Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-23

Formerly the Home of
birthday 6f the Father Of his Country, and
by the Inauguration Of the chieftain VINO.
being dead, yet lives In the hearts OF
those who followed the banner now FOR
ever furied We dedicate this mansion
as the shrine TO which all right-minded
and right-hearted men will gather from
every State and from every land 20 pay
their homage TO exalted worth; the
shrine which will be hallowed by men
who are bound to US by no tie save
that which admiration for such worth
establishes between all magnanimous
souis; the tie which will never be sun
dered while the great heart Of humanity
throbs in sympathy with heroic endeavor,
and most OF all, when heroic endeavor
is overwhelmed by defeat. Here we
would preserve the relics and the records
of struggle never more TO be repeated.
and never more to be forgotten.
"Our Father, we cannot forget the fiery
trials, the disasters, and desolations which
in years gone by caused us such humili-
alton and bitter tears; but we gratefully
remember. too, the fortituds, the cour-
age, the unfaltering trust in Thee which
characterized our people in their times OF
peril and bereavement. And, now, turn
ing from the strifes and sorrows Of the
past, we resolutely face the future, be-
seeching Thee to grant us grace and wis
dom to make that future prosperous and
happy; an era Of progress in all that en-
riches and ennobles a people whose God
Is the Lord.
"And now, our Father, amidst the
festivities of this hour, we beseech Thee
deeply to impress upon our hearts the
great truth that all the temporal honors
and glorles of earth are worthless in
comparison with the honor which Thou
dost confer on those who are loyal to
Thee. and who seek the eternal glory to
which Thou hast taught us TO aspire.
"We devoutly thank Thee that the
plety OF the great leaders OF our armies
was the flower and crown of all their
virtues, and nothing now fills us with
satisfaction so pure and with gratitude
so profound as the remembrance of their
conservation TO Thee and their supreme
devotion TO Thy service.
MAY these great lessons be impressed
anew upon our minds and hearts by thine
honored servant, who comes to address
us to-day, and may 1t please Thee TO
hasten the coming OF the time when all
the inhabitants Of this great land may
be brought more and more TO cherish the
relations which unite them as children Of
one Father, and as citizens of one
constitutional law, and religion, pure
and undef.ed, shall make our whole
land happy and fiji the whole world with
peace. and to God. most high, will we
ascribe all honor and glory forever.
Amen"
Governor Introduces the Orator.
Governor OFerrall here arose and in
iroduced to those assembled General
Bradley I. Johnson as the orator of
the day. The Governor spoke substan-
TALLY as follows:
Ladies of the Confederate Literary
Memorial Society, Ladies, and Gentle
men,-I think 1 can say boldly that the
bloody strife OF 1861 to 1866 developed in
the men Of the South traits of character
as ennobling and as exalting as ever
adorned men since the day-dawn of crea-
tion. 1 think / can proclaim confidently
that for courage and daring, chivalry
and bravery, the world has never seen
the superiors of the southern soldiers. L
think 1 can assert defiantly that the
annals OF time present no leaves more
brilliant than those upon which are re-
corded the deeds and achievements OF
the followers of the southern cross.
think / can proclaim triumphantly that,
from the Souths beloved President, and
the peerless commander OF her armies
in the field. down TO the private in her
ranks. there was a display of patriotism
perhaps unequalled certainly never sur
passed. since this passion was implanted
in the human breast.
But, as grand as the South was in her
sons, she was grander still in her daugh-
ters; as sublime as she was in her men,
she was subllmer still In her women.
(Applause)
DEVOTION OF WOMEN.
History is replete With bright and
examples of woman's devotion
10 home and birthland of her fortitude.
trials and sufferings in her country's
cause. and the women OF the Confede-
racy added many luminous pages 10
what had already been most graphically
written
Yes, these Spartan wives and mothers
with husbands or sons. or both, at the
front, directed the farming operations,
supporting their families and supplying
the armies; they sewed. knitted, weaved,
and spun; then In the hospitals they were
angels, turning tho heated
pillow. smoothing the wrnkled cot, cool |
ing the parched lips, stroking the burn |
ing brow, staunching the flowing blood, |
up the gaping wounds. trimming |
the midnight taper and sitting in the |
Stiffness. only broken by the groans Of |
The sick and wounded, pointing the de- |
parting spirit the way TO God; closing |
the sightless eyes, and Their following !
the bier 10 Hollywood or some hurnbls |
spot, and then dropping the purest tear. |
They saw the flames licking the clouds !
as their homes with their c.inging memo /
ries were reduced 10 ashes; they heard |
of the carnage OF battle. followed by |
he mothers deep moan, the wite's low |
,ob--for, alasl she could not weep-the |
orphans waii. and the sisters lament. |
But amid flame, carnage. death, and
though their land Was red
ienng with blood and their beloved ones /
we're falling like leaves In autumn. they |
itood, like heroines. tirm. steadfast. and
constant
Oh. women OF the Confederacy. your
anne Is deathlcss. you need not monu-
nent nor sculpiured stone to. perpetuate
/. Young maidens gather at the feet |
4 some Confederate maffon hi some
emlniscent hosir and listen 10 her story
Z those days. now mfe than thirty
ears past, and how God gave her cour-
&c. fortltudc, and strength 10 bear her
riyaf.ons. suffsrlngs, and bercayemsnts
M live. tApptabse,
But must pot permit my feelings TO
ecere the mastery Of me. Ny soul must
g stliL have feit that this tribute 70 J
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