The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-30
COL. GREEN'S ADDRESS
DELIVERED LAST NIGHT AT
THE CAPITOL.
MANY OLD SOLDIERS IN THE AUDIENCE
The First North Carolina Cavalry Was the
Model Mounted Comm and in
the Confederate
Service.


Last night in the Commons Hall at
the Capitol Col. Wharton J. Green. of
Fayetteville, delivered an address on the
Life and Services Of General Robert
RANSOM
1t was a carefully prepared paper.
thoughtful, accurate, just-it will he a
valuable contribution to the States war
history.
The audience was composed in great
part of ladies and many old soldiers,
who listened with the greatest interest to
the words of the speaker as he rccounted
the scenes and incidents of other days
scenes and incidents SO well known to
mary of them.
Music was furnished by the Wright
Cornet banda splendid musical or
ganization that added much to the plea
sure of the occasion.
Col. Green was introduced by Mr.. II.
III. Busbee, who said the wisdom of the
ladies of the Memorial Association in
selecting as the subjects of these an
HHdi duuTpSScS the lives anu SERVICES
distinguished North Carolinians had
been indicated in the series of brilliant
sketches that had thereby been produced.
ON this occasion you are especially
fortunate, and to be congratulated on
both the subject you have chosen and
the orator you have selected
Paying a high tribute to General Ran
som, the splendid cavalryman and dis
tinguished citizen, he said:
The orator that comes 10 you tonight
TO speak of him was his friend and will
be faithful and just to him. From the
same county, connected by ties of blood
and bound together by those stronger
INKS known only to comrades sharing
danger, Col. Green is eminently qualified
to speak on the subject assigned him"
Col. Green was greeted with applause
by his audience. After few words of
introduction. he said:
Ladies of the Memorial Association.
Old Comrades and Friends:
/ thank you most cordially for the
honor done me today in bidding Inc
to talk to you of my honored friend
and kinsman. General Robert Ran.
som. This trust could doubtless have
been confded to far ADLER hands. To
none. however, surprising him select
ed in love and admiration for this
truly great soldier and upright gen
tleman.
Seven years ago today the sa me
duty devolyed on me through the par
tally of your sister society of New
bern, where he had lived and passed
his closing hours. Hence. of neces-
sit I an, IN,
the address then delivered. even 10
literal reproduction of many parts
This has been rendered the more inn
perative by severe and protracted
case of the grippe almost ever sincs,
your summons reached me. Hence.
/ crave allowance for all short-coE'
ings today, for | must draw on manu-
script more than memory likewise.
Here is the opening on that occa
sion: -Four Years ago on this recur-
ring anniversary hallowed to patriot
ism and heroic memories, your orator
was he whose eulogy by your bidding
devolves on me today. He gave you
graphic pictures and panoramic of
one of the grandest and most melo-
dramic battles that history will be
ever called on to record. Charles
Lever, by common consent of milf
tary critics, has given in his great
novel of OMalley, the finest descrip-
ton of Waterloo ever published.
Your townsman, General Ransom.
portrayed on occasion referred to,
the field of Fredericksburg, rivalins
in pomp, panoply and numericals the
other, in words scarce less BETTING.
That he was a war actor the world
knew. That he was a war artist his
single effort proved. Such was
Caesar, actor and artist.
When heroes pass the bourne, their
people if worthy to have heroes ever
pay them suitable tribute. Correlative,
thereto. the race that fails therein,
rarely produces. the genuine article.
No account is iken of the nit.kIe-
plated or "Brumagenized" specimen,
the mere throat-cutter on extended
scale. Slayish barbarians can evolve
such as these. as witness Genghis.
Atilla. Alva and Tamerlane. But the
true, genuine broad-gauged world re-
cognized hero is almost exclusive de-
velopment of free born men and we
men.
Great races and critical iunctru2s
bcget great men who adorn their
epochs and honor humanity. Most
prolific of all in such product was the
seven killed. city on the Tiber, and
long centuries later on, the little
island with wooden walls and her
first great trans-oceanic otf-shoot.
Those races inherently great beyond
all others in past and present times.
raised bralny thinkers and brawny
but gentle actors, who taught and il
Illustrated how TO govern others and
the far higher lesson for free people.
how to govern themselves. Such
teacher and actor combined in one is
the quintesence of godlike heroism.
Of such, where can higher type and
more frequent be found in any era
than in the Confederate armies?
Take. forsooth. as highest illustra-
ton. Davis. Lee and Sidney Johnston.
our three ranking leaders. Triumvi
rate of Immortals. without flaw or
speck, Individually never surpassed.
collectively never equalled in any war
by mortalS Waged in attribute here
outlined. Legitimate praise must
needs sounu fulsome to those who