The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-07-09


ade, the heartfelt devotion OF the men
in line and the enthusiasm Of the pco-
pie on the streets, would do otherwise
than declare that it was day conse-
Grated to American manhood, patriot
ism and valOr. The spectacle was in
spring, and as the bands passed play
ing. the Star Spanglcd Banner"
Dixie" My Maryland" and "Iankce
lJo0dIe," every man and woman felt
themselves u truer American.
In the line werc numerous memcntos
! OF the late war in the shape OF bullet
holed and tattercd Confederate battle
flags. uniforms that had beon worn on
many bloody field, knapsacks, can.
teens, musket and rifles that bore owl
dencc OF service in many u campaign.
Two venerable old soldiers carried lid.
dies with which they entertained camp
life during tho war. Many had empty
sleeves and many others wooden legs,
but they stood the fatigue of the four
hours march with all the fortitude G
that characterized them over thirty
years ago.
General Gordon, chief marshal. and
staff headed the procession, and his
escort was the corps Of cadets from the
| Virginia Military institute. Then fol-
lowed the childrens brigade, 25O in
number. General Hampton and stan
took position in front Of the Carolin-
ians, and the old cavalry here was sa-
lutcd at every move and turn of the
procession. Governor O'Ferra,l was at
tho side of Brig. Gen. Phillips of tho
| Virginia State troops, which included
the Virginia and North Carolina rcgi-
mcnts Of State troops. Then followed
the Worshipful Grand Masonic Lodge
| Of Virginia, escorted by the Command
cry OF st. Andrew OF Virginia, No. I3
| knights Tcmplar, and by the Blacks
burg, Va, cadets.
The lady sponsors and thei" maids Of
honor, rode in separate carriages and
made the brightest feature Of the pro-
ccssion. Each sponsor waved tho llag
OF the State she represented and all Of
them were royalty checrcd as they
passed through the brilliantly dccora
ted streets, crowded with southern
blooming womanhood and lovlincss.
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 Or
ganiZcd body Of veterans in town which
is not affiliated with the United Con-
fedorate Veterans. Many Of its mem
bcrs, how, YER, ,arealso members OF Her
bert and Buchanan camps. Col. Geo
IL. Gather is in command Of the veto
ran corps and Capt George w. Booth
of the society. Gen. Bradley II. John
son is president OF the society
Mrs. Jefferson Davis rode in a car
riage with the Hon. j. Taylor Nlyson
and Gen. Pcytor Wise, and she was
everywhere recognized anu chccrcd.
Miss Shelby, daughter Of General
/ Shelby Of Tennessee, rode Il fine horse
| through the whole route Of the process
sion and was realty admired. The
procession reached Monroe park about
o'clock, after very trying march to
some Of the Older veterans.
Here the Grand Masonic lodge of
Virginia took charge Of the ccremo-
mics, and escorted by the knights
rcmplars, reached the site selected
for the Davis monument, whore stand
for the orator and distinguish he'd guests
had been erected. When the privil-
edged crowd had becn seated and
tho Richmond Blues and other mill
tary organizations placed as Il com
Elementary escort to the Templars,
the Masonic ceremonies in the laying
Of corner stone took place, conclud-
ing with the following proclamation
by the Grand Marshal.
"Oyez All within the sound OF the
gavcl take due notice that the craft
has ceased from their labor and that
the corner stone of the jefferson Davis
monument is now true trusty, and
we'll laid by the grand lodge OF Viz
gina in its 1l9th year" After this
announcement Hon. j. Taylor Euyson.
president Of the Davis monumcn: asso-
citation, came forward and called upon
Bishop John 6. Cranberry, of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, to offer
prayer, and the eminent divine dcliv.
cred most fcrvcnt and apprOpria tv
appeal To the throne Of the Almighty.
After this Gen. Stephen ID. Lee, the
orator OF the day, WAS introduced and
spoke as follows:
From graceful cxordium, explain
ing tho purpose which had drawn his
vast audience together, Cen. Lee as
son Davis remains should rest in Nir-
ginia, which he characterized as the
greatest OF all States, the battlc-scar.
red producer OF warriors and states
mon. But for her generosity in ccding
her vast territory to the Union, Ken
tucky would have bcen born her son.
Many presidents, statesmen. soldiers
lie in Nirginia's soil-from Washing
ton the present timc-nonc greater
than Davis, but more fortunate.
Throwing a glance backward, he show
cd how, 81 years ago, the man whose
memory they had met today to honor,
lay manaclcd in cascmate of strong.
ly-garrisoned fortress, charged with
tho most atrocious crime known to
man-trcason aud murder. "And
yet" he continued, "he died, by mil
lions more sinccrel mourncd and
deeply loved than any other man in
the history Of the nation. II his enc
mics had succeeded in putting him to
death he would have been the most
conspicuous figure in American his
tory"
Gen. Lee expressed an abiding belief
that when the mists OF passion and
prejudice have passed away, the
calm light Of Justice will give the
right niche 10 each figure in history
"Thc descendants Of the men who
burned Joau OF Arch," said he, NOW
regard her us a character of hcroism
aud beauty. The posterity of the men
who hung witches in Salem as a pious
duty, now hear the story with horror.
The descendants OF the men who TO-DAY