The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-20
Can't. II. =. Parks Delivers an eloquent
Grafton in Memory OF Lee

N TAR tIhI.
Can't. II. =. Parks Delivers AN Eloquent
Oration IN Memory of Lee
The annual camp fire OF Lee camp was
held last night in honor OF the Dirthuay
OF General robert Il. Lee.
There was a large number OF Elehlpvla
NJ the camp present ana many Visitors.
including a number of ladies'. some VI
those in attendance were Senators me-
zeI. Lowry, SoIthall and 81. Clalr, Dec
gates GalIeher. Hale, SurgenoI, biahc-
more. Fitzpatrick. James W; Mnndnns'
Charles Smith, Wharton, 1. II. jennings
In the absence OF Commander Laugh
ton. who has gone TO Lynchburg 10 1T
tend the meeting of the AdvlsOry Couh-
ell. First Lieutenant Commander \. T.
The proceedings were opened by the
singing of praise God from whom an
blessings flow" and Comrade }. Taylor
Ellyson offered prayer.
TBLEGRAPHIC G~REETlNGS-
The following telegram was read by
Washington. d. e.. Jan. 10, lSsS.
r.. z. Lee Camp. No. ]. G. ", Richmond,
Va:
of Washington. assembled 10 honor the
name of our great leader. General X. r..
Lee. send Owing greetings 10 their com
rades of Richmond and remember win
them a VOW to keep green his memory
ROBERT 1. FLEMING.
President.
Adjutant J. Taylor Stratton telegraphed
the following reply:
Richmond. Va. Jan 10, 1SgS.
Colonel Robert !. Fleming. President Con-
federate Veterans Association, Wash
ingtOn, d. c.:
r r Lee Camp. Confederate Veterans.
reciprocates your kindly greeting and
pledges eternal fidelity to the memory
u oU' ''' 4. c PEAY.
Lieutenant Commander Commanding.
CAPTAIN PARKS ADDRESS.
Captain r.. 5. Parks. member OF the
House Of Delegates from Page county.
was introduced as the orator of the eVe~
ING. He was given a most cordial re-
ception. and his splendid address was
frequently punctuated with applause. lie
SPOKE as follows.
Borne on the rapid ~tireless wings Of
time nearly ~thirty-three years have pass
ed since guns were stacked. flags were
furled. and the southern soldier. with
heavy heart. turned his steps hOmeward.
But with every recurring sDring-time the
people throughout the Southland upon
such days. and at such places as may be
fixed. meet together. streW the graves OF
the dead soldiers with flowers, each feel
ing that whatever part he may perform,
he is engaged i'm a work made obligatory
by a lOliN SENSE OF ldlllpli~ll. AS-ptld-
TONS Of various names have been formed.
all of which have for their object the
cOmmemOratiOn of the Confederate dead
and the keeping green in the minds OF the
rising generation all that pertains 10 the
Struggl in which the blood OF the south
was poured out like water. Here we meet
to-day I'm the far-famed city Of Rich
mOnd. whose every street has been trOd-
den bV armed men. whose adjacent fields
have been crimSOned bV the blood of her
CONS and whose historic hills have echo
ed and re-echoed with the scream of shot
and she'll as they sped on their mission
of death mingled with the shout Of vic
tory or the yell of defiance.
How suggestive such occasion. These
gatherings of the people OF the South 10
decorate the graves OF those who dled
i'm defense Of the Southern cause and 10
commemorate the deeds Of ValOr Of an
army whose banners went down in an un-
successful struggle. constitute the sub
FINEST and vet most remarkable spectacle
that the world has ever seen. Were these
men rebels against constitutional govern
ment2 If they were. then IL would be
treason i'm us to honor their memory. vim
dicate their principles. and praise their
deeds. They were not rebels and the
world will yet know it. and accord to
them their need as patriots.
THE SOUTH'S CONTENTION.
For what did the South contend? Time
would not suffice nor would II be apprO-
pirate TO give i'm detail the causes that
lead up to the war nor TO discuss the va
rious issues that arose which produced
bitter feelings and stirred up sectional
animOsities. ] assert That the South
fought for the preservation OF individual
liberty and a right Of local s~elf-govern-
ment. which we honestly believed were
endangered by the usurpation OF power
by the Federal government ana Il ten
dency 10 Capitalization and the ultimate
destruction Of the autonomy OF the
States.
The germ OF free institutions Is IN the
personal consciousness Of the individual
man, that he is born into the world as a
creature Of God with responsibility 10
Him for the proper use of his God-Siven
powers and that TO work out mis- personal
destiny upon This personal accountability
he needs to be free from the CONSTANTS
with which despOtism would bind his
body, mind. heart and conscience.
When the man has this idea planted in
his soul. il becomes a moral force which
breads treason to the Almighty Sovereign
more than all the threats OF human au-
thority. and makes resistance to tyrants
obedience to God. The personal right of
the man to his liberty Is asserted from his
deepest self-consciOusness against the
government that would abridge or destroy
II. The great battle that was fought by
our fathers at the formation OF the Fed
cral constitution in l1SI. was for the pro-
lection Of this right of self-gOvernment.
md in opposition to the Capitalization of
power in the Federal head. They believ-
ed that GENERALIZATION or power IN the
general government would show itself I'm
a too great tendency TO control. regulate
and direct the industry and enterprise of
the irdiVidual man. They believed that
such a GENERALIZATION Of power would
build up a paternal government, the pa
tria potestas OF ancient despOtism. and
merging the man into the mass and Ii
recting the destiny of all. would sacrifice
the interest of the toiling. hOmestaying
citizen TO the grasp and greed of the few
faWning parasites, whO crowd the lobby
and swarm the corridors OF legislative
bodies. They believed hat paternity in
government would beget class legislation.
and instead of leaving each man 10 enjoy
the fruits OF his own toll. would pool the
earnings of society upon which TO fatten
its favorite children in palaces of splendor
while IL would siarve its foundlings in
novels OF squalor and misery.
FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
II was for local self-government az en-
BODIED i'm the doctrine of States rights
as We had learned IL from our fathers
that the South fought. IL had grow n
with our growth, stree gthened with our
strength and become the very warp and
wool OF our nation. To as IL was a prin-
ciple. not a shadowy sentiment. but a
principle whose foundations were deep
down below the grasp OF political earth
quakes and whose spires pierced the stars
beyond the sweep OF storms Of fanaticism.
The bitter feelings and sectional animosi-