Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-27
NO NORTH, NO SOUTH
Patriotic Sentiment Of This
Memorial Day.
ORATORY AND FLOWERS
Angry ON Account of Captain Hopes
Defeat Troops at Fort Mon
roe. Other Local Items
-.... of Interest. ..... 4

A drizzling rain set in at noon yes
terday, making a change In the pro-
gram Of exercises for Confederate Me-
mortal Day necessary. AT o'clock the
people assembled in the courtroom in
stead of the public square and listened
to eloquent speeches by we'll known
men. The chamber was packed. many
of those present being women, who by
the way. always take lively interest
in these impressive May time ceremo-
MES.
Shortly before O'clock the Confed-
crate Veterans. commanded by J. W.
Richardson, marched from their hall
on King street to the courthouse. close
ly followed by Commander Ransone
at the head fthe Sons of Confederate
Veterans, fifteen of whose members
left here last Friday for Cuba Each
man wore the white hat and gray coat
adopted by the organization and in his
hand carried a bunch Of flowers. Music
was furnished by the Phoebus drum
and bugle corps. The veterans walked
slowly up the middle aisle in the court
chamber to seats reserved for them
within the bar enclosure. AccOmmoda-
tons We're also provided for the
Daughters of the Confederacy
Commander Richardson called the as
semblage to order a few minutes past
4 O'Clock and delivered a brief address
in which he referred feelingly to those
upon whose graves the people Of
Hampton were again called together
for the purpose OF casting flowers and
at the same time recalling their deeds
of valor on the field of battle. Com
mander Richardson then introduced
the Rev. DR.. A. 3. Woodfn, pastor Of
the Hampton Baptist church, and
chaplain of Lee Camp, who spoke
briefly. but touchingly Of the Confed-
crate dead and of their zeal in the
cause for which they gave their lives.
He then offered 4 fervent prayer, at
the conclusion of which Captain ]. w.
Storrs, of York county. was presented
as the representative OF the veterans.
Captain Storrs read his address, which
was entirely different from any Memo
rial Day Grafton ever delivered here.
The heroic achievements of the South
ern soldiers during the five years of
war between the states. were set forth
in verse. a novelty in the way Of ora
tory which greatly pleased his audi
ence. Twenty minutes or more were
consumed In reading it, and the Daily
Press regrets that it has not the space
to present it in full. The poem touches
upon almost every phase of the long
and bloody conflict. treats of the lead
ing battles in which Virginians fought
and fell, extoles the virtues and hero
ism Of long list Of great leaders of
"
will be proud and tenderly wreaths
the brows of their Federal adversaries.
1t closes with q benediction upon those
whom the war robbed of all that they
held dear and rejoices that the time
has come when all the land is at
peace.
Professor Dudly r. Cowles. who spoke
for the Sons Of Confederate Veterans,
was then introduced. He said in part:
We are assembled here today to
perform a duty pleasing to every true
Confederate: yea. I may venture TO
say pleasing to every patriotic citizen
Of our country; for. though thirty-six
years ago we stood diviued on the
question OF state rights. yet today we
stand together as one nation. knowing
no North. no South. no Feast. no West,
yet there lies deep in the heart Of every
true Confederate the same convictions
for which our fathers died.
Your sires died for your state. Shall
they be condemned for placing their
hands in hers. and kneeiing at her feet,
when she lovingly called them to her
side? What was this state for which
they died? 1t was a. commonwealth
older than the Union Of the United
States: it was the scene OF the first Or
ganized resistance to English tyranny;
it was the cradle of American liberty:
it was the birthplace of Washington,
Of Thomas Jefferson, the author of the
declaration of independence: of Pat
rick Henry, whose flaming tongue first
dared to defy the English crown; 1T
was a state rich in all that was brave.
pious and noble. and arond it's history.
like a harlowed benediction, lowered
the deeds OF Americas greatest sons.
Such was the state for which they
fought. Soon there will be left none
to tell their story. AS the last veteran
crosses the river, with slow but mar
tlal tread ascends the hill that TO Det
ter land, fancy can hear the agonS1o
ing question: Who will tell my st,tS
"Ours is the duty to learn that 49,
ours is the privilege of preservi,s enaL
record untarnished; ours is Il. nonor
| of handing down to posteritY ene liue
| history OF the civil war; anGn We rs
fuse to do our duty we are worse 'n IN
unworthy sons; we are tr>i.o1s -
trust committed to our leep,ns. Us
! it is to press forward 'he o ~
| Excelsior, ringing on ire "is M
morning, with fearless 2eal a .ts,,nn
ZION in the great brtle of re Whlch
shai, not onIv .llu-ine the nistorlc
| page, but shall le.ee 10 ,arad sb.ned
| country honoretth niood os har cn,,n-
and stamped
| trymen. a ne tha C~onfaderacv var,
Daugns ever inspiring. Your SIM
pressneceee Of placing flowers upon the
PIE each year is beautiful and ex-
sIan5e. Such a deed within itse.f'
pssaks your praises and your vir-
pes manifesting as pre-eminently dis
,u.yed in those traits of female char
Ter which so beautify and adorn your
lex, and which SO fifty prepares you
for alleyiating the ills of human life to
which man is constantly subjected,
and to which he so often becomes
prey, bereft of your aid and influence.
'Ah! brave Confederate Veterans.
you stand today as living representa-
tives Of the noblest band of soldiers
that ever trod the field of battle. See
ing your constitution destroyed, you
sought to establish it;seeing your state
| sovereignty snatched from you, you
f.ught to recover it; seeing your homes
INVADED. you fought to defend them;
ieeing your history dishonored, you
lnsheathed a sword that has crowned
your country with glory. lour noble
hearts today are like muffied drums
beating funeral marches to your