The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-26

you that your people may be my peo-
pie and your God my God, where thou
diesel will I die, and there will 1 be
buried; the Lord do so to me, and more
also. il ought but death part thee and
me-" We bid you welcome in our heart
and in our home, to every pleasure we
can bestow. Welcome, thrice welcome
confederate heroes.
SPEECH OF 0. J. CARROLL.
Ladies, Gentlemen and Fellow Citi-
ZenS:
Just thirty-twO years ago, the men
Who wore the gray. and in who's honor
this occasion Is held, laid down their
arms and turned their faces toward the
homes they loved and cherished, and in
whose defense they had risked their
lives in many hard fought battles.
There could be no better testimony
Of the low Of the cause for which they
fought than the presence of SO many
OF the old comrades Who are here to-
day.
The one thing that casts a shadow
over the days proceedings, is the abb
sence of so many of the familiar faces
that we had learned to love while in
camp, and IN the battlefield, who were
less fortunate than ourselves who are
gathered together today, who lost their
| lives in the last battle of the war OF
B~entOnSVille.
The next sad reflection that comes
over our minds and thoughts Of the
young men who are here today, as they
| contemplate with pride the history of
I the confederate veterans, is that these
meetings will, at no distant day end
forever, and soon to be forgotten. AS
1 look out over my old comrades in
arms, I note with sorrow and regret
that the frosts that never melt have
a great while until we all shall be call
ed to the land from where no travele
shall ever return.
But my lear friends and comrades,
let US not be cas- down by the thought
that only a short time Is left for us, in
which we AVE to do our work..
But, rather let us rejoice in the Op-
p%ortunity which we had to show the
world an example of heroic sacrifice,
that has never been surpassed in an
cient or modern times.
The true history of the late war is
yet to be written, n then the world
will know, as it has never yet known,
who it's real heroes are.
And my friends and comrades, the
battles we have fought, and thanks be
to God one, after Lee had surrender
ed at Appomattox, were mo- less fierce
n terrible than those where we heard
the roar of III muskets and the clank-
ing Of the swords, together with the
groans and pitiful cries of the wounded
and dying.
We came to our desolate homes poor,
dispirited and heart broken, our cities
and towns, in many instances. were
in ashes, our property gone. our homes
desOlate, n our fields laid waste by
the a of the enemy.
Poverty in the extreme, and intense
suffering, together with absolute Desc
lation lay out before us. But, that same
indOmitable spirit and determination
which had been ours as we marched
ragged, foot-sore and hungry, as we
fOllowed our trusted leaders into he
very jaws of death. sustained us aus
we went about e~ndeavOring to mend
our broken fortunes.
And so today, my friends and COM
rades, as I stand before you, I point
you with pride that 1 cannot express
to evidences on erery hand OF the bless
ings which a crowned our every eff
fort in many instances.
When the very scum of the earth"
was boiled up and men who were not
Of us took charge Of the offices made
sacred by the hallowed memories OF
our fathers, and used these positions
for robbery and de~bauchery, you, my
friends and fellow comrades, were the
very first to assist in driving this den
Of thieves to their last hiding place.
May the God who has watched over
our history inspire your poSter1ty TO be
as faithful and jealous of their liberty,
as were their fathers before them.
NOu ldS ACNCI, III AAo "AoNoA ~N
goodness, blessed any section with such
great and magnificent possibilities, as
he has this lovely southland OF ours.
And in all this land nc section can ex-
eel in it's natural resources, this good
old North State, your home and mine
And as we were true and fearless IN
her defense when the "despOt's heel
was on the Shore" let us be faithful
and dilligent in the development of her
splendid resources, that God in his
wisdom and goodness has given us.
Then my friends n comrades, let
us try, while we may, to cultivate and
disseminate the spirit Of b~rotherly
love, tina now binds US together among
those who shall 500 take our places
in church, in state, and in all the pur-
suits of this life.
The true patriot is the man who owe
his fellow man, and whose efforts are
for the betterment Of society. Then lei
us never forget why, dear friends and
comrades. that the love of our country
: is next to the owe Of God n that the
institutions now so dear to us, only
be perpetuated by the legal and in
: telligent leadershipS Of our best, anC
| trueSt men.
: Sod never called into this service