The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-02-28

| SenteQ the monument ~ VIC udm6 ~
the citizens to the Police Jury OF the
Parish of st. Mary. Judge O'Niell
delivered q mastery address. bis
glowing periods received marked and
genuine applause. Justice ONiell Is
q son of the beloved citizen of our
parish, Hon. John A. O'Niell, de-
ceased, who was among the brsvest OF
the brave Confederate soldiers. And
a. he spoke each comrade of his dead
father there was glad to pronounce
him . worthy son Of . worthy sire.
Judge Allen then introduced Hon.
Wilson 7. Peterman, sheriff of the
Parish of st Mary, who accepted the
monument on behalf OF the Parish au.
thorities. In words of the purest and
most earnest eloquence he thanked the
Veterans and the monument assOcia-
ton for the great honor they had con.
ferred upon him by selecting him to
perform this high, pleasant and i'm.
portant trust. He assured them that
it will be a labor of love with him to
carry out their wishes. We have
heard Mr.. Peterman speak eloquently
many times to his people, who honor
him; but on this occasion he excelled
all his other efforts. The old vete-
rams listened to him with proud
pleasure, as they felt assured in their
hearts that the trust confided to him
and to the parish would be sacredly
kept.
Then the unwilling ceremonies COM
menced. After a prayer by Rev. A.
r. Vaughan. Miss Mildred Kramer,
the fair daughter of Hon. aud Mrs.
Wilbur H. Kramer, dressed in pure
white, her young face beaming with
animated beauty and lovlness, pro-
nounced these soul-stirring words:
"All honor to the noble sons of St.
Mary, who gave their lives in the sa-
cred cause, and all honor to those
who returned to restore order out of
chaos, and rebuild their desolate
homes When future generations are
called upon to battle for their coun-
try's rights may this monument stand
as reminder to inspire them to go
forth with hearts as brave and
courageous as their grandsires.
She then pulled the cord that dis
closed the hidden face aud martial
figure of Confederate soldier. Just
as the vel foated away the lowering
clouds parted, and through the rift
the glad sunshine Of the Heavens
shown down and bathed the statue
and its fair young sponsor with wave.
lets of golden glory The applause
was deafening. The old Veterans
were shouting-the band was playing
and the whole pOpulace were singing
the battle songs of Dixie.
Judge Thcs. NJ. Milling was tn
next speaker. He dedicated the
monument in a scholarly and truly
eloquent speech. In thought, in
Huency of language and in oratorical
it was truly a masterpiece.
And the marvel of it is, that he was
called upon only at the eleventh hour
to take the place of Senator NJ. J.
Foster who was i'll. He sounded the
praises of the virtues, bravery and
endurance of the Confed crate soldier
ia war, but he said great as he was in
war, he was still greater in peace-in
the practice of the civic virtues, be
dedicated this monument TO the men,
DRY of both which will live in history
for all time. The speech of Judge
Milling will long be remembered by
those who heard it..
Capt r. W. Allen, Commander of
Cornay Camp of U. G. ",
for his Camp. When the
speaker spoke in burning fer
vor of the gallantry of Cornay, who
"a We his life for his country, of the in
bravery of his cannoneers--l
when he spoke ofthe at. Mary VOlun-
Ieers of which he was member-nam-
Ing each who were killed on the battle !
fields of the South, tears watered the
9yes OF the gray-haired Veterans
there who heatd him, as they remem- |
bered the gallant soldier with whom
hey fought. He made q beautiful
speech.
Gen. John McGrath. of Baton Rouge,
for the st. Mary Volunteers,
which company he comm lnded during
he war. Brave, genial, big-hearted
John McGrath. He spoke with tears
u his voice when he recounted the
bravery Of his company-how bravely
hey fought and how heroically most
IF them died. He said: II commanded
hat company from the Kentucky
until after the battle of
spanish Fort. At the surrender,
only two answered to roll call, Ernest
J. Trastour here and Alfred Baudoin.
All my brave boys we're gone-most
If them we're dead or disabled or
and few had been trans
ierred 70 other commando At t.sj
Of the name of T. .stour, who
Tas present, the applal .e was uni
versal/
Gen. Thomas j. Shat r vas tnen
introduced. He needs NO introductio On
20 the people of st. Larry amoag
whom he lived. He spol q with mrs.
;erly eloquence of the Louisiana Di-
vision of the United Confederate
Veterans OF whom he the Com
Gen. A. i. Booth, OF w Orleans,
delivered toe, Grafton. His subj ct
vas the Sou.bern Co,'t aracy. Fla
3aEnnaa If t.,c e circinl ~. h;aI, ra...A-. |