The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-23
CAPTAIN rH0M4s 5. M4soN.
A Review OF the Brilliant Record Of North
Caroliua's Troops-Her Dead In Va.

| a Review OF the Brilliant Record Of North
Coroiina's Troops-Her Dead in va.
Captain Thomas s Mason. the orator
Of the day said
| North Carolina bids us pause to-day
! and consider the memory Of her soldiers
those whom she gave to the Confed-
| eracy.
Il know that you are busy with your
affairs. that the demands Of duty press
| upon you. I fear that disappointed hopes
and falling fortunes may distress some
OF you; l am sure that the weight of
years is now laid upon those who have
survived their comrades.
Repeating the message OF our beloved
State. I entreat you 10 come away from
your cares and sorrows to-daN and let
us stand with hearts aglow. and with
uplifted heads. in the presence Of our
heroic past.
THE day invites us It is our independ-
! ence day 1t IS our day of glorious men,
! ories. Now. and through all the years
| 10 come. it is our Confederate monu-
ment day For this day our mountains
! have given their fairest treasure into the
hands Of woman and she has brought
this treasure reverently into our midst.
our brothers have taken it gratefully
from her hands, and laid the stone IN It's
hearts. Voices fall upon the ear again
that have been still since our camp fires
went out We feel the touch Of elbows
again; our lines are forming; our ensiSns
stream above US; our bugle5 are calling
The stone which you have laid in place
to-day. my brothers. shall be lifted up.
And, by its side and from its summit
ne shall look into our faces again-our
comrade, our brother, bone of our bone
and flesh Of our flesh brave as he who
followed the eagle OF Rome or the lilies
of France-our Confederate brother-he
who was first at Bethel, he who was
nearest the foe at Gettysburg, he whose
rife gave the last salute to the flag
which was folded with immortal honor.
owe have waited long enough to cOnse-
crate this stone. History approves and
demands it. They who were our foes.
but who are now our friends. ask that 1t
be done. The passing years have laid
their hands in blessing, upon the head
of our comrade and deepened the halo
about his name. If the courage of the
soldier. untainted by evil purpose, is the
noblest gift of time; If the memory Of
Grant is sacred; If the name of Lee is
our priceless heritage; then. have we
waited long enough to dedicate this stone
TO the memory Of the North Carolina
Confederate SOlQler.
WAT MOVED THE CARoLINIANs.
"What moved him to leave his plow in
the furrow that he might struggle unto
death with his brother Of the North?
Was he not happy at home? Did he not
love his wife and children? Had he not
hewn from the forests his fruitful fields?
Were not his barns filed with rich har-
vests? Had he not affairs at which 10
worship? Had he no name or history 10
love and cherish? Was he not taught to
reverence the Constitution next to his
Bible? Was he a disturber OF the peace;
a hater Of his fellow-man? Did not all
the graces Of generous host adorn his
fresde? Did the sun in his course shine |
upon a fairer land than his? what moved |
him to leave his hearthstone and go forth, |
with darkened brow and compressed lip, |
to struggle and die? We know that no |
lust OF power no worldly gain. no pride |
Of life moved him. He was never an ag- |
gressor. His keen sense Of what was |
due 10 himself made him careful Of the |
rights Of others SO careful was he, so |
regardfpl Of his acts. so cautious In NOV |
ing forward, so contented with the por- |
ton which God and his own right arm |
had given him that his neighbors BAN
tered him for his homely virtues. and |
likened him 10 the good-natured Dutch |
man who was said to have fallen into
such a peaceful repose that he slept !
until the stock OF his fowling piece crum-
bIed with decay at his side. And yet our
sleeping comrade suddenly |
awoke 10 such deeds of valor that the
,yorld wondered" and declared that he
must take his place with heroes. while
his neighbors were happy 10 share the
glory Of his deeds.
HE LOVED THE UNION.
LET 1. be said OF our comrade'' con-
tinued the speaker, mat ne loved the
,rnton but let Il also be said of him his
nroud lineage taught him that his own
beloved State and her sister States were
sovereIens. He remembered how those i