Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-31

BUS commanders, whose knlghtly valor
Ind supreme devotion 20 duty won LOT
kshesn uufatling renown. We come 70
brown with the same laurels the patriotic
Iprivate in the ranks. 10 whose spienuid
tccurage our great leaders nsCribcd, under
God. all their success, and without whose
heroic aid no commander could have won
abe place assigned to him In the Pan
nheon of our Confederate glory.
They lie in loWiy graves and the cause
so which they gave their lives Is lost,
hut above their dust uprisos this enduring
scolumn TO testify that their memories
ere not lost, and high above these LOFTY
hllls Il towers 90 tell the coming ages
Dur love for the private soldier, who fell
1n defence OF constitutional liberty on
Ahe land, and for the gallant sailor, who
sringcd his countrys flag with glory on
abe sea!
We rear this shaft Of stone; We unroll
lhe historic page: each shall be the guar
sdian Of our ConfederOte'S story. We print
81 on the page. we carve II on the column
An letters imperishablo and luminous ever
Anore
GAat God. author Of peace. and lover Of
ronSrd we would rear no monument TO
pcrpetuate resentment, or unavailing re-
Eret, or unfraternal dlscor1. but we would
proclaim TO the world that only as we
enaintai iinviOlntc the rights Of the
States. can We perpetuHte an indcstrucu-
BILE union OF the Statos-a union founded
lon Justice constitutional law, and fratcr-
gal affection.
O, Thou, who nrt fun of pity for the
tereavod remember ms in our freshly
awakened sorrow. as we pay this last sad
fribute 20 our sons. who left our homes
80 return no more, ana who died I'm do
fence ~ oil that was 90 them most dear,
bommitting their souls 20 God, and their
sntmories 10 us who survive them. God
helping us. W. will be faithful 30 the Sa-
FRED trust; we will Cushrine them anew
au our hearts; we viii celebrate their
needs IN sweetest song, as long as winds
blow and waters flow as long virtue
md valCr cnkindlc admiration In all mag
luminous souls.
O. Thou who hast taught MS TO rejoice
with those who rejoice. and TO weep
with those who weep our Commonwealth
srects this monument not for herself
alone but for al her sister States, whose
gallant sons together locked their shields
md together fell on the bloody front Of
battle, Beneath the same soil their com
mingled ashes rest; beneath the same sky
bending over them Ike the hollow Of
Thy guardian hand, they rcpose. with a
Hencration too high for words. with n
Tenderness too deep for tears, we consc-
crate this pillar to our uncnding love and
10 their eternal fame.
Blessed be the Lord God Of Israel, from
everlasting TO everlasting Blessed I've the
Father. the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
tAnd let all the people say, Amen.
THE POET PRESENTED.
: There was hearty "amen" as pr.
aIoge concluded the invocation. Mr..
1ichardson then presented the poet Of the
occasion, MIR Armistead c. Gordon. OF
Etaunton and In 50 doing, said:
Ladies and GVntlomen,-ln the heroic
eges OF the past their bards have sung of
conflicts fierce. Of dauntlcss courage and
heroic deeds, OF hate. revenge and Cruc
Reeds OF blood.
And I'm our dear Southland-in days heroi,
e. OF old-when war brought death anC
Borrow TO our homes, and tears and bloc,
oommlngling flowed a rich libation to oul
pountry's cause-our hards have sung.
But not revenge nor hate has beet
Their theme. They tell OF honor, free
dom. love OF home; and Of the motive
mhich inspired the heart and nerved tn
patriots arm 10 strike for country an,
Dor God.
They tell Of him who needed not am
thtion's call, and spurned the rank
patriot could not wear. or Lee. the peer
less. who made dutys star his guild
through life to an immortal fame The
Tell how Stonewall Jackson's star arOs
D blazing meteor IN the track OF wal
and dying. left n radience which will shin
when other stars have sunk from humu
hight
And stln OF others they have sung O
generals high In rank who wore IN
honors they had won on many field wit
credit 70 themselves, their country, an
tAsir race
AN INSPIRING THEME.
But now another theme inspires IN
Bong. Lowry II may be- but II awake
The soul 20 patriotic pride, 90 love- an
hears. The private soldier! lie who hear
khe call his State had made 10 tight
freedoms cause Who left his home au
all his loved ones there, with iSughtJ
On his llp, but with a tcar-dimned Cy,
Who on the march, IN heat and cold {
hummer sun and wlntry HAST stil! tro
SAe path Of duty with uufal,erng feet
Aho barefoot ragged, starving, stood tru
10 his country, firm Ia freedoms caus
These prVates IN the Tanksl The,
Vanished men! But Gee them when I'll
nay OF conflict comes! With maddcniu
yell they spring upon the Zoe, and waN
fhclr flag IN triumph Ger the field,
tioep there with the slain.
This L. the theme to-day. one bar
Is missing from this mighty throng, IT
he whose voice was sweetest OF the
ali: who tuned his harp 10 melancho
dirge, ana sang Of freedom and .,
'Geathlcss dead"
The poet-priesu Ills harp Is laid asld
his voice Is hushed. his stainless SO
aRs flown up 10 his God, and with a
feraph choir he joins the anthem Of T
6ecming love-
| The poets dead: but when his so
took night another caught his mant