The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-12
DAY AT NITTRELL
DIR. Hufham Surpassed Even Himself
A Truly Great Speech.

Kittrell. n. c.. May 11.-(Special)-
The deepest interest was shown in the
memorial exercises here yesterday. The
weather was perfect and the attendance
large and thoroughly representative of
the best people in Vance county. The
Vance Chapter Daughters of the Con-
federacy and others from Henderson
participated, being entertained by Mrs
o. w. Blacknal Mrs. De Forest kindly
rendered the use of the spacious and cle
giant dining room in her hotel. thus con-
tributing largely to the success of the
occasion. The cold winter. hate spring
and recent heavy hailstorms at Hender
son, which patriotic town has ever up
held kittrell in this good work. made
flowers scarce. But gardens. woods and
fields for miles around were ransacked.
and enough flowers found to convert
every mound in our beautiful cedar
circled cemetery into Il bank of flowers.
The speakers have rarely been equal
led. and / believe never surpassed on Il
like occasion in North Carolina. The
writer has attended them regularly
since 1870. Wade Hampton spoke ut the
erection of the first Confederate monu-
ment in Raleigh, or perhaps the State,
and those yesterday surpassed in power
and effectiveness any that he has yet
heard.
Mayor W.kB. Shaw introduced the
orator in Il short impromptu speech,
original in thought and classic in form.
a brilliant cxordium led up to the eli
max in which. dcprccating his own
efforts, he yielded the floor to one of
the Graechi." DR.. Hufhan.
This eloquent gentleman to whose call
tears and laughter are alike obcdicnt
stirred the hearts of our people as they
have not been stirred since that grand
enthusiasm Of the early sixties. He
broke fresh ground and opened up new
paths for thought and feeling The note
was one of joy and triumph not of sad
ness and regret. The Confederate
spirit was physically defeated.
but it morally triumphed. The
great battle for the constitu
ton and State rights. and for white
supremacy, apparently lost, was really
won at Appomattox. History, the logic
of events. the great trend of world
thought had already proven that the
South was right. Every page of Ameri-
can history that the hand of time is
unraveling. i'll Cuba. in the Philippines
and at home is proving the fact and the
necessity of the supremacy of the white
race.
Could this speech be widely read or
at any rate widely heard, as it was
delivered here it would, | believe he
epoch making But the good Doctor
speaks, not from effort. but overflow
and, l hear, hates the pen. And all the
more pity it is. For all too few know
the real greatness of this man.
The speech may have been too
optimistic. but it was a grand and in
spring optimism.
The Rev. Mr.. Ayirett offered the
prayer. eloquent and touching. To this
patriotic gentleman we owe that Me
moral day is observed here. He started
it, enthused our people and established it
to stand. To him we owe the marking of
the Winchester graves and many other
good works in this line than we can
yet realize. Rev. Mr.. Alfred pronounced
the benediction.
Among the welcome and appreciative
visitors was Mr.. Manning of the Gold
Leaf, from its inception a strong friend
of the Confederate monument at kittrell.
The rendition of ''DiXie" and ''Mary
land. My Maryland by Mrs. G. II. Will
Hams and others was memorable fea-
ture Of the occasion.