The Columbus weekly dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1902-1905, 1903-10-22
The Crosses Awarded.

I " A44OAA A4OAACA@ AA VIC y NA4A
| the presence of the old soldiers.
The occasion was the presenta-
ton of the Crosses of Honor to
those old Confederates whose
records merlted and entitled
them to this mark of love and af-
lection from a grateful and a
loyal people.
The interior of the immense
auditorium was beautifully dec
GRATED for the exercises. The
chancel was draped with the COL
ors of the Daughters of the Con-
federacy, under whose auspices
the exercises were held, and in
the center on the judges stand
was a splendid likeness of Mis-
sissippi's great cOmmOner, j. z.
George. On either end OF the
stand were the motto and the
banner of the organization, one
inscribed u. d. c." and the
other I'VE stand for Truth. !"
The decorations were extremely
appropriate and gave an air of
patriotism and picturesqueness
to the scene extremely pleasing.
On the rostrum were Mr.. Hamp-
dem Osborne, master of ceremO-
MES, Hon. A. A. KincannOn Hon.
Newman Cayce, Rev. Robt. Barn
well, the Daughters of the Con-
federacy and others who were to
participate in the program, while
in front were the Confederate
Veterans and on either side were
the students of the history of the
College and several classes from
the Franklin Academy and the
people of Columbus and the
county. ~r a~-s-s-.s
The exercises were begun by
a prayer by Rev. RObt. Barnwell,
after which Hon. A. A. Kincan-
non was introduced for a short
address. Mr.. KincannOn stated
that occupying a position whose
duties and responsibilities could
not be easily laid aside, he had
prepared no studied remarks.
His address represented words
from the heart and not from the
mind and he began what was a |
graceful speech. He congratu-
lated the veterans upon being
present to share in the joy which |
came from being honored by |
such fair women and said they |
were entitled to all the hOnors
and all the love and gratitude |
which a grateful and loyal peo-
pie could bestOw. He referred |
beautifully to the service of the |
old soldiers and the part they |
played in forming one of the
most brilliant chapters of the
world S history and said it was a
legacy and heritage given to the
children of the South more price
less and precious than all other
requests of history. He turned
to the portrait of Gen, ]. z.
George and paid a glowing and a
beautiful tribute to his life and |
character both as a soldier and |
as a statesman. He referred to /
his service on the field of battle /
in two wars, with Jefferson Da-
Wis in the Mexican conflict and |
his service in the COnfederacy, a
service of gallantry and distinc-
ton, which enabled him to rise
from a private soldier to the pO- |
sition of one of the generals of
that conflict. He spoke oil
Georges service to the State in |
the Constitution Convention and |
the better educational facilities |
for the children of the State
which it brought and referred to
his solicitude for the history of |
the Confederacy and his desire |
that nothing should be taught in
the public schools which would |
cause future generations to doubt |
the justice of the South's cause.
Mr.. Kincannon stated that as an
educator be had never permitted |
and would never permit any YER
sion of the South's history to be |