The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY,
WHEELER SPEAKS
Gallant Ex Confederate Ad-
dresses Grand Army Men.
HE'S THE GUEST OF HONOR
AND BOSTON DELIGHTS TO HON
OR HIM.
TRIBUTE TO HEROES WHO FELL IN CUBA
General Joe Talks Of the Reunited County, and
Urges Support If the Government.
Memorial Day Exercises at
Other Cities.

time an eX-officio of the Confederacr
today delivered the Memorial Day eX-
ercises before a New England Grand
Army Post. General Joseph Wheeler,
the cavalry leader who led the boys
in gray at the famous charge at Shi-
loh and, nearly 81 years later, be-
meath the Stars and Stripes, cheered
on the volunteers at Santiago, was
the orator and guest of honor at the
Memorial Day services of Kinsley
Post 113, q. A. r., at the Boston
Theatre. The immense auditorium
was filled to it's utmost capacity.
The singing of the Battle Hymn
of the Republic" by Comrade Myron
M. Whitney and chorus, and the
presentation to the audience of it's
author Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, called
forth tremendous burst of applause.
Rev. John Linsey Withrow offered
prayer and addresses were delivered
by Commander /. B. Goodrich of Post
113 and others.
Presidents Lincoln's address at
Gettysburg was read by 4Comrade
James ID. Leatherby, and the post
chaplain's address was made by Rev.
f. A. Horton.
When General Wheeler arose TO
speak the applause was tumultous,
cheer upon cheer arose from thou
sands and it was nearly fifteen min
utes before the General could make
himself heard.
General Wheeler opened his speech
with an eloquent tribute to the part
Il. Il, No., -. 41&N l.
tory of the American commonwealth,
whose soldiers had played conspicuous
parts in all its wars and whose states
men had ever been famous in the halls
of Congress. He alluded to the
prophecy of, General Horace Binney
Dargent. who 80 years ago, on Me-
mortal Day in the city of Boston, pre-
dicted the day would come when this
anniversary would be celebrated ''af
ter some day of glory when the sons
of rebels and our sons shall have fall
en- side by side in some common
cause of foreign war, as our sires and
their sires fell side by side under the
eye of the great rebel, the -Nirginian,
Washington"
Already said General Wheeler,
''the words of this prophecy have
Dcen lOT the WdIIlOIS W liO
fell side by side at La Guasimas, San
Juan and El Caney, men from the
North and South, among them some
of your brave boys from the Second
Massachusetts, were buried together
in the great national cemetery at
Arlington, while a brave Federal of
ficer who took part in the great
struggle of our civil war and now the
r Al H., 1,iC
presence conferred honor upon their
funeral obsequies.
Continuing, General Wheeler said:
''The enjoyment of peace is a bless
ed boon to humanity. but the history
of the world from it's earliest period
teaches that the only security for
peace is to be always prepared AMI
ready to engage in War. The nation
whose people are ready to respond
to call to arms with men and re-
sources for any emergency, is the one
that shall most certainly be able to
avoid the desolation and horrors OF
war. So long as the dominant spirit
which controls any country is one
of honor, chivalry, glory and patriot
ism so long will that nation continHc
to achieve power and greatness. The
spirit of true nobility taught by Am
erican mothers has made our country
the pride and fear of the verdi
Declaring that it was the duty of
every American to uphold the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet when il has he
come thoroughly committed to a
defined policy. General Wheeler said:
patriotic devotion can be exercised
by volunteering to serve in the field, 1
but it may also be most perfectly en-
erted in encouraging confidence
among our people at home. Certain
ly no good and only evil can come
from words and acts which tell rival
nations that even a portion of our
people. however few, are not in full
sympathy with our government or
what is worse. that any Americans
actually do sympathize with our coun-
try's enemies. Such a course cannot
fail to weaken confidence and eInbar-
rass the executive power. Thos, who
insist that the power of the United
States is so great that it mus. always
triumph will admit that difficulties
or obstacles created by some or our
own people will have the effect of re-
tarding at least in some degree the
prompt and happy restoration to per-
feet and lasting peace.
Il am one of those who firmly be-
lieye that whatever is, is right, and