The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-08
Arkansas Veteran camps.
Tennessee Veteran camps.

North Carolina Veteran camps.
kentucky Veteran camps.
Missouri Veteran camps.
Maryland Veteran camps.
District of Columbia Veteran camps.
Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Veteran cavalry division.
The cadets of the High school from
Washington, as we'll as the District
Veterans made an attractive feature
of the parade, and were complimented
all along the route.
SOUTHERN BEAUTY.
The lady sponsors and their maids
of honor, rode in separate carriages
and made the brightest feature of the
procession. Each sponsor waved the
flag of the State she represented and
all of them were royalty cheered as
they passed through the brilliantly
decorated streets. crowded with south
ern. blooming womanhood and lowell
ness.
The Society of the Army and Navy
of the Confederate States in the State
of Maryland, escorted by the Fifth
Regiment Veterans corps, was in the
procession. The society is the only
organized body of veterans in town
which is not affiliated with the United
Confederate Veterans. Many of its
members, however, are also members
of Herbert and Buchanan camps. Col.
George R. Gather is in command of
the veteran corps and Capt. George
w. Booth of the society. Gen. Brad
ley T. johnson is president of the So
ciety.
Mrs. Jefferson Davis rode in car
riage with the Hon. J. Taylor Ellyson
and Gen. Peyton Wise, and she was
everywhere recognized and cheered:. =,
Miss Shelby, daughter of Gen. Shell
by of Tennessee rode fine horse
through the whole route of the process
sion and was greatly admired. The
procession reached Monroe park about
4 o'clock. after very trying march to
some of the older veterans.
MASONIC FUNCTIONS.
Here the Grand Masonic lodge of
Virginia took charge of the ceremo-
MES, and escorted by the Knights
Tenn plars, reached the site selected for
the Davis monument, where q stand
for the orator and distinguished guests
had been erected. When the privi-
legged crowd had been seated and the
Richmond Blues and other military
organizations placed as a complement.
ary escort to the Templars, the Masonic
ceremonies in the laying of corner
stone took place, concluding with the
following proclamation by the Grand
Marshal:
"Oyez! All within the sound Of the
gavel take due notice that the craft
has ceased from their labor and that
the corner stone of the Jefferson Dav-
is monument is now true, trusty, and
we'll laid by the grand lodge of Virgin.
ia in its 10th year."
After this announcement Hon. j..
Taylor Ellyson, president of the Davis
Monument Association, came forward
and called upon Bishop John Q. Gran
berry of the Methodist Episcopal
church to offer prayer, and the emf
nent divine delivered most fervent
and appropriate appeal to the throne
of the Almighty.
Al ter this Gen. Stephen D. Lee, the
orator of the day was introduced and
spoke as follows:
GEN. LEES ADDRESS.
From a graceful exordium, explain
ing the purpose which had drawn his
vast audience together, Gen. Lee as
serted that it was fitting that Jefferson
Davis remains should rest in Vir-
ginia, which he characterized as the
greatest of all States, the battle oscar.
red producer of warriors and states
men. But for her generosity in ceding
her vast territory to the Union, Ken.
lucky would have still been hers, and
he would have been born her son.
Many presidents, statesmen, soldiers
lie in Virginia's soil--from Washing.
ton to the present time-none greater
tnan Davis, but more fortunate.
JEFFERSON DAVIS MOURNED.
Throwing a glance backward, he
showed how, 81 years ago, the man
whose memory they had met today to
honor, lay manacled in easement OF
strongly garrisoned fortress, charged
with the most atrocious crime known
to man--treason and murder. And
vet" he continued, ''he died, by mil.
| lions more sincerely mourned and
deeply loved than any other man IN
the history of the nation. Ii his enc
mics had succeed in putting him to
death he would have been the most
conspicuous figure in American his
tory.
WHEN THE MISTS CLEAR AWAY.
Gen. Lee expressed an abiding be
lief that when the mists of passion ano
prejudice have passed away, the calm
light of justice will give the right
niche to each figure in history. :.
"The descendants of the men who
burned Joan of Arc", said he, now
regard her as a character of heroisn
and beauty. The posterity of the men
who hung witches in Salem as a piou:
duty, now hear the story with horror
The descendants of the men who today
look on Jefferson Davis with unkino
expression will see him as We do-the
stainless gentleman, the gallant sol
dier, the devoted patriot, the pure and
gifted statesman"
THE ISSUES SETTLED.
Gen. Lee declined to discuss the
causes leading to the war. The wal
had settled that secession is impractl
cable and the amendments to the Con
stitution have adjusted all other diff
ferences. The Southern people have
fully accepted the results; they accep
the present and loyalty commit them
selves to the future.