The Tupelo journal., 1906-05-04
UNWILLING Ceremonies OF
CONFEDERATE MONUMENT
Heavy Rains Interfere With the Program for
the Day.
COL. E. L. RUSSELL DELIVERS THE ADDRESS

arranged for the day was inter-
fered with by a heavy rain which
began the afternoon before and
continued through the night. All
the morning lowering clouds
poured forth a gentle rain which
fell like tears from the disconso-
late as if the elements were still
weeping for the Lost Cause and
the dead heroes whose memories
and valor the monument was
erected to commemorate. There
was mud everywhere and it was
impossible to have the parade
which was to have been one of
the principal features of the day.
Notwithstanding the inclem-
ency of the weather, however,
the ceremonies of the day were
witnessed by many of the old
heroes, their wives, sons and
daughters and grandchildren.
First OIL the program was a re-
ception rendered by the local
camp of the Daughters of the
Confederacy which took place at
the court house between 10 and
II o'clock. The ladies parlors
were decorated with bunting,
flags and flowers underneath
which the veterans were greeted
and extended a most cordial well
come by a committee represent
ing the daughters. Col E. l..
Russell and Miss Eolin Russell,
Mr.. and Mrs. w. A. Russell, Of
Texas, and Miss Davis were pre-
sented to all present. Col. Rus
sell was delighted to meet many
of his old war comrades whom
he had not seen in many years.
The ladies served frappe from
the Office of the superintendent
of education.
The weather frightened near
the hour of two o'clock and al
though it had been announced
that the regular program had
been abandoned when the crowd
assembled at the court house and
it was found that the court room
would not accommodate more
than one-third of those present,
the committee of arrangements
decided that the unveiling could
take place and the regular order
was taken up and the crowd re-
paired to the monument. The
veterans and school children,
decorated with bunting and car
rying Confederate flags, formed
in line and marched to jefferson
street, west to Church, south
to Main street and back to the
being led by the
A. & M. College band. Arriv-
ing an invocation was offered by
Chaplain j. c. Blanton, after
which the children sang Amer
ica," and Masters in the Cold,
Cold Ground. The unveiling
then took place, the cords hold
ing the drapery over the figure
beng unwrapped by little Misses
Rosalie and Linda Kincannon,
Annette Clark and Bessie Allen,
after which Miss Rosa Rogers
drew the cord which cut loose
the veil. At this junction the
ever popular song, Dixie" was
sung by the children.
In a few chosen words Hon.
John M. Allen introduced Col.
E. L. Russell. In closing Mr..
Allen said that if every friend of
Mr.. Russell's present had brought
a flower he would have a monu-
ment of roses as high as a noun
tain.
Col Russell spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gen.
tlemen:
1t is impossible for me to find
language adequate to convey to
you the depth Of my feeling on
this occasion. When all the past,
its tragedies, its joys and sorrows,
are considered, in relation to my
connection to Lee County, and
especially it's community, it is
certainly enough to touch the
great deep of any nature.
| see before me men and WON
en- who knew me when l was a
small boy, who have known me
throughout my life. see before
me old comrades with whom /
marched, bivouaced and fought
for more than three years, and
when / recall the trials, the
hardships, the sacrifices and dam
gers through which we passed, |
am amazed that any of us are
here today to tell the tale. How
ever, a kind providence has
watched over us and perpetuated
our lives, I trust for some good
purpose. / hope it is for the
good of our country and the honor
Of our God.
/ am not here to make any ex-
tended argument about the cause
of the war between the States.
It is contendad by some that the
sole cause was a conflict of ideas