The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-29
ADDRESS
OF 5. [ FERGUSON

I~Fauyanna Holds splendid Hornc-Con
ing Celebration AT Palmyra. In
Conjunction with Ressnicn-
PALMYRA. July as.-what is said b
the nldest citizens 10 have been tn
largest crowd ever gathered in Flu
wanna county, was THAI which assem-
lhled Saturday tn Palmyra at n WEI
lror,e home celebration In honor OF IN
eounty's w~orfd-war veterans whic'
was held in conjunction with the an
Irual reunion of Confederate veterans
The young veterans marched IN re
view OF the old veterans. on the cour
green. there was epeaking under TN
riau, locust trees: ice cream. frie'
| chicken and other delieacies wer'
served 70 all veterans. following whief
various games were INDUCED In o.
the element. while the oldel
iores locked on with approving eyes oil
recounted war experiences OF the ionk
ago.
Addresses were made by Captain
G. snead commander of the Con
ifederate veterans; Judge j, Q, Shep'
herd chairman Of the Red Cross ex'
'ecutive committee: Sergeant }. Ihos
Ayres, Of the world war veterans; the
Hon. Samuel J.. Ferguson. Democratic
nominee for the state senate. and the
Hon. wynham r. Meredith. OF kicn-
nond. who spoke on behait OF the
league to enforce peace.
,Judc Shepherd called attention to
the fact that both groups OF veterans
represented had fought for the same
great principle-that Of self-determi'
nation by peoples-and told In STIR
ring language how the Hun hordes
had crumpied under the onslaught OF
American troops. when an unholy VIC
tory. seemed almost in sight.
In speaking of the causes OF the
war, Mr.. Ferguson said: :,
Let ME say that I deny with al
the emphasis Of my soul thai the PEG,
ple. of the South were actuateo
throughout that dreadful connie o>
no higher motive than that OF pre-
serving the institution OF African slav'
erv. The war was produced by I
difference In construction of the or
'ganic law of the land. The Southern
States insisted in 1861, as they naf
insisted ever since the forrnatlon O
The government, that the Federa
Union was a government with no pow
ar other than such as had been dele
gated to 1t by the states through thS
fundamentally OF the CONSTITUTION
The Northern States c~ontended ina
the federal government was supreme
while the Southern States contendef
for the sovereignty Of the pee
states. and this clash OF opposln'
opinion continued until the soutneri
states sought ~peaceah)y to witndraV
from the federal union. We pellese'
that we had the right to peaceapl!
withdraw from a COMPACT into WHICH
= 80 ..y,,,ta r14v a-1tpYnd
Speaking of the Confederate vet
eran at the close of the civil war h
said in part:
slavery was dead. but, ma gnihcen
In the gloom of defeat. he was Still
master Has he not mastered adver
sitv? Has h. not rebuilt the rune
SOUTH Look what Southern brain
and hands have wrought, see the VIC
tories Of peace we have won. all rep
resented In the religious, social. inous
trial world. and you will receive an In
SEPARATION Of the old South and cate
riimpses of her present and rutur
wealth. power and glory.
"Our great republic is now threat
ened with the dangers Of ~centralize
power and the South will yet BE- a
bulwark Of American liberty. II y
ask me why, I answer that 1t is tn
l,cnlv section left which Is purel
{ American. Bolshevism and anarcf
cannot live on Southern soil. III
South is marching in the front ranl
CT progress, and while we love tn
,rast for its precious memories. OF
faces are turned toward the mornin
Time has furled the battle flags an
ismelted the hostile gun"
In closing Mr.. Ferguson said: -.
Let the silver trumpets sound II
Jubilee OF peace. Let the vetera
fshout who wore the blue; let him XII
the silken folds of the gorgeous Ell
J sign of the Republic and fling it
I,he breeze and sing the nation
HYMN. Let the veteran who wore II
, gray with uncovered head salute Il
: national flag: 1t is the flag of the II
|, separated union. Let him clasp a
with the brave rnen who wore u
, blue and rejoice with them, for just
few months ago amid the fair fields
!, France the sons of both stood shout
|, or beneath the ample folds OF 0
Glory and wrought deeds Of val
/, which in years to come will furnis
, the Hottest themes Tor h histor
, muse.
"Ana time hath adorned the RUNE
a South and robed her fields in rit
h~arvests and gilded her skies wi
> the brightest stars OF hope. But WI
will think 1t out Of place for the We
|, Grams Of the South's shattered armie
scattered now like solitary oaks
the miSJe OF a fallen forest, hoa'
: with asS IND covered with scars,
sonetimI put on the old and fade
gray and unfurl for n little while tn
other banner, the riddled and hloo'
stained stars and bars, to look upc
I it and weep over it-for It ts hallowt
I with recollections as tender as u
{ soldiers last farewell"
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