The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-26
MEMORIAL EXERCISES.
Rev. J. W. Shoaf Delivers the Ad-
 dress in Opelika.

Opelika. April 25.-(Special. .)-The me- mortal exercises were held here today in stead of tomorrow as the merchants did not want to close their stores on Satur- day The exercises were very brilliant The address by Rev. J. w. Shoaf was a masterpiece of eloquence and oratory. The songs by the choir and the prayers by Drs. Banks and Purser were appropriate to the occasion. There was a great out pouring of the people to pay tribute to the gallant heroes who wrote the record Tor bravery for this world. Business was practically abandoned.
 Dr. Shoaf said among other things:
 NeVer was there more magnificent spectacle in the history of the nations than the devotion of Southern manhood to that just and righteous cause which has been rendered immortal by defeat. For four long weary years, while the prayers of mothers followed their sons. and the tears of tender maidens were poured as a sacred libation upon the altar of love: the world beheid the tragic dis play Of military prowess and skill that eyer marked the 'ootsteps of conuuering legions The victories of a Napoleon, the triumphs of an Alexander and the con- quests of the Caesars suffer complete eclipse before the genius of Lee and Jackson-of Stuart and Johnston and long line of heroic chieftains who ever bore themselves as conquerors rushing on to victory" Our fallen braves, wheth- CT they fell on Alahama's sacred soil or amid the believing thunders of destruc- ton that echoed amid the mountains and valleys of Tennessee or amid the golden grain Of Virginia. or on the blood -stah hled heights of Gettvsburg. fell with their faces towards their foe.
 come not here today to stir up the nnimosities of the past or in any sense to open the chasm between the North and the South. Thank God. today the bloody chasm of the past, is spanned by the royal arch of peace.
 But whilst this is true we have no an tn off for Al,o animated the hearts of our sires and sons in 1861. God speed the day when we shall be accorded the place in history which honor and justice demand As I stand in this solemn presence today, I hesitate not to say that our great South lGhd has found victory n defeat O. ve spirits who once were joined as shield and buckler for the defense of our coun- tism of blood of which ye did drink. ve did emphasize the glory of Southern manhood and chivalry
 Another fruit of our conflict was cm- bodied in the thrilling illustration of the sacred bonds that existed between mas ter and slave. Your fathers marched into battle but your slaves. stood by the stuff left behind and planted and garnered your crops. Father and son answered to the rlairon note of battle but the faithful slave protected the mother and daugh- ter left behind. When we ask you can the like of this he found in the annals If the ages? Such devotion will read in future ages like silver poem from the skies.
 That defeat has been turned into illus trious triumph. we have only to remind you of the marvellous development that has been made in our great Southland since 1865. A race of warriors returned from fields of carnage and addressed N' msclves to the art of peace We had '."thing left but our honor. With ruined 'rmcs and tIastcd fortunes ve were cnn "o7t'' with th" fiery ordeal of rc"1II- .''rr'iom N"t through all this we hay 7'Ched with majestic str tu the eNslt-
 rHmr1it of prosperity which com. I7rds the admiration of the whol, civ flized world.