The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-05-05
Veterans and Sons of Veterans at
Charleston.
GEN. WADE HAMPTON SPEAKS.
A Scene of Widest Enthusiasm Fol-
lows His Patriotic Utterances.
Twenty-Five Hundred Men In the
Line of March.

u SpeCidl W tHo SOluluula otGlS lAoAA
Charleston, of the 2sth, says: A more
ideal day for a street parade could not
have been asked for than that which
favored the Veterans and Sons of Vet
erans today. The rain laid the dust,
and the cold wind dried the streets suf
ficiently to save the old veterans from
walking through slush and mud. The
temperature IVES moderate and there
was just sufficient breeze blowing to
keep the flags and streamers outstretch-
ed, and to refresh the soldiers as they
marched under the bright monday
sun.
The ideal weather was to a great
extent responsible for the magnificent
parade. Seldom has parade wended
its way through the streets of Charles
ton, which excited 80 much interest,
admiration and even veneration. The
thousands of people who lined the
pavements of Meeting street from Cal
houn to Broad streets, frequently gave
vent to their feelings by loud and pro-
longed cheering. 1t was continuous
ovation for the participants of the pa
rade from the time that Gen. Lyon gave
the order Forward march" until the
procession reached the Fourth Brigade
plaza, and the lines were formed within
the Citadel quadrangle.
There were probably $500 men in
line, and the most noticeable feature OF
the parade was the number of old vet
Grams who were out and the many pro-
fessional and business men who spared
the time from their daily routine to
march shoulder to shoulder as they did
years ago.
The crowd at the Citadel was enor-
nous. 1t was perhaps the largest that
has ever assem- bled on the quadrangle
and on the three long galleries running
around the entire length of the quad
rangle.
Gen. Wade Hampton and his escort
were tho last Of those in the parade to
take seats on the platform. He was
greeted with great applause as he
mounted the stand The band played,
men yelled, which was caught up by
the galleries and the old walls of the
Citadel fairly trembled.
Gen. Walker, who presided, the in
few words introduced Gen. Bopham, Of
Anderson, who for fifteen minutes made
most pleasing address.
After Gen. Bonham, Gen. Law spoke.
He was welcomed with shouts and
whoops from the old veterans. His ad-
dress was just to the liking of the vet
erans and several times he was inter
rupted by cheers and applause,
Gen. Wade Hampton was the next
speaker introduced. At the mere men
tion of his name the crowd went wild
and ladies waved their handkerchiefs
in the air as he advanced to the front.
The sponsors, who were seated in the
gallery behind him, literally crowned
him with roses. 1t was perfect water
fall of roses and he was completely
buried beneath shower of flowers. The
effect was very beautiful and took the
old gentleman completely by surprise.
He recovered himself shortly and in
beautiful English thanked the fair
sponsors for their compliment 1t was
some time after this before order could
be restored.
the widest enthusiasm was caused
by the Generals reference to the Cuban
war in the following words: ''My old
comrades, we know what war is. do
not hesitate to say that I regret the one
upon which we are now entering. But
you are South Carollnians; you are
sons of the men who have shed immor-
tai glory on the Palmetto flag in the
past and would rather die than think
that South Carolina would not respond
to the call made upon her for volunteers.
And old as 1 am, can still ride on
horseback and WELD a sword; and if
her quota is not filed, if there is one
name lacking to make it full, I myself
will volunteer. This is our country
and it is our duty to make it the cham
pion OF freedom for all time to come"
The convention of Sons of Veterans
completed its labors this afternoon,
winding up certain routine work left
from yesterday. Resolutions Of thanks
to the Charleston camps and to the
Young Mems Business league and the
public generally were adopted for the
attention shown the visitors.