Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-26


the issue of life or death, freedom or I'M
prisonment; the sanctity OF man castle
was ruthlessly invaded, not only In the
light OF day, but more frequently IN the
darkness Of the midnight hour, the tenure
of property was subjected 10 the VIII OF
petty satrap: vice stalked abroad with
brazen face and virtue lay PROSTATE at
it's feet; ignorance held high carnival. ana
intelligence was chained to the stake;
the weak were trOdden down, and the
harmless insulted; legislative bodies were
dissolved by the wave Of the tyrants
hand: judges were dragged from their
high places by the military arm; citizens
were seized tried, and condemned without
evidence OF upon the testimony of SUI
horned witnesses and perjury was re-
warded. Madness ruled the hour, and sat
upon reasons throne; malice wreaked its
vengeance, and hate did its diabolical
work. -
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
All this sounds now TO young ears al
most like the recital of a horrible dream.
1t is hard for the youth OF to-day 10
receive 1t without some feeling OF IN
credulty, but IL is no fancy sketch nor
play of the Imagination. Thousands ana
tens Of thousands now generally i'm lites
season of the sere and yellow leaf live
to verify every word. Shocking as was
the manner OF warfare adopted by some
of the commanders of the opposing
armies, i'm the mellow light Of peace and
under the softening influence or our
Christian faith. while still execratng the
acts and cOndemning the actors, we
might i'm measure condone the offences
upon the ground that they were com
mitted i'm the heat Of passion to cripple
and dispirit an armed foe. but where can
be found a sOuthron who Will condone the
deeds Of tyranny and oppression or the
Reconstruction period? our COntederdcy
was subiugated: every bugle had been
hushed. every drum sienced. every sabre
sheathed, every musket stacked, every
cannon parked every flag furied. ana
every Confederate paroled. WeapOnless,
armless, bannerless. without blade,
stock, or barrel. PROSTATE, bleeding,
grieving. almost cladless, almost famish-
ing, our women weeping. our children OFT
times crying for bread. and ourselves
bound by pledges OF honor TO fight no'
more we were denied the poor boon OF
pursuing Unmolested the ways OF peace
and recuperating as far as might be our
lost fortunes by faithful toll and earning
a living by honest labor.
This pictures briefly i'm faint colors the
fluctuations and sufferings Of the Con-
federate soldier and his land. doubt
whether there is a race on the habitable
globe who would have stood the crucial
test as did the survivors OF the Contede-
rate armies. Only lion-hearted men, with
nerves Of steel and wills Of hickory and
descendants Of a knightly strain could
have preserved so fully their manhood
and conquered calamity Great applause
But | would be recreant to right and
false to justice IL / did not. in this pres
ence. declare that neither the cruel mode
of warfare 10 which / lave referred, nor
the policy pursued after we had sur
rendered our arms and been paroled, was
sanctioned by multitudes of the Federal
soldiery. | bear willing testimony TO the
bravery of the northern armies; their
contributions TO the records of American
Valor will be blended with those Of the
armies of the South and from both will
rising and coming generations draw in
spiratiOns. Cheers.
HERO OF A GLORIOUS PAST.
Sons Of Confederate veterans. scions Of
heroic stock, think not that while | have
spoken without reserve as TO the SANDER
ers VI the South and the trials OF her
soldiers, 1t has been my purpose TO kindle
i'm your breasts feelings Of bitterness and
resentment, even towards them who, In
their malice. taught that We OF the South
were an inferior race, or them who, in
their frenzy, violated the laws Of civilized
warfare, or them who. i'm their madness,
walked with iron heels in days Of peace
over a people whose sceptre was broken.
whose strength was exhausted, ana whose
country was writing In the agonies OF
subjugation and defeat. NO. my simple
purpose has been to present historic facts
and drive them deep into your minds as
mighty truths. and elevate still higher,
II possible. In your estimation the claims
of every dependent Confederate veteran
upon the gratitude Of his country and the
generosity Of his people. He is a hero OF
d glorious past, a knight OF knightly
band; he is a survivor Of a strife in winch
his blade CLEANED or his bayonet glistened
In the light Of yalor he is a man who,
by his patriotism. reflected honor upon
his country, and by his devotion became
d jewel In her crown.
THE CORNER STONE.
The creeping years. with their mlsfor-
tunes the raVages Of disease. the loss OF
| limb. or the drain of wounds have brought
| upon him the necessity Of seeking shelter
and support at the hands OF his more
| fortunate comrades, and the State ht
loved and served so well. Unlike his
veteran foe, he has no strong government
| TO answer his appeal. no Federal Urea
| sury 10 meet his pension drafts, but ne Is
! enshrined in the affections Of his com
| rades, who have escaped the Ylcissitudes
| that beset him, his name Is written upon
| the tablets of his State and now we
| behold the beautiful spectacle OF the lay
| ing Of the cornerstone or structure "a
| be erected and dedicated 10 his use by
an association composed Of sons OF his
/ comrades in arms.
Yes; here to-day block is placed which
shall be the beginning OF a cottage reared
within the bounds OF this sweet retreat
| where for years Virginia's weak anc
| manned soldiers have been gathered, md
| ing sympathetic hearts 10 care Tor them
/ and gentle hands TO nurse them, com
muning one with another In social inter
course relating their experiences. anL
| how the musketry ratified, and the can
| non roared and the boys fell. and tn'
| lines melted upon a hundred fields; here
| i'm calmness and repose listening 10 the
| preaching of the Gospel OF the saviour
| 81 Men. embracing the doctrines Of Chris
/ tianity. and learning the way 10 th'
| celestial gates.
Sons of Confederate Veterans. there Il
| a sentiment that dedicated the Roman
| Do has filled l.OudCn'S marks
| and Washington's avenues, and is dot
| ting the South with memorials. a kindred
| sentiment has prom ted you TO pay thl:
/ tribute-a tribute TO the living, and not e
| the dead-to the dependent survivors o.
| as grand a band as ever added 10 tbs
| glory OF a country or the renown OK
II il YOUR free-wlll Offering. You vii
| enjoy the proud distinction OF being tn
/ first camp Of Sons of Confederate Nete
rams 70 erect and deuleSte pu,iuins 80
| the benefit Of them who, in the your
| and bloom OF their manhood, followe'
the Stars and Bars with blind faitn, bu
| who must now in their old age, seei
solace ard comfort within the friendly
| nrecincts of a Confederate home.
| on behalf Of Virginia ! thank you 10
| this benefaction Your State finds In yo'
| the same superb character that has eve
| made the name "Virginian' synonym
OF those traits that elevate and ennoole
| (Applause) -
And now. with the closing OF these i'm
pressive ceremonies, we proclaim an n,'
our allegiance and pledge that OF on
children to the memories OF the souther
cause. and promise our aid TO It's innrn
and helpless defenders.
NO FEELING OF DISLoYALTY.
We are here with no feeling or dis
LOYALTY 10 the flag under which we i've
for we recognize II as the common ma