The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-11

hONii& StNi ~
a right 70 be proud Of their heroic strain
IL IS Just we Southern folk
As an Englishman is proud to-day Of
"inheriting tho traditions OF Crecy and
Of Agincourt' OF the Nile and Of Trafal-
ear-as he is proud that he belongs TO
the breed OF men who stood on the ridge
of Aibuera and went down in the Birk-
enhead-so we Southern men should be
forever proud that we are OF the blood
of the men who, in every crisis OF our
national history. have writ their names
at the top" in crimson letters In the
very "Rubric of Freedom
Let who will call It Southern Drag
ging" and Southern provincialism. but
when Americans in vague and general
terms boast the glories OF our COM
mon country" | hold II 10 he only
proper pride that bids me, as Virginisn.
remember that II was Virginian-
George Mason (great-grandsire OF our
Fitz. )-Who drew the immortal Bill Of
Rights" that IL was a Virginian-Rich-
ard Henry Lee-who FIRST moved In the
Continental Congress that these Colo
noes are and OF right ought TO be free
and independent States" that it was
observation-disclosures Jefferson-who draft
ed the Declaration of Independence.
and that II was that glorious rebel and
great Virginian-George Washington
who made 1t good by his sword.
SOUTHERN MEN THE LEADERS.
And turning from craftsmanship IN
arms. surely tbs the same proper pride
that bids us southern men remember that
in every war waged in this country. from
the Colonial wars against the French and
Indians, down 10 1861. this whole Ameri-
can people ever looked to men OF south
ern blood as their natural leaders: that
in the Revolution, as ! have said. 1t was
a southern man who with his good
blade. carved out the freedom Of the
western world. and with that splendid
galaxy of Virginia patriots, who look
down upon us in impershaole bronze
from yonder noble monument hard by
the Capitol led the new nation out OF
the narrow bondage Of royal tyranny into
tho broad sunlight OF republican freedom;
that Il was to a southern man ana MS
little handful OF intrepid Nirginians that
the nation owes 1.-THE winning OF the
West" that it was three southern SOL
diers in the war of 1872 who retrieved the
disasters that befell the American arms
OF land-one yonder at New Orleans.
where. with his "truSty hunters from
Kentucky" behind their cotton bales, he
hurled back in rOut and disaster the
flower of Englands veteran infantry
fresh from historic fields IN Spain, where
time and again they had wrested victory
from NapoleOn's eagles; still another at
Tippecanoe. i'm the Northwest. ana YET
another far 10 the northward, where ris-
ing above the teaching Of the schools,
he defeated the veteran tac'icians OF Eu-
rope on the plains OF Chippewa, and
DO h0flV-
contested heights Of Lundy's Lane; that
It was a southern man who won the hrst
Seminole war. and vet another in the
second. who, after the bootless eXpendl-
ture of millions Of money and repeated
disaster. pushing his way with lnhnlte
wariness. courage. endurance. through
the tangled swamps OF Florida. crusheo
forever the power Of those fierce savages
bv the gloomy waters of Lake Okeecho-
bee. that in the war with Mexico, both
armies OF invasion were commanded by
southern men. and more than half the
troops engaged were from Southern
States. and that from that thrice-glorious
day at Ruena Vista. where Colonel JEFF
ferson Davis. by his brilliant tactical
manoeuvre broke the serried battalons
of Santa Anna, down to the last scene
I'm the stirring dramatic daring esca-
lade Of Chapultepec. where southern
man was first in the breach-the whole
story Is in chief measure the story or
southern skill and southern valor.
BAGLEY THE FIRST LIBATION.
And even in this present war with
Spain. brief as has been the time or ac-
five operations. we canot forget that the
first libation offered by America on the
altar OF Cuban liberty was the brave,
young blood OF Bagley. OF the "Old N0rth
state" and that within the past week
the noblest traditions Of the heroic days
of the American navy-the days OF Deca-
tur and Hull. of Prebie and Bainbridge-
have been revived and perpetuated by
the cool and desperate daring OF Hooson
Of Alabama in running his unarmored col
Ner past the whitening Gre of the Nor
no" and sinking her with scientific accu-
racv across the narrow passageway lead
ing into Santiago de Cuba. thus booming
n destruction the ironclads Of the chiv-
alric Cervera.
AS Marshal Ney said when he
saw the beardless young French
conscripts rushing in all the Joyous valor
OF their youth upon the Russian guns al
Weissenfels &C est dams lie sang! C'est
dams je sangi" ITS In the blood It's in
the blood"
We do not know when or now Cuba -
70 be wrested from the Spaniard.
We Only knc that it will be done.
And of yet another thing are we sure
that IL those lads who on Sunday last
marched away. sped with smiles that
changed to tears" shall find "a place In
the picture near the flashing ofthe guns
with Fitzhugh Lee at their head. VIZ
inia true TO the proud traditions OF her
mighty past, will prove herself as or yore
FIRST In war" as In the palmy days OF the
young republic she was 50 long 'hrst in
peace" and that the whole nation
knowing no North. no South, no East,
no West-bearing the victors wreath
will han the grandson of Light Horse
Harry as ne sheathes his good blade in
triumph. will hail our own dashng ''old
Fitz" as ''hrst in the hearts of his coun-
trymen."
Col McCabe's words were received with
much applause and then Captain Lamb
was introduced. as representing the
Camp upon the occasion.
CONGRESSMAN LAMB SPEAKS.
He spoke in his well-known graceful
style. and said that he was only too glad
to accept the honor. but that as he had
only had a short while In which to pre-
pare himself he would only say a few
words In receiving the splendid portraits
OF the distinguished gentleman whom ne
knew ard loved 20 we'll
1--WE TOO often wait until our friends
ana comrades are beyond the reach of
praise or cengure before we appreciate
their worth, or pay Just tribute to their
worth and service" he said. Il am glad