The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-13
MEMORIAL EXERCISES.
THE CONFEDERATE HEROES RE-
MEMBERED YESTERDAY.
Imposing and Interesting Exercises
AZ Oakda1e Cemetery-Fine Address
by the Rev. DIR. WeIIs-The Cross Of
Honor Awarded to "a Number of
Veterans.

exercises at Oakdale cemetery. Cape
Fear Camp, No. 254. L. c. V, Geo.
Davis Camp, sons OF Veterans, the
Third North Carolina Infantry Asso-
citation, the Wilmington Light Infantry
and the Naval Reserves participated.
The Daughters of the COnfederacy,
tine Veterans. Sons of Veterans and the
military formed a procession at the
cemetery lodge and headed the Sec
-ond Regiment Band under the leader
ship of Prof. James f. Wilson. and
Prof. c. W. HOllOwbush. proceeded to
the Confederate monument enclosure.
The procession was under command of
MI. Clayton Giles. chief marshal for
the occasion, and it moved to the en-
closure While tie band marched at the
head playing he Dead March, from
Saul.
The monument had beer decorated
with roses and beautiful flowers taste
fully arranged about the base. In the
arms OF the soldier statue on the mon
ument was a Confederate battle flag,
while small flags were stuck around
the base of the monument, giving it a
typical Confederate appearance.
The stand 1Lside the enclosure was
also decorated with flowers and flags.
n after the procession had gathered
in the enclosure, the stand was occu-
pied by the orator of the day, Rev.
John Nj. Wells. Phi. D., pastor of the
First Presbyterian church, the chap
lain, Rev. John NJ. Cole, of Grace NJ. E.
church, and Marshal Clayton Giles.
After a dirge by the band, Mr.. Cole
delivered & beautiful and touching
prayer, followed with the impressive
singing Of Nearer My God to Thee"
beautifully accompanied by a cornet
1uartette.
Mr.. Giles then introduced DR.. Wells
In a few we'll timed remarks.
DR.. Wells spoke, in part. as follows:
Ladies of the Daughters of the Con-
fedeacy, Veterans of our glorious
cause, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Il appreciate most highly the honor
you have done me in giving me this
privilege. To stand as speaker on such
an occasion as this, to occupy a posi-
ton that only veterans have occupied.
this is indeed an honor for which l
thank you. And imperfect as my effort
may be, remember this. If my mind
could frame a message and my lips
speak words half mem to the
hove my heart feels for our cause and
the honor that floods my soul for it's
brave defenders, you would then not
regret the choice you had made.
THE fact that you have turned aside
from your usual custom in having a
veteran here and a put forward the
son of a Uafpran horn and roaro1 cinnc
he fierce struggle, gives me the key
to my choice of a subject today.
You veterans know the cause well:
To yOu the cause of hat conflict are
familiar. The history Of it's fierce and
bloody struggle is craven on your very
soul. The men who fought by your side
are your brothers. made so by the bap.
tism of blood. You know their worth
The leaders who led you so often &c
victory are your heroes. tested, tried
and true
And now, it seems to me you turn
to the younger generation; a generation
that has come on since the war. y
generation un~influenced by the fever
heat in which the war was begun: un
biased by its passions; ~unwarped by its
glamour; unwrung by it's blood anG
tears.
And of this generation, 1 seem t
near you Isl the question What thinE
w "a IN "a WAN ASAcAA 49,
clouded with the smoke OF the conflict
you who can look with the eye Of his,
tory; o who begin to see the conflict
and to judge it somewhat as the coming
generations win see and judge it. Was
our cause a just one? 1 hear you ask
Was our conduct Of the conflict honor
able? What think you of the men who
bore the burden? What think you OF
the ohieftains who led US?
And here at this sacred time al
haIlowed memories; here by the grave:
of our honored dead; as a son of a vet
eran and a representative OF he younE
men of the south, / will try to bring ar
answer: will try n tell you what w
young men think of the cause and o.
che struggle.
list. What of the cause. you ask
Does the young south think the Gauss
for which we suffered a worthy one
Or does it regard the blood and tears
the suferings and privations; the sor
rows and death We ndure as haVin;
been wasted?
THE answer / shall bring is not
hasty one. Fol- years as students q
history. we have tried to find the trut'
in this matter. There is somethln'
dearer to many of us than traditions @
memories: than passions or p~reJuGlceS
and that is truth. We have sought
find that truth. not upon the pages A"
prejudice but in the original dOcumelt-
And now, by the side of the grave o
those who died for this cause; in tn
hearing Of those who poured out thei
blood ~unstinted for this cause: in tn
sight Of those who at bone suffered
and endured untold privations for thi
cause: with this generation OF younge
growth here tn needs to be taught o
this cause: yea, in the sight OF tn
great God of truth, who weighs on
words and sits in judgment, the youn!
men of the south can say, from tn
very depths of their hearts: The caus
for which you fought vas right; we De
1ieve it; it was right
DR.. Wells then discussed the right o
secession and made a fine argumenta
tive and logical defense of n south Il
taking the position that the right o
secession was reserved in the conStltu
ton. and speaking to the veterans n
said: Your Interpretation of the con
stitution was the correct one" He re
called the practical secession of Rhod
Island in 17S6-1790; the distinct reserva
ton Virginia made of her right (
rifhdraw- the threats Of New Englanl