The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-11
Yesterdnr Mas a sacred dan.

Yesterday was sacred day.
A day consecrated to memories rend-
cred holy through death.
Over the graves of our martyrs, we
wept and with trembling hand bore the
resurrection torehlight of memory back
through the long, silent halls Of thirty
seven years.
And in that lurid light we see our
homes and country wrapt in gloom, and
the heroes of the Southland standing
shoulder to shoulder in last great strug-
gle for a principle to them dearer than
the hearts warm blood.
There was the long line Of gallant
soldiers-North Cardinals thousands
marching onward to meet the foe.
could see it all as the orator swept along
with imnassioned sentence and vivid
word painting A few moments only
'.the boys" stood in stately splendor.
Then there was the fearful goodbye Of
wife and mother and sweetheart and
friend, and they were gone. Wonder is
the broad-tented field with its lighted
camp-iires and watchful sentries. 1t was
all very real, for we now seen something
like it daily.
Now contending armies rush together
and surge against each other like Il mad
dened sea driven by storm.
Such "reminiscences are saddening, but
ii is II sadness tempered with joy. The
exercises meant something. 1t was not
vain pomp and show. There were men
who had taken part in history making
events. There was Il grateful people,
paying the tribute of love and honor,
both to them and to their dead comrades.
In this beautiful Memorial Day obser-
vance were nnmistakable evidences of
the same patriotism which stirred the
hearts of the men and women, both
North and South, throughout that long
and awful struggle in which both sec
tions of our country firmly believed they
were defending with their lives their
constitutional rights.
These are real gatherings, snch as
Raleigh witnessed yesterday, and has
witnessed on every 10th of May for
quarter of Il century. are the express
sion of appreciation of true manhood.
When loving hearts come with tender
hands TO spread flowers above the ashes
Of fallen heroes; when eloquent tongue
recounts in glowing phrase the deeds Of
comrades, it speaks to the world of no
disloyalty to the STARS and Stripes, but
it tells Of that abiding patriotism and
worship of true manhood, without which
there can be no greatness of men or ma
tions.
Never since the inauguration of Me-
mortal Day in North Carolina, has there
been in Raleigh a more beautiful and APP
propriate observance of it than was wit
messed yesterday Several thousand
people were on the streets to see the
parade, and at the cemetery to decorate
tn graves. Never has there been such n
crowd here before on Memorial Day, and
never more impressive exercises.
The exercises began promptly at 3
o'clock in Metropolitan Hall, which was
crowded to its utmost capacity. The
stage which was draped with bunting
and decorated with Confederate and
United States flags, was banked with
roses and cut flowers and cvergreens.
Battle scenes and pictures of Lee and
Grant occupied conspicuous places.
Seated on the rostrum with Col. Bur
gwyn were Governor Russell, Mayor
Russ, Marshal Bradley, Chaplain
Simms, Judge Sper Whitaker, Col.
Thomas s. Kenan, Capt. John H. Thorp,
Judge A. G. Avery. Capt. w. II. Day,
MT. JOSeDh -. lbatcnelOfs MT. n. II.
Stronach, Mr.. \. Il. Capehart and Capt.
c. b. benson.
The programme began with u song by
a choir Of picked voices under the direc-
ton of Mr.. w. S. Primrose. Following
this was prayer by Rev. DIR. A. NJ
Simms, chaplain of the L. OBJ. Branch
camp. He thanked God for the noble
men--the heroes that He has given this
country; he asked that their children
might be noble as they, and that their
example might he an everlasting inspi-
ration. He thanked God for the men
now under arms, and asked that they
might be crowned with victory that
Cuba may be free and the cause of hui
mainly triumph.
After another song came an Interesting
incident not on the programme, the pre-
sentation of silllen banner to the H..
OBJ. Branch Camp by Mrs Il. OBJ
Branch. The speech of presentation
was made by Judge Spier Whitaker
and the flag was accepted by Mr.. A. b.
Stronach, commander of the camp in II
short and most appropriate speech.
In his speech Judge Whitaker paid n