The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-23

Delivers an Interesting Address.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning the
delegates to tho grand encampment Of
Confederate Veterans, numbering about
eighty-five members, to the soul stir
ing strains Of Dixie, entered the Opera
House, escorted by tho members Of
meeting was at once called to order by
Grand Commander w. p. Smith. The
exercises were opened by most elo-
quent prayer by the Rev. Ferguson, of
this place, which was followed by the
address Of welcome delivered by Phil.
Lockett, of Roanoke, which was as
follows:
FELLOW COMRADES: In this assembling we
honor the memory OF Jefferson Davis. The name
OF X. E. Ice will ever live sublime. Wclovc the
names OF jackson, Stewart. Hill and all tho rest
hut the trucst greatest hero, whatever be his
ever your rank may be, we arc happy and glad to
sec ana meet with you, and with joy give you
welcome.
y more fitting place than this green city of the
Southwest could not be found for this annual
grand cncampmcnt of the Confederate veterans
OF Virginia. They have an important work o
perform, and here it ia that ttey may catch that
contasion which inspired the efforts which built
this beautiful city, and which makes failure an
mpo. sibc thing. 1t IL fitting. too because from
this lovely section of our dear, old state went
many OF the bravcst heroes who adorned the
Southern army: many OF whom died on tho field
of glory. a few, aye, very few. ln.cr YET here
and many have, since VIC iurlcd that Confederate
banner, forever
Crossed over he river to rest under the shade OF
the trees
And numbered among tho lost is the beau
tffo spirit OF that hero whose name in undimmcd
lustcr yet shines wide over these hills and valleys
and proudly gives name to tho camp that wei
| comes you here to-day. We meet not, fellow
comrades, to fight over again In heated discourse
| around our camp fires these bloody fields in Il
| spirit TINT cngcndcrs strife and unkindncss but
| II there lives man SO mean and base ~ would
| he glad to hear an apology from us for tho part
VIC took in the great conflict that gave to Amcri-
| can arms rcnown, or to hear us rcproach the holy
| cause for which Lee fought and Johnston, stu
nrL and JIG ckson died, he is doomed to disappoint-
ment so long ns war Scared veteran lives TO tell
| the tale an paralyzcd he tho tongue of any Con-
fcdcratc Veterans son to cnd sc generations that
darcs grow bold in uttcranccs so base.
Yet as Loyalty and as truly we love now the
bond of Union as any American born. and, too,
hearts desire Is that our plea in all OF it, purity
| that commanded the devotion of Lee he pcrpc-
| tratcd forever untarnishcd and unstaincd, and
| chief |. this among the purposes for which we
meet in this grand cncampmcnt. And now again
! on behalf of William Watts camp l offer happy
| greetings and welcome to you nil, and rs far as
| we can do We extend 10 you tho liberty OF the
| city
Past Grand Commander Col. L. NJ
Henry, Of Norfolk, then stepped to the
front and spoke as follows:
| In the name OF the soldiers who wore
| the gray that have assembled here to-day from
the various camps OF the State most earthly
return thanks for the cordial and fracrnal greet
| ing that has been extended tn us. We have as
scmblcd in your city. as beautiful by nature as II
poets dream, and which il Justly termed Magic.
| not for the low soulcd purpose OF fomcntlng bit
tcrncss or casting vtupcration upon the heads OF
hint ha a
| into the brave noble eyes OF comrades, many of
! whom when the god or battle rode triumphant
| upon the winds and the heavens rcvcrberatcd
| with the roar OF cannons and the crash of
| musketry. stoo' shoulder to shoulder on many a
| hard fought field, where brave men poured out
their blood and gave up their lives i'll their coun-
| try cause.
| No. tho noble boys who followed the red cross
battle flag through almost Il oaily bapi sm OF lire
aud blood for four long years, winning tho nd
| mlration and exciting the wonder OF the civil
| lied world Cherish no malice hatred or i'll
! will to the brave men VINO wore tho blue. by tho
camp fires o our gathering we will light over
again the battles OF the past ard recall the scenes
and incidents OF the great struggle, but from the
battles the rapcor OF blood has departed, and in
the moving scenes by field and Hood there is
| no bitterness.
But it is not alone for the pleasure of meeting
| old comIn1cs and recalling old fond memories
| that VIC assemble in this grand cncampmcnt.
| Before us there IL field OF labor impcrativcly
demanding in the name of Justice, humanity ana
| honor, our careful and immediate attention.
| There widows of those who offered up their
|
| need, and never must il he said that southern
manhood lei tho wives of such men want 81 lon,
as war-scarrcd veteran il left to raise his voice
| In protest and effort.
There il also a duty that We owe to the old.
MANNED and disabled veterans who fol owed the
fortunes OF the Confcderacy. That duty IL 30
long as one OF Us is left with the power to re
licvc and succOr them that not OF thcm
shall ever be Inundated by being thrown upon
| ths cold mercy of charity. Much h IL been doLc
II il true, through our agency to accomplish
these ends, hut the good tight is not finished and
much remains vet 10 he done There il another
thing that especially demands our immediate at
icntion.
Twcnty-scvcn years have elapsed since VIC he
| held ut AppomattOx the star OF the lost cause
sink in blood and defeat to rise no more We
folded in sadness our worn and tattered battle
fags aud returned with hearts bowed down in
sorrow to ruined and dcsolntc homes. But one
thought sustained Us and gave us courage in that
dark hour OF trial We had done duty and
done Il well But although. so long time has
clepsed since than not yet haze we n true and
correct school history OF the causes leading TO
that most stupcndOns struggle and the part so
nohly played by the soldiers OF the south.
Take out the instance OF the Mtrrimac the
irat cd upon prisoners nj LIBBY and Anderson.
willie US contained in our school histories OF
TODAY. Does not every man here know that they
are false from beginning to end: shall
time to teach our children that their fathcrs were
traitors and barb rians: thousand times no.
II IL due to the memory of our dead heroes, IL is
du L to the living il is due to tho descendants of