The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-27
" ABOUT TO DIE,
WE SALUTE YOU"
IN MEMORIAL DAY ADDRESS
HON. WILLIAM HARDEN's TRIBUTE
TO patriotism.

To Sons of Veterans Is Given the
Work of Fighting History and
ThVvartinE Malicious Purposes OF
some-Eloauent Tribute to Work
of southern women-The Children
of the Confederacy-Memor Day
Not a. Day for sports, but n Holy
Day to BE sncredIy Observed.
The Memorial Day address before
the Confederate Veterans Association
and Lafayette McLaws Camp, United
Confederate Veterans, was delivered
last night in the Guards Hall by Hon.
William Harden. A large audience
was in attendance and the heartiest
appreciation was shown.
After a brief recital Of the war and
what it had meant. the speaker made
a comparison between Washington and
Robert Z. Lee, calling attention to that
great character Of the nineteenth cen
fury. who stands head and shoulders
above all Americans of his time.
The speaker then called attention to
the custom followed by the old Roman
Rladiators of saluting Caesar as they
went to their death with Hail
Caesar. We who are about to die sa-
Lutte thee" Upon this the remainder
of the address was built.
I'VE who are about to die say to
those who come to these Memorial
services 'Morituri salutamus, said
Mr. Harden. I'VE who are about TO die,
salute thee We greet, then, first the
noble women who have during all
the years since the first Memorial Day
suggested by a gentle, true, devoted
Southern rights woman-was observed
have made it the day it is, and with
out whom 1t could not properly be OBJ
served.
The first suggestion that a day be
devoted annually to the delicate and
holy service of remembering the va
lient deeds of the sleeping heroes of
our beloved Southland by strewing
fragrant flowers over their graves
came from a noble Georgia woman.
Beautiful custom, Sacred day.
Tenderly and religiously observed
without a single lapse since it was
first instituted. From none but wom-
ans mind, moved by devotion TO
cause dear to her heart could have
come such a suggestion; and to no
hands but those of lovely women could
such a work with proprety be en-
trusted.
The sons of Veterans.
Sons of Confederate Veterans, we
salute you, knowing that in few
short years from now the ranks of the
veterans will be depleted to such an
extent that no annual parade can be
held by them and that then you viii
take their places.
ITO your hands we gladly commit our
cause, imploring you to see to it that
the truths of history be preserved and
that those truths be taught to the chill
dren of our Southern land as written
by Southern writer's and spoken from
the lips of Southern teachers.
Attention has already been called
TO the methods employed in some quar-
tiers TO suppress the truth about our
great leaders and 10 make misstate-
ments as to the real cause which lead
TO the secession. If you will do your
duty, and We believe you will, you can
do much to hasten the time when
these statements will be corrected, and
malicious purpose thwarted.
Children of the Confederacy. we sa-
lutte you. We cannot look long into
your faces. AS one by one you reach
the proper age, you will be admitted
to the Sons of the Confederacy and
the Daughters of the Confederacy.
What has been said to them is equally
applicable to you. We charge you to
look well to the work Of preserving in
its purity and truth the correct his
tory of that unsuccessful struggle for
the maintenance of state rights"
Not Day for sports.
After salutation to the military
organization and thanking them for
their hearty support, Mr.. Harden con-
tinued:
1--WE now address our salutation to
a class which we do not know how
TO name. We have no epithet which
we can apply to you. There are those
in our midst who are inclined TO make
this annually a day of what may seem
TO them harmless sports. but which to
us seem altogether out of place at
such a time when anything approach
ing friyolity should be put aside.
There are holiday and holy days
and we who are not only going rapid
~ TO our graves, but are holding me-
mortal services in honor of those al
ready filling brave soldiers graves,
believe that this belongs to the latter
class. We implore you then to observe
ii as was intended when it was set
aside by the Legislature of the state.
Let it be sacredly observed as it was in
tended to be-"
The address closed with salutation to
the veterans, a peroration patriotic
and eulogistic, praising the deeds of
the fallen heroes and exhorting the
living to always honor them and their
deeds in the observance of Memorial
Day.
Remainder of Programme.
Capt. L. G.. Young, commander of
the Camp of United Confederate Vete-
rams, presided over the exercises. The
following programme was rendered. all
the numbers being heartily applauded:
Quartet. Maryland, Ny Maryland"
Mrs. Finnie. Mrs. J. j. Gaudry Mr..
John German. Mr.. George Beckett.
''All Quiet Along the Potomac" Mrs.
Wickenberg.
Address, Mr.. William Harden.
Duet, Tender Blossoms" Mrs. Fin
ME and Mrs. J. ]. Gaudry.
Presentation of the crosses of honor.
Dixie"
Miss Emma Coburn, accompanist.
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