The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-10-24
"HONOR THE SACRED DUsTp
ORANGEBURG's TRIBUTE TO HER
FALLEN HEROES.

The Confederate Monument UnveiIe,
With Appropriate Ceremonies-Ger
Hampton's Letter Of >egret-Ors
ton by Col james S,rong, O
Charleston.
The unveiling OF the monument t
the Confederate dead on the 18th inst
was q memorable event in Orange
burg's history. Over four hundre,
survivors participated in the cere
monies, while an immense concourso O
people were in attendance. The monu
ment Is located on the court hous,
square, and Is carved from native gran
ite furnished by the quarries neal
Winnsboro, surmounted by bronz,
figure representing Confederate sol
der at parade rest. The entire monu
ment is 33 feet inches high.
"A long procession marched through
the town, and when halted at tho pub
lie square tho exercise$o began with 6
prayer by Rev. S. p. II. Elwell, of Co
lumbia. Judge Izlar was the presiding
officer, while Hon. Samuel Dibble was
the chief marshal. The following is
copied from The State:
Judge Izlar announced that General
Hampton had been prevented by sick
ness from being present, and he called
upon Col. Dibble to read the following
letter:
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, Oct. IL, 1893
Gentlemen: When the ladies of the
Memorial Association of Orangeburg
honored me by an invitation to speak
for them at the unveiling Of the monu-
ment dedicated to our heroic dead, |
felt that their call was equivalent to a
command, and that the theme they had
given mo was the most sacred that
nO1lII nr,nnQl fcin
Feeling thur, accepted the flatter-
ing invitation given to me, and I look
cd forward with pleasure to an occa-
sion which would give me the oppor-
tunlty OF showing my respect for the
fair and devoted women Of the State,
and of meeting such old comrades as
those in whose hearts the memCty- of
the. past was still held sacred. ~.
1t Is, therefore, with great regret
that | am forced to forego the gratifi-
cation of being with you on the 18th,
but l am not we'll enough to take
part in ti,r ceremonies of the day. For
noarly throe months have been con-
tined to the house by indisposition, but
hoped that the change of the climate
would restore my health, but in this
hope l have been disappointed, and; +
can only express my regret at not be-
ing able to join our friends, and to as
sure them that1 am in full sympathy
with the sacred object they have in
view when they dedicate a monument
to our heroic dead. They died fop
South Carolina, and whatever vepdict
history may render as to, the cause in
"hlchjS5ney died. their patriotism and
r heroism will illustrate the bright
83pages of American history for all
ne to come.
SIT is we'll, then, that we should honor
Sneir memory, and it is peculiarly
S8o1uching and appropriate that the no
plc, devoted women of the State
9'hould leave to future generations an
,nduring memorial Of love, of pride
md of reverence for the men who gave
their lives for their State. The monu-
ment to be dedicated to these men
symbolizes these feelings. and it will
teach our children to cherish the men,
DRY of their patriotic fathers as long as
its spotless shaft points to heaven.
" And yon granite minstrels voiceless
stone
In deathless song shall tell
When many a vanquished grace has
flown,
The story how they fell.
Nor death, nor wreck, nor winters
blight
NOT r0nOrSGlGSS uOOm
Can rob one ray Of holy light
That gilds their glorious tomb"
With my sincerest good wishes for
the success of the contemplated meet
ing, and my great regret that cannot
participate in it, am very truly, your
WADE HAMPTON.
These sympathetic words from Gen.
Hampton elected great applause.
COL. ARMsTRoNG'S GRAFTON.
After this had died out Judge Izlar
introduced as the orator of the day
Col. James Armstrong, Of Charleston
the ever gallant, eloquent and witty
Armstrong, whose pathos brings tears
which give place the next moment to
peals of laughter at his brimming
Irish humor. To-day he made no
matchless story of the Private Soldier,
he fed bis hearers from fountain Of
eloquence that electrified and thrilled
their responsive hearts.
Col Armstrong said that among the
difficult duties ever assigned to him
there was none so trying as the one
which he was to-day expected to dis
charge. Great as was the disappoint-
mcnt at the unavoidable absence of the
iliustrIons and knlghtly soldier who
had been expected, it was equalled by
the embarrassment he experienced in
attempting to speak in Wade Hamp-
tons stead.
"Thero is," said he, san eloquence
in the simple mention OF the name OF
Wade Hampton. He is one of the cen
tral stars IN the armament of Caro-
1ina's fame in whose lustrous rays are
aeon natriOtism the n,,rest a oonro oe
that has never been excelled, heroism
as high as the cause for which he Sc
splendidly fought is holy.
did not stop to consider the re-
sponsibility involved in the request OF
your worthy committee to address you.
The invitation 30 graciOusly extended
three days ago, and accepted wit'N q
deep and due sense of gratitude, con.
fers an honor which thrills me with
pride. 1t has awakened in my untu.
tored breast emotions so stirring and
profound that language Is almost lost
to me, and it is with difficulty try tc
syllable words to express my Thoughts
and feelings.
"1 shall try to speak to you In the
language OF the heart-a heart which
throbbed with patriotic pride beneath
the gray jacket Of Confederate sol
der, and upon which is indelibly
stamped the grand memories and glo
rious recollections which beautify ant
ennoble and immortalize tho cause, tt
uphold which the men of Orangebura
and of the other districts of Cal iinf
fought as men seldom fought before
and in defence of which 80 many of the
bravest and best OF soldiers marched
dauntlessly to DEATH"
The orator said that the childhood