The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-08-29

Farewell Meeting in Testimony of the Pride
and Confidence, Love and Sorrow That
We All Feel in Saying Goodbye
to Our Soldiers.

Yesterday afternoon the people of
Sumter gathered in great concoursc
on the School Square. in the shadow
of the monument that commentaries
the patriotism and heroism Of the
men of Sumter county who respond
ed to the call OF duty to defend their
State and their homes in the great
war between the States, to pay a
tribute to our young men who are
now going forth to war in the defence
Of liberty and democracy so that the
world may be made safe for peace
loving and home-loving people, whose
supreme faith Is In the rule Of the
people and who abhor the despotism
OF kings. 1t was sad and solemn
occasion. but nevertheless a spectacle
that stirred the hearts Of all and
aroused in them O feeling of pride
and confidence in our country and m
our young men The spirit of '76, the
determination Of the old Game Cock,
that inspired Sumter and his men
Of the older day to fight good fight
against odds that were said to be
insurmountable and for q cause that
the mighty men Of war Of that time
said was hopeless, still lives and
wakes strong. The men Of Sumter
who wear the uniform of America
and will go wherever duty calls them
are the inheritors Of the Apirit Of the
partisan soldiers and in the veins of
many Of those who were drawn up
on tho square yesterday flows the
blood of the men who followed Sum-
ter and Marion In the long ago.
It was the conviction that these young
men whom we are sending forth to
war as the representatives Of Sumter
are but carrying onward and upward
the torch of liberty and democracy
lighted by their forefathers, that they
are but giving their service, and. II
need be. their lives. to establish for all
the world those principles Of individ-
ual and national liberty that the men
Of '76 fought for against the might
and power Of the German King Of old
England. that made the farewell OF
Sumter to her sons testimonial of
proud and willing sacrifice.
The Sumter Light Infantry eco.
l. End Regt. s. c. N. G.) and the
members Of the Officers Reserve
Corps. National Army. who recently
received their commissions at Fort
oglethorpe, formed on South Main
Street and paraded through Main,
Calhoun and Washington !, to j.. the
School Square. where they formed In
two ranks in front of the Girls High
School.
Mr., p. g. Bowman, chairman of
the committee Of arrangements, call
ed the assembly to order and intro
duced Rev. N. A. Murphy. who offer.
cd feeling invocation. Chairman
Bowman then introduced the several
speakers in turn: Mr.. A. B. Stuckey;
who spoke for the people of Sumter:
Capt. r. T. Brown. of the Sumter
Light Infantry: Lieut.. T. d. Ravenol,
'nr the Officers Reserve Corps, and
=. 8. H. Edmunds. who delivered
the farewell address.
Each OF the speakers save evidence
Of a full realization Of the solemnity
Of the occasion and their words wore
words Of patriotism and devotion to
duty and love Of country and liberty.
Mr.. Stuc., voiced the feeling of
pride that we all feel in the men who
have responded to the call Of duty in
this period Of world peril. when all
that we hold dear Is threatened by
ruthlss military savages who have de-
the fairest paris OF Europe
and made old men, women and even
little children the victims Of their
bruitish cruelty. horrible lust and op-
preston He expressed the conf
dence that we all feel that our young
men will do their duty and add new
to those the men of Sumter
had won in other times when duty
called them to forsake the paths of
peace and take up the sword and
rifle
Capt. Brown and Lieut.. Ravenel
spoke as men who have sworn allie
glance to a cause and having devoted
their lives to its prosecution. have no
thuoght for lesser things. The under
lying thought Of all that they said
was that they were called to service
in defence Of their homes and Of
American ideals, and that they would