The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-03
Large Crowd Takes Part In Memorial Exercises Held
 At Oak Hill
J. C. DUB0SE TELLS OF
 THE SOUTH IN HISTORY
Military and Industrial Band Add To Interest of Parade in Which Many Veterans March To
 the Cemetery

More than 900 people assembled at Oak Hill cemetery yesterday afternoon to at tend the memorial exercises. The beauti- ful afternoon contributed much to the joy of the occasion and the exercises proved to be the most suspicious and impressive of the kind ever held in Birmingham.
 The military parade was one of the features of the programme, At 3 o'clock the participants assembled at Capitol park, where the formation for the march to the cemetery was made. The parade was headed by the Boys Industrial school band, which acquitted itself in the usual creditable manner. The band was followtd by several companies of the Alabama Ma tional Guard, and following the military were the Veterans, Sons of Veterans and the cadets of Howard college and the h. dustrial school bringing up the rear.
 The parade was several blocks in length, and the military feature, as is always the case, was attractive one. However, a long line of grizzled Confederate vet erans tramping along with flying battle flags and many of them attired in their old gray uniforms was the impressive feature of the parade. The excellent show ing made by the cadets of the Boys h. dustrial school was the cause of consid- erable comment. There were many sons of veterans in the line.
 Marching along West Twentieth street to Nineteenth street the parade proceeded directly to Oak Hill cemetery, where the exercises were begun at once Capt. John G. Smith introduced the Rev. L. s. Hand- ley, who opened the exercises with prayer The chief speaker of the occasion, Prof Joel C. Dubose, was then introduced.
 Professor Duboses address was a brief one. It was delivered with eloquence however, the speaker dwelling principally upon the part the south and it's men have played in the development of the na- ton.
 Professor DuBose prefaced his speech with the statement that "the present gen. eration is not likely to be called upon to fight military battles, but its great fight is upon vice and immortality" The speak CT also said that the annual memorial exercises "are not held to recall the bloody days of civil strife, but to perpet- uate the memory of the heroes who fought and who sacrificed their lives in the war.
 Among other things Professor DuBose said
 "1t was with patriots pride that I &C., cepted the invitation to make the me morial address today. As looked upon you old Confederate veterans marching to your positions in front of this porch, felt the influence of your gallant spirits that made you heroes in the cause of free dom. The weird music of the old rebel yell cans2 into my thoughts, and there passed before me the visions of your fortitude and your valor in the service of the Confederacy when the battles red blast flashed to the future the fame of the past
 "The young soldiers who followed in your march have made me joy in tho pride of their splendid manhood, and in the confidence that they will meet prompt ly and bravely any danger that may threaten our country. The United Daugh- ters of the Confederacy give the day a sacred significance by helping to observe the beautiful service of placing flowers and flags on the graves of the Confeder- ate soldiers who have gone to the eter- nal shores. The vast throngs who are here to witness this service have come to show their sympathies in the annual cus- tom.
 ''The south has much to her credit since settlements in America began to give a refuge for freedom-loving people of the old world. Gen. George Washington, a Virginian and probably the greatest statesman of history for the past 200 years, looms more grandly as the years go by. Thomas Jefferson, southern man, and possibly next to Washington in his influence upon the destiny of our country, wrote the Declaration of Independence and added largely to the national domain by the Louisiana Purchase. George Rogers clark made the great lakes rather than the Ohio river the dividing line between British and American possessions. An- drew Jackson, with an army of southern soldiers, won the battle of New Orleans and thereby established forever the pres tige of American arms. John c. Cal houn first originated the system of gov ernment weather observations and re- ports. Matthew F. Maury revolutionized commerce by his original charts of the ocean. Dr. Long of Georgia discovered the value of anesthetics in surgical oper- ations. Dr. Mcdowell of Kentucky made the first successful operations in abdom- inal surgery. pr. J. Marion Sims of Ala bama led the world in surgical discoveries for the relief of women and children, and his son-in-law, Dr. John A. Wyeth, who established in New York the first post graduate medical college of the world, is & native of Alabama. Gen. Winfield Scott, Virginian, with Zachary Taylor, Jeffer- son Davis Robert k. Lee and other dis tinguished subordinates of southern birth, carved Texas, California and other ter ritory from the kingdom of the Monte zumas. The first steamboat to cross the ocean started on it's voyage from Sa- yannah. The world has hardly known the peers of Gems. Robert 10. Lee and Stonewall Jackson as Christian gentle men and soldiers of genius. These and other soldiers of the Confederate states have made the generation who dwell in the south feel that
 erhe waters murmur of their name The woods are peopled with their fame, The silent pillar lone and gray, Claims kindred with their sacred clay. Their spirits wrap the dusky mountains Their memories sparkle O CT the fountains. The meanest Till, the mightiest river. Rolls minging with their fame forever 'The south lost in the great contest for AL 1- -0 L =