Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-09-23
THE 'S0RS" NIGHT.

THE ''S0RS" NIGHT.
THE DAUGHTERS RECEPTION Lo-
QUENT PASSAGES FROM ADDRESSES
OF BRAXTON AND DUKE.
The veterans at the Lynchburg re
union followed the precedent inangu
rated by the committee of arrange
ments when the Grand Camp met il
StauntOn four years ago. of giving the
Sons of Veterans one session for them
selves exclusively. Al it proved then
and has been at every annual reunion
in Virginia since as very interesting,
the occasion was the most entertain.
ing and Impressive part of the Lynch
burg meeting. The sons proved them
selves mobile sons of honored sires. y
and bringing upon the platform all
the sponsors and maids in bright and
attractive array introduced them to
the applauding audience, while the
veterans resigning the conduct of the
entire session to the sons. sat in front
of the stage and enjoyed the pretty
picture and the eloquent speakers.
The ''Sons" Chaplain, Rev. 8. R.
Watson of Berkeley, opened with pray
|er. Mr.. Arthur H. Jennings, Com
mander of the Lyhchburg Camp of
Sons. introduced State Senator w. W..
Sale, Commander of the Virginia Di-
vision, who eloquently responded.
Hon. Don 2. Halsey of Lynchburg,
made a handsome address of welcome.
and Judge r. 7. w. Duke of Char,
lottesville. responded with one of the
most striking addresses which has been
heard on similar occasion. Hon.
Edwin P. Cox of Richmond intro
duced the young ladies in very pleas
ing style and Mr.. E. Lee Trinkle of
Wytheville, responded in an original,
humorous and elegant speech.
The speaker of the evening Hon. AL
len g. BraxtOn made gem of a speech
which was pronounced by many, the
best address of the whole reunion. He
discussed the question of secession
making some good points. declaring it
to be an open one until Appomattox
and as long as it was open it was legi-
innate for all to fight for what they
believed to be right and argued that
when the South withdrew from the
Union in 1851, it only acted on prin-
ciple that had long been commended for
In the North as we'll as in the South.
He said that no army had ever made
sush q record as that of the Confede-
racy and claimed that it was the cour-
age and endurance of the fathers of
the present generation that rallied the
South in the Spanish-American war.
He said to the Sons: To trace your
lineage from that of Confederate SOL
der is greater honor to you than had
those who came from Norman conquer
or. Those Confederate heroes left to
their posterity the richest inheritance
that ever man left to his children nor
have any people ever received an
heritage such as these men.left us.
Closing Mr. Braxton said: Follow in
their footsteps, the story of such sac
rifices will never cease to be told as long
as loving hearts live. These senti-
ments elected tremendous applause
and all in reach of the speaker shook
his hand with warmth, many, both
vets and sons, with fearful eyes.
Judge Duke spoke in splendid voice
that penetrated every portion of the
hall, and he secured the attention of
the audience from the outset. He had
not spoken minute before he had the
in an uprOar.
He charged the Sons with the duty
Of handing down from son to son the
record of vaIor made 10y their fathers
during the awful days of the war, tell
ing them at the same time that he was
certain that if they proved unfaithful.
the glory OF the Confederate SOL
dier would cry out against them from
the dust.
| am one of those, he said, who
would not give my fathers old grey
coat and his untarnished honor for all
the gold of the KIOndike, see that the
honor of your father is handed down
fsom son to son as the most precious
heritage he could leave behind.
''Let us have peace, but not dishon-
orable peace, but let us never enter
tain an ounce of scruples or one drop
of forge;fulness."
With this statement Judge Duke
took bis seat amid vOciferOus cries and
demands for him to go on.
When Judge Duke sat down the
band played a collection of Southern
melodies. When "Dixie" was reached
the great audience stood, following
the examples of the sp )nsors and maids
of honor, and almost every man in the
gathering contributed to the outburst
of enthusiasm with hands as well AZ
feet and lungs.
A Stanton Man CompIlmented.