The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-27
EXERCISES IN SELMA
CELEBRATION OF MEMORIAL
 DAY IN CENTRAL CITY.
Hon. E. s. Starr, Orator of the Day, Says Emancipation Has Not Benefited the Negro
 Race.
Advertiser Bureau, Selma ADril 26.


 Memorial day was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies under the au- spices of the Ladies' Memorial Associa- tion. The services were very impress sive and despite disagreeable weather were attended by large crowd. The address of the day was delivered by Hon. E. S. Starr, who, in speaking of the circumstances resultant from the War Between the States, said that the negro was as much a slave to-day as in 1850, and that his condition was worse now than before the emancipation.
 The procession to the Live Oak Cem- etery was organized at Broad and Dal- las streets, John J. Babcock and D. M. Scott were marshals. with W. Ed- gar Uilman and Paul Berry. as aides. In the parade were the fire companies the Dallas Dragons with Captain John S. Ford in command, the Pettus Field Artillery under Captain I. N. Eddy and the Abbott Rifles under Captain Will liam B. Craig. The Butler Rifles, a juvenile company, marched with the other soldiers. and attracted much at- tention and much praise. They were commanded by Lieutenants Caldwell Johnson and John Land. Camp Cates- by apR. Jones of United Confederate Veterans, led by Commander John F. Burns, had a place of honor in the pa rade.
 The ceremonies were held near the Confederate monument in the ceme- tery. The monument had been decor ated with flowers, and the graves of veterans marked with small Confed- crate flags. Mayor ". B. Atkins pre- sided as master of ceremonies. Rev. E. w. Gamble offered the opening pray CT. after which the choir, with Pro- lessor Louis Raymond, as organist, sang the national anthem. America" G. c. Vaughan played cornet solo. 'Tenting on the Old Camp Ground" was sung. N. A. Hugerford played an accompaniment on the cornet After prayer by Rabbi E. S. Levy, the doxol- ogy was sung, and those present then placed flowers on the graves of the Confederate soldiers. The monument erected by the Memorial Association to the memory of the Federal soldiers buried in the cemetery was also decor ated.
 Mir. Starr. the orator of the day. was introduced by Mayor Atkins, and in eloquent manner he spoke of the cour- age and the chivalry of the men whose memory was celebrated to-day The Confederacy had not gained all of the purposes for which the war was wag- ed, Mir. Starr said. but on the other hand had not lost all. By the war the emancipation of the negro slaves had been consummated and yet. he declar- ed. the negro is to-day as enslaved as he was in 1850. and is in worse con- dition."
 So, too, he said, the Southern States had not accomplished secession from the Union. yet the doctrine of secession was not proven false and the United States, he said. in reference to the re- cent treaty with Panama. through their President and their Congress. had en- dorsed that for which the Confederate States of America had fought
 It is well to remember these things. said MT. Starr. and the brave hearts that bled to gain them. The country Is united. and there is no strife between the North and the South, but none of us should forget. none of us shall forget, the men in whose honor this day has been set apart To their sons and their daughters the veterans left 1t to keep alive the patriotic spirit that belonged to the boys in gray. and to see to 1t that as in the march of civil ization the United States spread abroad its enlightenment not only the whole country, but especially the Southern States should leave their im- press upon the world.
 Late this afternoon the Butler Rifles who had taken part in the Memorial Day ceremonies were entertained by W. s. Butler. in whose honor the com pany was named. Mir. Butler present. ed to the company a handsome sword bayonet. Afterwards refreshments were served to the soldiers