Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-05-17
MOTHER OF WASHINGTON.
The Monument to Her Memory at
fredericksburg Unveiled.

FREDERICKsBURG, VA, May
10.-The monument to the
mother of Washington, unveiled
to-day, is an. obelisi1 Of white
marble, fifty feet high. It's base
consists of three courses, the up
per one bevelled and surmounted
by a die bearing the simple in
scription: MARY, the Mother of
Washington"
A cap surmounts the die, and
from this rises the beautiful white
shaft. The site is at the edge Of
a beautiful plateau, and near the
two gray boulders on which the
patriots mother was accustomed
to sit for hours daily with her
knitting.
The exercises at the monument
were of a most interesting char
acter They were opened with
prayer by Rev. James P. Smith,
who largely inspired the move
ment that resulted in the erection
Of the monument. He was aide
to Stonewall Jackson, and helped
to carry him off the fieled when
mortally wounded at Chancellors-
vile. Mayor Rowe then extended
a brief and appropriate welcome
on the part of the city, after
whichGov O'Ferrall delivered a
fifteen minutes address of well
come on behalf of the State, con
Guiding his eloquentsperoration
by introducing President Cleve-
land
MIR. CLEAVELAND'S SPEECH.
s.Goc. O'FelraU, ILl'. Moyor and
Felzoac- Citizens: I speak for those
who are to-day greeted as the
official guests of Virginia and
fredericksburg when [ return
sincere thanks for the hearty
welcome that has been exte nded
to us in behalf Of both the State
and city. Our appreciation of
the warmth of your reception is
not diminished by the thought
that in the light of the highest
meaning belonging to this occa-
sion, there are no guests here.
We have assembled on equal
: terms to worship at a sacred
national shrine.
Nothing can be more impor-
tant to those who have assumed
the responsibility of Self-gOvern-
: ment than the cultivation among
themselves of sentiments which
ennoble and elevate and strength
humanity. AS a clear and whole
some stream must have its flow
; from a pure fountain head, 50
5 must a clean and beneficent pop
T ular Government have it's source
in pure and morally healthy men.
This purity and this moral health
are in nothing better e1emplified
than ina love and reverence fol
t motherhood. The man who said
a he cared not who made a people S
I laws if he could write THEN
, songs, might have said with more
truth that he could guage the
strength and honor Of a people
and their fitness for self govern.
ment if he knew the depth and
, stedfastness of their love for theil
mothers. I believe that he who
thinks it brave and manly to out
: grow his care and devotion fo1
2 his mother, is more than he who
L has no music in himself. fit fol
t treason, strategems and spoils,
and should not be trusted. Let
US recall to-day as conclusive
proof Of the close relation be
: tween American greatness an6
, a lasting love and reverence fol
d our mothers the proud declara
: ton of George Washington, al
Y [ am. I owe to mother" and le-
e US not forget that when his glory
: was greatest, and VIXEN tht
S plaudits of his countrymen were
G loudest, he valued more thar
4 these the blessing and approva
t Of his aged mother.
S While these exercises canno
y fail to impress us anew with rev
J erence for American motherhood
we will remember that we arr
e here to do honor to the woman
n who gave to~our nation it's great
est citizen, and that we have th'
{ privilege of participating IN tn
{, dedication of a manument erect
ed by the women of our land il
= loving and enduring testimony t.
l the virtues of the mother o
IS Washington. Let us be prou'
|, to-day that the nobility Of thi
II woman exacted from a distin
II guished foreigner the admission
, If such are the matrons ofAmer
, lea, she may well boast Of illus
2 trious sons, and that Lafayette
S who had fought with her son fo
'e American independence, declal
'd ed after he had received he
n blessing, I have seen the onl
y Roman matron living at this day
E. Remembering these things, 1e
Of us leave this place with our lov
st of country strengthened, with
le higher estimate of the value {
I'd American citizenship, and with
1T prayer to God that our peopl
ut may hold fast to the sentimer
e. that grows out Of a love and reV
1e terence for American mothel
IS | hood.
:. Releigh Nelos- Observer: Th
most promising vineyards IN th
section are those of IarriSo