The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-05-04
ADDRESS OF JUDGE
WALTER CLARK.
AT UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE,
RICHMOND, VA, APRIL 20, 1897,

Where Shall the Governing Power Re
slider The Rising Generation Will
Decide the Issue.
Young Gentlemen of the Graduating
Glass, Mr., President, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
The poet Burns declared that in
Heaven itself he would TASK no mOr
than just a Hieland welcome" and no
invited speaker can aver have a hand
somer introduction or a kinder welcome
than he will always receive at the
hands Of a Virginia audience. The
growth of this magnificent city is a
pride to the whole South, of which for
four long and ever memorable years it
was the capital and the centre. OF the
many evidences Of rapid progress to be
seen On all sides, it is not my purpose
to speak. It is proper, however, to ex
press qualification, which should be
shared by every Southerner, that here
in our ancient capital this institution
for the education of physicians and
surgeons has already taken so high a
b6AA4 sAA Gu6b SA4C4O 40 AO ACCo " guns
farther North to secure a medical di-
plomR whose value is recognized
throughout the Union. When I first
saw the city Of Richmond it was under
vastly different auspices and amid
other surrounding than those that greet
US tonight. 1t was thirty.s six years
ago. Virginia had called for aid, and
across her Southern border North Car
DINA poured her troops like an Alpine
torrent. At that time l was 8 lad of
fourteen, a cadet at a military insti
tute. The troops needing such instruc
ton as it was thought we could give, I
was like many others assigned TO duty
by the Governor, and entered this State
attached to one Of the North Carolina
regiments. It was then that my feet
first trod the soil of this historic city.
Remaining in the service it was my
fortune again and again, during those
four eVanttul years, the memory of
which should never be forgotten, to
pass through Richmond when men
from Maine to Minnesota on the
one side and men from Maryland
to the Mexican border on the other,
were contending for the possession of
the Confederate capital. hinged with
fire, the city grew accustomed to the
dull, heavy booming of cannon, and as
at Saragossa. people bought and sold,
married and were given in marriage,
danced or Wept, as occasion served,
while the work of war went on at the
gates.
To day it is hard to realize that the
scene is the same. Lee and Jackson
are glorious memories now. Another
flag Fl ats from the flagstaff on your
capital. From yon river
THE FLEETS OF IRON HAVE FLED"
and where the long lines of infantry
stood the green grave grass grows
where asleep are the ranks Of the
dead" Peace, sweet bosomed peace,
broods above city which numbers four
fold the population Of the one that with
stood Mcclellan and Meade and Burn
side and Hooker and Grant in the
''braVe days OF old" Looking upon
the surface Of this now peaceful scene
one would mUrmer: 80 her times;
other men,"
Yet must say TO you, my young
friends, that not IN 1861. when the
steady tread Of the Old Confederate
regiments first echoed along these
streets and the artillery wagons came
rumriing by and the bugles Of march
ing cavalry rolled along your valleys,
was there greater unrest in the minds
Of the masses Of your fellow citizens
North and South, East and West, than
there is at this moment of deep, dream
less apparent peace. The hearts of
men are strangely moved within them
for the masses are not satisfied with
existing conditions. No one contem-
plates that the present unrest will cui
inmate. like that OF 1861, IN armed
strife, out all Gne signs that history has
ever given Of great impending changes
r with us. None are lacking. Con
ditions. will not, can not remain as
they are. b assured Of that. II you
are men worthy Of the Revolutionary
race OF heroes who won our liberties.
and equal to the generation which faced
the perils of the great civil war with.
out shrinking, you should read and
understand the signals Of the coming
storm. There are lei to whom the
present status is very comfortable.
They denounce any statement that all
others are not as fully satisfied as
themselves.