The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-09
which, In many instances, were elabor-
ateiy planned and beautifully carried
Better luck next time, perhaps.
ELOQUENT SPEECuES
OF Welcome and Equally Eloquent
Respnucno a tha rraa,tn,r 4, ~ T.

Responses Mt the Meeting.
The speaking occurred from the
stand erected at the Cathedral High
School corner. on Fourteenth street,
and the exercises began soon after the
arrival OF the organizations In the par
ade. First, the .Tmmunes" marched
Into the Cathedral enclosure and
stacked their arms. The Opera House
band was stationed across the street
from the stand and rendered approprl-
ate selections. q
The meeting was called to order by
His Honor, Mayor Andrew T. Sweeney.
who introduced Rev. DR.. D. A. Gun
bingham, pastor OF the First Presbyter-
Ian church, who invoked the Divine
blessing.
Mayor sweeny then stated the object
OF the meetlng-to express in SUBJ
stantial manner. the appreciation OF
this community Of the devotion to coun-
try and self secrifice shown by the SOL
der boys In answering the call to
arms. If Company G ever had any
doubt OF the esteem In which they are
held In Wheeling, this demonstration
has eradicated that doubt, said the
mayor. To Company G. he returned
the sincere thanks Of this community;
their service was appreciated to the
fullest extent.
Congressman Dovencr.
Mayor Sweeney then introduced as
the first speaker. on behalf of the clti-
zens of Wheeling. Congressman b. b.
Dovener, who said that this nation had
been especially blessed with loyal sub
1ects. at no time has our flag been In
danger and the patriotism OF the ma
tion appealed to without being followed
BY ready response OF men ready to
defend the honor OF the nation, with
their lives II need be. The speaker said
America is supremacy blessed; he be-
lleved that an overruling Providence
has guided our destiny from the begin
ming, and that ours is cradle dedI-
Gated to liberty. humanity and Chris
tan civilization, The Lord put 1t into
the heart of the great navigator to dis
cover this continent; He put Il into
the hearts OF the Pilgrim fathers to
come and build school houses and
churches; He put 1t Into the hearts Of
our ancestors to announce the Declar-
alton Of Independence.
Speaking to the "1mmunes," Captain
Dovener paid them q high tribute.
They had said farewell to mother and
father to answer the call of their coun-
try In Its hour of need. PrlvationS had
been withstood In field and camp. and
these sacrifices had been willingly Of
fered. He took pleasure In welcoming
home this company, OF soldiers OH be-
half of the grandcst, most patriotic
and happy people on the face Of this
earth. Concluding, the speaker said:
From our hearts We welcome you
home. and n grateful people will ever
cherish your memory" Great APP
plause).
Colonel White.
Chairman Sweeney 'eXt introduced
Colonel Robert White. who said:
1T was one of the greatest privileges
of my life to have been chosen to give
to YOU the goodbye of this people.
when, about a year ago, you boarded
the train at the Baltimore & Ohio de-
pot to go to war, in the service OF your
country, and 10 invoke for you the
benedictions and blessing Of the Father
OF us all. Providence has truly an
swered the prayers of the people which
that day were made. He has preserved
you from battle and from bloodshed
| and has tnken. no one can tell why,
but one Of your company to the other
SIDE one dear soldier boy, to be buried
in mighty oceans depths. 1t is to-day
| a grcd. privilege and pleasure to stand
here on this platform, and, in the name
| OF this people, voice their heart warm
| welcome to you upon your return To
| them, to your home and the hearts OF
your loved ones 1t has been told OF
John Howard Payne, the great author
| of the tenderest Words ever written in
| English verse. that when the sweet
| singer, Jennie Lind. sang In Washing
ton, In the hall OF the house OF repre-
| sentatlves. he went to hear her songs
and modestly seated himself far back
In the crowd to listen, and that when
| the songstresS arose, she in tcnderesi
notes, began to sing his great song
| Home. sweet home he broke down
with the feelings that crowded upon his
heart. anG tears. great tears, welled
| from his eyes and tricklcd down his
| cheeks. So, I know whilst you were
far, far away. doing your duty as SOL
d!ers of your loved country, when you
heard the notes of that sweet song fall
from lips. or as played by band, the 81.
lent tear would fall from your eyes
as you thought of home and the loved
ones there. l know, too, that youl
hearts bound with tenderest gratitude
as to-day you can sing that other song
OF home:
| Home again. home again,
From foreign shore,
| Oh! 1t fills my soul with Joy,
To meet my friends once more"
Zone scene I witnessed to-day awak-
ened my memory Of the day when re.
turned to my own home, thlrty-foul
years ago. from war. returned. not as
you do to-day, to be welcomed by re.
| Jolcing people. amid flags flying, music
swelling on the air, and the words Of
friends. who only wanted voice to give
you welcome. but. 4 poor. lone soldier
boy. returning after four long years OF
war and desoation. the soldier of u
lost cause, to be welcomed by the ten.
der love of dear mother. who PRESSED
| me to her bosom. and shed tears OF
love and gratitude, only such as Q
mother can shed. And to-day when
saw the mother OF one of you clasp 70,
to her heart and shed her mothers
tears, my heart was touched with IT.
tenderest memories. and my own eye
lids melted with the tear Of sympathy
Il was told that to-day | had beer
selected 10 represent. upon this occa.
sion. those who In the great struggle OF
thirty odd years ago, wore the grey
whilst my friend, the gallant soldier
Captain Dovener. would so well repre-.
sent those who wore the blue. All
my friends. am glad and proud to rep.
resent my old comrades, and thes,
people here this day. knew when tho
Confederate soldier gave his parole n,
the end of that great struggle. he
meant what he said: knew that he
would return to his home, and turn his
sword into pillow share knew tina,
the old soldier who had been hero
upon many blood-bought battle field
would do what he said. for his parole