The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-05-03

" ~ O'' hNl VIC lICCOOlu Suu oGdlG
y rights? In these classic walls ha,
Q been educated many who have not onl
Il honored South Carolina in every wal
e ot lie, but particularly in that mOmer
e tOuS struggle, the memories OF whic
y draw us together this afternoon. O
: this srot was gained the knowledg
, and military experience which mad
HagOOd, Jen6 ms and Law generals i
the Confederate army, and here wa
learned the lessons which fitted ever
} other graduate and hundreds Of eX
cadets to ren-er such splendid servic
TO the Confederate cause. We owt
much to the South Carolina Militar,
Academy, and TO day she opens he
doors to us and welcom, us to he
nome. AS oso Of her graG yates
think can speak for her and say thu
she is proud to have this noble assem-
olagc of Veterans here, that her son,
may learn Of them how to do their full
duty to Carolina.
The time is fast coming when We
must turn over to the Sons Of Veterans
and of Carolina the proud duty Of up
holding her honor. Who in South
Carolina has done more to do this than
those who bear the name Of tho dis
tlnguishcd leader Of the South Caro-
| INA Division, Sons Of Veterans Be-
lore the war, during the war and since
the war the name Of Bonham has been
prc'emincnt in the field and in the
councils OF this State. ! take pleas
ure in Introducing the comm ander OF
the Sons in this State, and one in
whose hands the welfare and honor Of
Carolina viii always BE- upheld"
Cen BOnham made a happy re-
| sponse, and among other things sid ::
When the scene OF the war shifted
to Virginia and the West the sons of
South Carolina and Of Charleston
Illustrated the quality OF their metal
upon every ensanguined field. ZAP
piause.) When conte mplate all that
the Confederate soldier did and suf-
Tered, and the victories that he achi.
eyed. utter the words Of Teuny-
son ON that my tongue could utter
the thoughts that arise in me . TAP
plause) | would that | had it in me to
portray the truth of the story Of the
glory Of the Confederate soldier. (Ap-
plause.) have read Of the great
victories won by other arms under
great difficulties, out challenge the
closest student Of history of wars since
Inc world began to find a parallel to
the achievements Of the Confederate
soldier. (ATplause.) The well-fed
armies of Great Britain the splendid
~ trained armies OF Germany; the
splendid armies OF France have all won
honors; but the Confederate soldier
was half naked and starved, and yet
Tor four years he met the armies Of
great Government, backed by the
power OF the whole world, and wrested
victory from them on every we'll con
tested field. Great applause.) is it |
TO be wondered at that we, the Sous OF
these heroes, prize the record that
they have made and make it our
solemn duty to uphold and protect
that record for the admiration Of all
who honor and love courage and trut ?
count myself most happy that
the rhdeserved kindness OF the Sons OF
Cor 'ederate Veterans OF my State has
laced me in position to speak to you
as their representative. | come here
ours shall be the proud duty and the
holy task to see that history does
justice IN full measure to your records. |
(Applause.) And to see that your
names shall be inscribed upon the roll |
OF patriots who fought and died for
liberty and principle. AS long as you
i've IT shall be our privilege TO pay
you every mark of respect that lies
within our power" (Applause.)
Gep. Il. Nj. Law, OF Florida, who
commanded Il brigade Of Alabamiaus
and is native Of South Carolina, was
the next speaker, and in an eloquent,
touching manner he pictured the |
struggle OF the Confederate armies for
personal liberty and the sovereignty
of the States, the twin pillars Of Ameri- |
can freedom, which have survived the
s.orm OF war and the still rudcr assaults
OF partisan strife.
The last speaker was Gen. Hampton.
aud he was received with Jumultuous
cheering, the men hinging their hats
in the ar and the old soldiers in
dulging TO their hearts content in the
" rebel yell" d n. Hampton said
MIR. Chairman. Ladies and Sponsors
i even put them before the men who
arc cLarcst to my heart, the Veterans,
and think you will excuse me for ad-
dressing the women of South Carolina
first, for they bore more suffering dur.
ing the war than any man, and they
did more to save South Carolina during
her days of degrade tion than all OF the
men in the State put together. Great
applause)
' was very glad to hear my distln-
gui3hcd friend the chairman, say that
nobody would be expected to speak
more than fifteen minutes" (Cries OF
Go on, Gen. Hampton" in the midst
Of which Con. Walker came to the
oio vi wv anu SSlu, W&nU
to say that | never told Gen. Hampton
that" which was received with
cheers.)
my young friend Bonham is very
religious, and | thought that when
you had heard the Law and the Gospel
you would not want to hear any more" :"
daughter and cheers.
A Veteran: General, | want to
hear you know you, and you're all
| right"
My comrades of South Carolina,
| | brought ono thing out Of tho war
that Is dearer to me than anything
else that hold in my memory or
possess on earth, and that is the re.
collection that | have never met since
the war Il man whom | had the honor
to command who could say that ever
treated him uDjustly, and have yet to
meet one wiz did not greet me as
friend. (Chf .IS | thank God Tor Lh at
There are 40 ties on earth except
those sAcred ties Of the family that
bind men closer together than those
that bind men who have stood shoulder
to shoulder on bloody fields. (Ap.
plausc.) | was shoulder to shou d er
with you on almost every field ia Vir
ginia. During that strife gaze all o.
my time, some OF my blood and some
OF my kindred, who were dearer still
to me, and / say to you now, as G Gen