Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-11
MEMORIAL DAY.

The thirty second annual observance
of Memorial Day took place in York
vile yesterday under the auspices Of
the Winnie Davis Chapter United
Daughters Of the Confederacy, and was
participated in by a large majority of
the people, including representatives
from practically every family.
The beating of the assembly call of
the Jasper Light Infantry was taken
as the signal for the gathering Of the
people, who followed the march Of the
company to the Graded school audito-
rum and soon filled that spacious hall
to overflowing.
Captain NJ C. Willis presided, and
the exercises were opened with prayer
by Rev. DR.. S. A. Weber. after which
to a piano accompaniment by Mrs. w.
H. Fowler, Messrs S. c. Wood, John
w. Barnwell, w. P. Harrison, M. L.
Carroll, Mesdames ]. D. Mcdowell, NJ.
l.. Carroll, H. c. Glenn and Miss Pan
sy Traywick, sang Maryland, My
Maryland"
The next feature of the programme
was the address Of the day, by Col. w.
w. Lewis, who upon being introduced
by Captain Willis, delivered a most
able and carefully prepared address
which, being a complete constitutional
and moral vindication Of the cause Of
the south, was not only singu!arly ap-
propriate for the occasion but is de-
serving of publication in full for the
benefit Of the generation now growing
up. Col. LeWlSS address was as rOl-
lows:
Mr.. Chairman, Members Of the Win
ME Davis Chapter. u. D. c., Veter-
ans, Ladies and Gentlemen:
More than forty-one years have come
and gone since that memorable day on
which the shattered and battle worn
remnant Of n once great and glorious
army laid down it's arms, and the men
composing that valiant band sadly. but
bravely turned their faces toward
land, once blossoming as the rose, but
then laid bare and almost desolate.
Those have been memorable years In
our beloved outhland-memorable in
the building up of the waste places
memorable in the wonderful CONNER
cial and industrial strides that have
been made within her borders, but
most memorable in the courage and
fortitude with which our fathers, these
splendid veterans, have met and over
come the obstacles that have beset
them from time to time, and have built
upon the resting places Of all that was
other If possible. better, and higher,
and grander than any the world has
ever known.
But with all the many changes that
have come with the years. and the
problems that have engaged the atten-
ton of the minds of our citizenship
with each recurring spring. the
thoughts OF our people have ever turn
ed TO loving remembrances OF our hero
dead. and fair women and brave men
have met together. and with bowed
heads and saddened hearts have laid
hn nf oil
mortal Of our immortals. natures
most beautiful and tender tribute to
the goodness and mercy of loving
Creator.
Once again we find ourselves assem-
bled upon an occasion Of this kind, and
is 1t not well that we stop for an In
stant in the performance of this sad,
yet ever sweet duty and inquire why
we thus hold in loving memory those
who are bound to many Of us by only
sentimental ties.
True that many of them were COM
rades of those l see before me but Is
il because Of cOmradeship altogether
that we honor their memory. or Is 1t
alone because they fell as soldiers Of a
lost cause? Rather is 1t not because
Of the principles for which they were
willing to endure hardship and death.
that we honor their memory most? Is
III not TRUE lndl chdliSiH
q nation?" And can we not on an oc-
casion such as this, learn something
of the righteousness which exalted that
storm Graded nation" which went
lown to a most glorious yet perchance
TOO carly death. to the end, that we, of
this new nation. as II were, may be
better prepared TO assume the tOga left
us hy those who have gone on before.
and to wear 1t wOrthily? 1t would seem
emincntlv fitting just now that we
briefly review some of the events lead
ing up to that great conflict. and the
principles underlying the struggle, not
with view of iustifying the conduct
Of our fathers. for history has already
done that nor with view Of awaken
ing painful memories. we trust, long
since sOothcd by tn" hand of time. but
In order that we who knew not these
things. may learn them. that our chill
hrcn NAV understand the reasons for
that terrible strife. and that those of
us whose heads are whitened with the
frosts Of many winters may be able to
evclaim:
81. ord God Of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget"
If the casual reader were asked for
the causes of the civil war one would
answer slavery and another would
answer "secession," and both would be
equally in error. for the first was only |
an incident in the attempt to solve cor ]