The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-16

1.-The history Of our country, when
compared with that of all the eras
that have preceded us, shows hat our
civilization has produced the highest
class Of men and he noblest type of
soldiers. The very idea of liberty nerves
the soul n fires the heart. Defeat but
e~xasperates, adding desperation to
vigor and energy to determined resolve.
1T was the teaching of fathers and
mothers who fled from the oppression
of caste and class, braved the unfath-
omed ocean and landed upon these
shores, confronted by wild beasts and
savage Indians that the highest hon
and greatest privilege was to fight for
country, it's safety and it's honor.
eff the people of the north excel in
some qualities, it is also true that those
Of the south excel in others. It has
been said that tenacity Of purpose,
thrift and perseverance predOminated
in the northern character. This may
probably be so, but it is also true that
other characteristics are more notice
able among the people of the south"
General Wheeler declared that the
military history of the southern people
has been a prominent feature in his
tory from the first settlement of this
country. He cited Washington and
the other southern commanders of the
Revolution, Winfield Scot and Andrew
Jackson and the other heroes Of the
war with Mexico and then passing to
the war between the states, he said:
The battle-scarred veterans, who,
during four years Of bloody warfare
dazzled the world with the splendor of
their heroism are fast passing away.
The few who remain gather annually
to renew the friendship, which, formed
among such genes, is the warmest
and most enduring. No greater heroes
were in the legl)nS led by Alexander,
Hannibal, Charlemagne, or Napoleon;
for your achievements eXcelled all
theirs.
I'm the greatest battles Of the civil
war, you contended with men of en-
durance, fortitude and courage men
with the same birthright Of freedom,
imbued with the same spirit of liberty,
men who were as co~nScientiously con-
tending for wha- they deemed the
right Of the federal government, as you
for what you just as firmly held 20 be
your rights.
While our civil war, 1 may truth
fully assert, was the most sanguinary
recorded in history, it was also the
most remarkable as in it there was
no element aof personal hostility, and
the, soldiers, IS individuals, could not
in the nature of things, have enter
tanned feelings of hatred for each 9TH
er. They fought, not from revenge not
from malice, not from desire to shed
blood, not from ambition, but simply
because they felt hat there lay the
path of duty. 1t was a war fought to
settle questions that for more than
half a century had been matters of the
most earnest, and I might say, bitter
contention, increasing in intensity un-
til an appeal to the god of battles was
rendered inevitable so that no arbitra-
ment save that of the sword was pos
-;L11 TvH4r Tho cA,,fh rio1d01 II Uro Q
to numbers, battalions, artillery, to the
unlimited of the federal gov
eminent.
THE armies of the south laid down
their arms, but not one iota of their
belief in the truth and justice of their
cause did they surrender. With energy
and determination they met the new
problems confronting them.
Above the carnage, above the wall
of widows and the cry of orphans,
above the deSOlated homes, above the
fields owe grown with new forests,
there arose a new civilization and a
new union, one niche in whose temple
holds a figure whose name shall be
honored throughout the ages. Lee,
whose matchless skill, whose soldierly
spirit, whose wonderful endurance, was
only equalled by the grandeur of soul
which, accepting the fiat Of war, lived
OuI W l@ ~ SiSoN3 NAlS lfOSlOoI l.
recorded in all history for the admira-
ton of posterity.
LAS between the soldiers On either
side, there was no real enmity. Mutual
admiration for each others is
the sentiment Of all brave men, and
with admiration, respect naturally in
creases.
Softened the memories of h conflict,
and side by side, both north and
south have stood together in battle
against a foreign foe.
r 1--WE meet here to cherish n inten-
sify the memory Of the great struggle
in which you were actors. Your devo-
ton to duty, your courage in battle
and your unmurmurlng endurance
was III heritage from your ances-
tors"
General Wheeler touched upon the
question of expansion by declaring
that southern soldiers n southern
statesmen had ever taken a prominent
part in all movements looking to the
enlargement of our territory.
History for all time" he said, "wil
record that it was under southern pres.
idents that we lave wrested from The
wild Indians the greater part of The
S22,3SS square miles, which lay between
our thin lines of settlement on thu
ocean, n the Mississippi river; ant
under southern presidents that we have
added to this domain an area min
times as great as the present area O.
the original thirteen states.
while the various negotiations wer,
being had, and our dominions wer,
being enlarged, adding to the glory o
the country, chiefly through the infu
ence of the southern element most bit
ter opposition was developed in othe:
parts of the union.
cit is a matter OF which the south
ern people may we'll take pride, tina
during all the great progress and ad
vancement off our country, includin,
the armed contest of asst year. an,
which I am glad to say now appears t
be happily ended, no section of GU
land has been more devoted to tn
cause Of our country and to upholdin,
it's honor and prestige than h peopl
Of the southern states
Those upon whom rests the cares
duties and burdens Of government
have encountered no embarrassment
: or complaints o criticism from south