Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-26
SONS OF VETERANS.
Their Second Anniversary Pleasantly
Celebrated Last Night.
MR.. II. VI. SMITH THE ORATOR.
lie Delivers an Eloquent Address,
and Speaks in Favor OF an Impair
O'FcrraiI Also Speaks.

| brated their second anniversary last night
/ in Lee Camp Hall, which was crowded
with the members OF the organization and
their friends
Governor Charles T. O'Ferrall and Mr..
! II. ~. Smith. Jr., delivered addresses,
while Mr.. Roscoe Nelson contributed to
/ the humorous part OF the programme by
/ two Of his inimitable dialect recitals. The
Blues band furnished splendid music for
/ the occasion.
! Besides the two speakers there were
| present Colonies James Lyons. c. h.
Wingo. and John S. Harwood. Of the
| Governors staff
! Captain J. +. 3. Stuart presided. and
| in behalf OF the camp welcomed the
| visitors in a few well-chosen words. lie
then introduced Mr. II. NJ. Smith. Jr., as
| the orator OF the evening.
The speaker. in his opening remarks,
said that there were reasons why such
/ associations as the Sons OF Confederate
| Veterans should be formed and maintain
| ed, for the South had been misrepresented
/ by unjust critics. so long" said he, las
]
up to the war; so long as they evade, or
so long as they are ignorant Of the con-
| stitutional rights of the South; so long as
/ they misjudge its motives in disunitins
/ itself from sister States: so long as they
minimize Federal troops in battle and
maximize Confederate troops in the same
| battle; so long as they say that Jefferson
| Davis was traitor and John Brown was
"A martyr; so long as they put these things
! In their books and teach them TO their
] children, so long Is 1t not only your God
/ given right to form these associations,
/ but, sirs. II is your imperative flial duty
J How you can best subserve the righteous
| purpose OF your association is a me- tier
10 which you have given more thought
/ than / have. / should venture the asser-
/ ton, however, that one Of the most enec-
| tive ways is a systematic course Of study
| for yourselves. This Is necessary before
| you can begin any campaign Of education.
/ without this you cannot critically ex-
anime the books which your children and
other children are carrying daily back
ward and forward 10 school. IL is unques-
! tionably your duty TO see that their
satchels contain no book which asserts
false doctrines. lays down incorrect prin-
lciples, ascribes improper motives. or
states facts incorrectly.
"a MONUMENT TO TRUTH"
Continuing the speaker said: In every
public cemetery in the South where lie
the bones OF any considerable number OF
Confederates. some tall shaft marks the
hallowed ground. we have unveiled re-
cumbent statues IN marble. bespeaking the
blameless life and peaceful end OF q ma
tons hero; lifelike figures in bronze OF
a chieftain who has won the admiration
of foreign gentlemen; we have unveiled
many monuments. and will, / hope, unveil
many more: for / trust and believe that
as our admiration knows no bounds, our
gratitude shall know no exhaustion. But
gentlemen. one day monument VIII be
unveilea-that IS after the last old Con
federate and the last Federal veterans
shall have been gathered 10 their fathers
when all the combatants and participants
shall have passed away. when the blatant
voice of the last "hre alarm orator shall
have been hushed forever in death 0or
nothing but death can hush 10. when the
frantic arms OF the last waver OF the
bloody shirt shall drop cold and stiff
by his side God speed the day.. when the
last pensioner upon a generous nations
bounty shall fail 10 answer 10 the roll
call OF honor crowded the Millennium
arrives. / trust a monument will be I'M
yelled neither Of stone, nor OF metal
though perhaps II may mean the life work
of an able. fearless, impartial. scholarly
mind. a monument more enduring than
granite. more beautiful than marble, more
artistic than bronze. 70 be seen Of all
men and OF all nations. for all time and
eternity-a monument 10 truth. a history
OF the Confederate States Of America"
THE SOUTHS GREAT MEN.
Mr.. Smith then spoke OF the great
men OF the South. and of what they had
done for the flag which now floats over
our country. Had 1t not been for south
ern men. he said. and the territory ac-
quired by them and through their efforts.
the stars on the United States flag would
not now be hef the number that are
upon our national banner. Concluding,
Mr.. Smith said
with such an ancestry. with the eX-
ample Of such noble deeds. with a cause
they believed to be right. with their
country invaded Is It any wonder that
the South proved 20 be a nation Of war
riors?
Gentlemen, II 7 mistake not the tenn
per OF the South, as reflected in the
faces / pow confront. rs indicated by
the personnel OF those whom / recognize;
II / mistake not the reception you have
given 10 some OF the illusions / have
made: II mistake not the temper OF the
South as n whole-it would lie unwise for
any foreign nation TO enter into war with
the United States, without taking into
due consideration and making specific cal
culation OF the resources and population
Of the South. Npplause)
Let our country be invaded; let our
flag be insulted, and forth from their
scaboards will fash ten thousand sabres.
as bright as any that ever gladdened
the heart OF FitZ Lee or rode with
Stuart around McClellan's army. / doubt
not that II the cities OF TIE North were
beleaguered by foreign foes that from
the Lone Star State. the Empire State
the Palmetto State. the Old North State
the Old Dominion. from Maryland. My
Maryland, will be heard the tramp. tramp,
tramp. the steady tramp Of southern
soldiers. Who then shall be surprised
that, II. within a generation. we shall be
welcome 10 spread our tents IN Madison
Square. who surprised to hear the rebel
yell at the foot OF Bunker Hill come as
a joyful sound to the citizens Of Boston.
God grant that such a war will never
come. God grant that IL IL does come.
that the South VIII SO bear herself as
10 win fresh laurels. and her sons so
conduct themselves as 10 prove worthy
TO rank as sons OF Confederate veterans"
GOVERNOR O'FERRALL SPEAKS.
After Mrs. Nelson had DELIGHTFULLY."- en-
tertained the audience with her splendid
dialect Rotations, Governor O'Ferrall
was introduced. aud delivered a brief add
dress He said that when he was ap-
preached some time ago by a committee
from the Sons ana asked to deliver an ad-
dress on this occasion. he had stated that
mis- time was so Occupied that he could