The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-28
LARGE AUDIENCE HEARD
ABLE MEMORIAL ADDRESS.
sons History Did Not Present
Facts ImpartiaIIy.

Mr.. Wright Declared Woodrow Will
sons History Did Not Present
Facts ImpartiaIIy.
The annual Memorial Day address
was delivered by Anton P. Wright,
Esq. at the Guards Hall last night to
an audience which taxed the seating
capacity of the hall. The address was
masterfully delivered, and it's senti-
ment touched a responsive chord in
the hearts of his hearers.
The feature of his address was his
attack upon the History of the Ameri-
can People, a recent work by Wood
row Wilson, president of Princeton
University and a Southern man, which
he declared while purporting to give
an impartial history of the strife be-
tween the states, gave only one side
of the picture in recording the history
of the treatment received in the pris-
ons in the two sections, and utterly
ignored the other side.
Mr.. Wright declared that it was far
from his intent to revive the animosi-
ties engendered by the. war, but main
tanned that the Southern people should
not stand mute under any charge
which falsifies their history and ira
duces their honor. Mr.. Wright was
frequently interrupted by applause,
and the prolonged applause which fol-
lowed his address plainly spoke the ap-
probation with which it was received.
mo word Which l may utter" said
Mr.. Wright, "can add one cubit to the
stature of the Confederate vet
eran, for of the deeds done in
the body, every foot of ground
made consecrate by their blood is mute
ly eloquent and every field where they
fought and fell is a lasting memorial.
The brief praise of friend or the transit
tory calumny of foe never yet gave JUS
tice to an unjust cause or robbed valor
of it's heroic part. From the passion of
the passing hour and the bitterness be-
got of hard-earned victory, the Confed-
crate soldier, enduring all things and
sacrificing all things, turns to the calm
light of some after-day when in sober
ness and truth it shall be written of his
cause that none was ever more just and
of his sufferings none were ever more
heroic.
ITO you, their comrades, day like
this is full of memories. Memories of
those bright hopes which attended the
dawnng of a new nation, memories of
the tears that witnessed it's passing;
memories of those mighty conflicts in
which you played your honored part,
memories of those great leaders whose
very presence was the inspiration of
victory. Perhaps, in the memory of
soHae of you who sit before me tonight
again the intrepid figure of Gordon
rides across the field. Perhaps another
summons up in his minds eye that
calm and resolute face, that gentle and
pure spirit which found deaths royal
purple in the lines at Chancellorsville
Perchance another recalls the night
after that dreadful day at Sharpsburg.
From the depths of the night come
again the groans of the wounded and
from the dark spaces beyond, the name
less odors of the battlefield. Upon the
high road to the Potomac, still mount
ed, stands out a solitary figure. From
every quarter of the field, the weary
leaders of that fateful day ride in, re-
port and advise retreat; but one in
domitable heart is still defiant; turning
to them he rises erect in his stirrups
and declares in words that still stir the
heart like a trumpet note, Gentlemen,
we will not cross the Potomac tonight.
If Mcclellan wants to fight in the
morning. l will give him battle again.
Co. And so they ride away and leave
their great commander again alone in
the stiffness of the night; him of whom
II has been said that he was the most
stainless of earthly commanders, and,