad remembrance.
Peace hath her victories, no less renown
than war.
Much praise is due Col. w. s. Cheney
for untiring efforts in making the observ-
ance OF this beautiful annual custom such
q grand success Equal praise is due
President " E. Msnget and the ladies of
1 fho Moun Acroo:otsAn