The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-06-13
Vol. NXXIX, No. 9.
GRADUATING EXERCISES
TARY SCHOOL.
Fine Address by Cen Noise of South
Carolina, - Presentation OF
Diplomas, Medals, Etc.

After Il selection by the school
orchestra, which, by the way, fur
| nshes fine music, Col. jeff. Davis in
| troduced the orator Of the occasion
| Gen. f. W. Noise, of Sumter, S. c.,
who was faithful soldier during the
war-a member of Hampton's famous
legion-and who has been an active
participant since the war in the poll
tics of his State, and is now regarded as
one of South CarOlina's most distin-
guiShed criminal lawyers.
GEN. NOISES ADDRESS.
In an address Astounding with his
torical facts and vivid descriptions of
some Of the worlds greatest battles,
Gen. Noise presented, in very fluent
and earnest manner, d comparison be-
tween the characters of Napoleon
Bonapartc and Robert f. Lee. He
said we owe it to ourselves and to our
young people, when we come before
them to discuss great men, not to for
get our own great men. Our duty is
to impress upon the minds Of our
young people, of both sexes, those
who have illustrated our own cOuntry's
greatness.
He did not propose to indulge in
vain panegyrics or undeserved encO-
miums. AS he saw the figure of our
great General and as he undertook to
pass his life in review, he was sacredly
admonished that if he was living he
would scorn exaggerated testimonial
that could not stand the scrutiny of
time.
Napoleon's greatness could not be
reduced by the greatness of any other
man. His career was not without
spot. Time was too limited to go into
details. He would take the salient
points in the lives of Napoleon and
Lee to bring them into juxtaposition.
The speaker then traced the history
of Napoleon Bonaparte, referring to
his origin from noble family, to his
military education, his earnestness,
etc. The French revolution occurred
about the time he was arriving at the
years of discretion. His first great
distinction was won in the Italian
campaign. He next distinguished
himself in Egypt. Returning to
France, crowned with glory, he be
came first Consul and was given power
as great as any monarch. Having ab-
SOlute power, he devoted himself, day
and night, to the reformation of the
abuses of the country. He was the
real writer of the Napoleonic Code,
which lives today. The world does
not show a case where any soldier
performed the Cabinet work of Ma
pOleon.
His greatest victory was AusterlitZ
and his greatest defeat Waterloo.
The speaker said this defeat was due
to errors. Napoleon should have
known of the sunken road in his front
and OF the whereabouts of his own
reserve force and that of his enemy.
The Napoleon of AusterlitZ WOULD
have known. His error as a COM
mander was that he didn't have the
terrible, absolute intleXibility that
enables man to retrieve after lost
battle.
The speaker spoke beautifully and
touchingly of the character OF Robert
E. Lee. While Napoleon was full of
human frailties. no person has ever
been found, not even among his ad-
versarieS, to say word against the
personal character of Lee. His was
gentle nature. If there had been
sowed in his heart the seeds of hate
they would have blosSomed into
flowers of charity. The consideration
of Lee for his soldiers was referred to-
He wouldn't wear an Oyercoat because
he couldn't give overcoats to his pri-
vate soldiers. Napoleon rode In a
carriage and lived the life that wealth
could bestoW. Lee would not stay in
house because his soldiers lived in
| tents.
AS a military man, Lees greatest
success was Charlottesville. That
| battle writes his name highest in the
| roll of great military men. Gen.
| Noise gave a graphic description of
| the situation. Lee here conceived
| one of the grandest military designs
| that ever entered the mind of a mill
| tary man. No campaign recorded in
! iS n
/ This was Lee in success.
| His greatest defeat was Gettysburg
| When death was approaching, when
| Immortality was dawning upon his
view, Lee said if Jackson had been at
/ Gettysburg he would have gained a
| victory. Lee took all the blame on
himself. The speaker was not dispos-
| ed to quarrel with fate, but he
though if Lee had had the earnest
that, Gettysburg would have told a
different story in history.
Napoleon at Waterloo lost heart
and the Old Guard recoiled. Lee at
Gettysburg fell back to his former
position, prepared to fight. He was
compelled TO retreat, but retreated
facing the foe and invited an. attack
which they dared not make. Lee was
greater in defeat than in success.
The speaker spoke Of the lessons fol
our guidance to be found in the lives
of these great men. Napoleon teach
es that whatever man undertakes tC
do he should do with all his might
persistently, patiently, untiringly
He didn't send others to do, but die
| himself.
From Lee we learn, "Not all men
can attain success, but Well do more
Sempronius, we'll deserve it," Re
ferring to Lee, the speaker quoted:
"Some tall cliff that rears its awful form,
Swells from the vale and midway leaves thu
storm.
Though round its breast the rolling cloud
spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head"
History will speak of General LIE,
as an exemplar to this country and tC
the world Of the truth of the last
words he ever addressed to his army
"Human virtue should be equal tt
the hearts of the people whom b,
served so well monument, on which
might be inscribed: ga chevalier sam
puer, sans reproche."
DIPLOMAS PRESENTED.
| After the address and another Sc
lection by the orchestra, diploma
were presented to the graduating
class, as follows: Capt. D. W. Throw
er, N. c., with degree of G. E.; Cade
e. Lyerly, N. c.; Lieut.. J. 81. Pritch
ard, N. q; Serg't. w. NJ Simkins
Fla, with degree Of A. B.; Cadet W
Mack Reiche, Md; Serg't. G. M. Yves
son, Nd, with degree Of b. S.