Newspapers / The News & Observer … / Oct. 22, 1899, edition 1 / Page 2
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2 COMRADE CARIES ADDRESS. Delivered Before the State Convention of Con federate Veteran's Association. (Published by lie quest of Veterans.) Mem-lavs of the Con.fi derate Veterans' Association of North-Carolina: Another year has passed since the 'regular annual session of this Asssoeia tioii. and we gather i nee niCnc as com rades in that heroic oiganizatiui which iplayed tin* foremost part in rite grandest historic drama of modem times. We come to clasp hands in brotherly greet ing. to recall the events since our as sembling last year, and to inquire what may he done for the welfare of living comrades, who may justly look for our interest and efforts in their behalf. Nor should we fail to honor the memory of the dead, those glorious companions of eamjetiros in the days when “Lee wore tin* gray! Sluice i.hen *Tis right and honor's hue! lie honored it. that man of men. And wrapped it round the true.” At the session of October, 1898. you were pleased to bestow iipin me the dis tinction of presiding officer of this Iwuly, which represents the veterans in North Carolina of the Confederate Army, whet iter from organized bodies or other wist*. gafluring by custom, for assem bly. from time to time. At that meeting, you took measures for an adjourned session-, during the jier iod of legislative work by the General Assembly, empowering a committee to call t'he Kamo in conjunuAion 'with the president. 't his meeting was held January 24fh last, amid was a striking tit nioustratlan of the usefulness of this organization. All sections of North Carolina were rep resented by Pile flower of the surviving veterans, that hurt* the battle cro.-s ot the South. The tlet'pest interest was immifested in its day and night sessions, the proceed ings of which arc of record anti have bet n published. RESULTS OF LAST MEETING. St me of tin* important results of the •meeting are as follows- A <'onunittt*e was appointed to wait upon the General A-ss-cnbly and requesy such h gislat ii-n as necessary. to insure the publication of tune histotie material in rt*ft*rc*nct* to flit* troops of North Oar tdiiva, collected l y Hi n. \\ alter Clark, and lion. A. C. Avery. It is with grateful thanks to tilt* pa triotic UK-mTiers of the Legislature who #jubwtjut n.tly accepted anti approved the BUggestrons made, ainl placed upon the statute book an act for the accomplish unenit of this purpose. It has s*>eh stat ed that the language of tilt* act contem plated only the compilation of Hon. Wal ter Clark, but it is to he hop'd shat no portion of records so valuable will Ik* omitted from our history. 'Phe late Hen ry Oay Wall, who was prominent in securing the, passage of the hill, when Lis attention was called to this, stated that it World be unmcessaiy to aniwiil tile woidkng of the act. as its spirit would fully justify the printing of the entire matter collected also by Hon. A. C. Avery; tlx* intern:ion being to comply With the whiles of the veterans of the State. Ttie subject of increased appropriations for the Soldier's Heme and for Pensions, and modifications in the Pen-ion law, re ceived careful ce.i-’deratic.n by a com mittee chosen by the several Congress*- ional districts of tin* State, and two at large, and the legislation to tie asked for was formulated and a commit tee ope pointed to wait upon the committees of the General Assembly having the side jeets in charge. This was done, in repeated sessions of the coimrutti es. and an- aiqwepi ati'On for annual support for the Home, of C.j.tMM) instead of $8..1(H) as licetofore was obtained, and a > ]>eoin 1 appropria tion of .fI.UtM) for hosi'-'ital and increased a<ss>mumslati<nrs, including repairs. This was a step in* itihe right dl! rection. and i our thanks are due to the members | rs the General Assembly, who mad * this l advance in the face of same pressure for other objects. supposed to possess espe cial political value. Rut if Is blindly necessary to state, after the collating aiwl comparison of the facts in relation to the increasing num lter of disabled unid needy veterans not only in North Carolina, I*nt throughout tlie Southern States, and the enlarged provision made by our sister common wealths, which have been laid before you heretofore that mere results must Am? accomplished before North Carolna shall have performed her duty. (Ap plause.) • VETERANS IN COUNTY HOME. The recipients of this testimonial of a i 'States’ gratitude should not he allowed to stand an hour begging nr the gates. Shame upon us that wwnllow orn* gal lant hero to go limping or armless to his grave lacking the same comfort, much less shivering, ragged or hungry, and yet much less the inmate of a County Home. - ./ % { That we are rapidly ].:is ring away, is' sorrowfully attested by the gaps in our, ranks every time autumn flings her ban ner on the wbods. and we seek <-ur State • capital to grasp the hand of con:.Hides, and hear the strains of “Dixie" once again. (Applause.) Who does not miss a friend at each j Reunion? Let North Carolina act before, it Im* too late forever. Twice the pres cut a,pproprration, or S2O,<MH) would be 1 only what Virginia began with, ami yet (her possible number of helpless and dis aided must be far less proportionately than our own. This subject is pertinent now. although ' the next General Assembly to la* chosen in 1900 does not conn* together until | 1901, because fully enlightened and fully settled public seitimcn-t. when nominations are made will so direct pub lic policy, that few men will opjtoxe the clearly appreciated purpose of the pet pie. ' God speed the day, wheat tin* home will he so attainable, and so provided for. with ample appropriations that the lnanc ,h-s, heartsick, helpless veteran, whom at,ge. or illness, or wounds hats left ex- ( 1>o«*il (o the bitter blasts of fortune with ( the friends of his youth gone, his family | dead. and only want for his <•■ mpauion, 1 may hear tin* call of the bugle that sunt- 1 pious him to a safe retreat, among tlu* veterans of the battle-scarred, until he pass to a glorious immortality; for “Fame's temple boasts no higher name. No king is higher oil his throne. No glory slhiin* s with brighter gleam. The name of Patriot stand's alette." It is mutter for your ei moderation, to im. iic-s u;m i.ii the people of North Caro lina that we have simply begun tilie work of earing for the disabled veterans, •who have made the name and fame of their State resplendent for till time. Let thesf* facts he clearly made known, a,nl repeated unlil their full font* is felt. I need not make an argument to prove what you know to be true; cer tainly not in this presence. (Applause.) Tilli -STATE'S SACKED PROMISE. Than North Carolina, by legislative ac tion. commanded her arms-hearing pop ulation, to leave their productive pursuits of whatever kind and rally for the mili tary defense of the* country, and the ful fillment of her obligations when she oil ten d the Southern ('oufederaey. That, not as a bribe for tin* perform ance to duty of the Sfate of which they were citizens, but .-is it nua-t k of appre ciation. for the sacrifice of Inutile and for tune*. the risk of life, and probabilities of wounds disease, private ns, or cap tivity. the State pnonm ‘.l •;In* care and support of the disabled, and those depen dent upon them. That, such was the obedience of the citizens of her smeriguty and their faith fufltmess to duty in camp and in battle.’ her quota of the e rat ire Confederate Ar my was not less than one-fifth, and that this State sent more men. and suffered move loss in killed amid wounded, by a •great: number, that any other of the South. That, the loss h.v disease in camp was likewise ninth greater than that of any other, and, included ns many men in military age, as the entire average pop ulation of a county, inon, women and children, and greater than that at that period. That tin* devotion that cost >o many lives through disease and sickness, nec essarily implies a very large number, ssiml from immediate death, lint left with shattered constitution#*, in firm a ties of various kinds, reopening wounds, ami chronic affections, which in advanced lit** after almost forty years since the lpegmining of that struggle, and about thirty five years sdwe Its close, must he dail.v increasing the numvbi r of those who ■are innapabic of earning a livelihood, certainly by manual lnhur. That the quality of the duty pvrfi lin ed lias won tin* admiration of mankind, and the grateful response by the State should he in some measure as gt im runs an i,l even self-sacrificing in return. (Ap pta use.) That the action of the State while honorable to those wldoi have prompted and maintained it. falls very far short of the barest necessity, send the appro priations which, to la* proportional to the need, should lie far greater tluan those of nny other Southern States, are net only projM«-tinnately loss, hut actually far less than in the States of equal size; even of some of much smaller magnitude, as has been shown you in the Secretary's report for the two years past, from the official records of the States. A DUTY THAT MUST RE MET. That this duty can lie no longer post poned to a more convenient season, with out the reproach of Witter ingratitmb*. It is manifest that after the lapse of a. generation, flu* ex ]tecta*inn of life among rhe survivors of the war U r Southern in dependence grows rapidly smaller. It is necessary tfo act soon or it will lie too late. The 'best informed tell us that the maximum number that will need help according to the reviewed tables of dis ability ail'd mortality will Ik* reached in 1901. if not liefore: ni'fter which period it must diminish until the few survivors have passed away. Twenty years more will leave hut a comparative handful. Is North Carolina to treat her splendid troops like the members of a tontine in surance company, where only t'he surviv ing remnant is to receive the benefit of the nerf or inland* of obligations? (Ap ukuise.) Let it he clearly (perceived that the present Soldier's Home has only the ai eonnmeditions of a single cottage, in eonipariKon with the series that should Im* erected to meet the needs of It'he vet erans. The very least that should' he done at once, is the doubling of the pres ent per capita of average residence in the Home. And. this brings us to the final fact of (this array laid before you: That for want of the means of siipiMirt, numbers of veterans are siiifferLmig ex treme iKrivatioais, even after the 'ininst ra tions of the benevolent. and that cithers are at this time inmates of County Homes, suffering daily humdliation of spirit, and in not a few cases, lMeaning the di'ivrivation of the kind of fotad need ful to their sick and exhausted condition, and the comforts of life once enjoyed, in the Ihijm* that Almighty God wall so en lighten the conscience, ami stir the heart of the people, that they May come at last to the rest of the Home, before they g<> hence and are no more. That every proposition thus stated is literally true, that it lies with the people to demand and enforce their will to pro tect these helpless ones, ami that it be comes this Assoeiatfioai of Onift'tleimte N'eternns (so Tdessed of I’roviih nee. per haps, as not to require this aid ourselves, yet seeing the suffering of our 'brethren), to press this duty home upon (all public men. the press, and the people in -their various meetitigs. in season ami out of season, until we put away this cruel re proach: these things I challenge denial of. from any source. I trust I may Ik* panbmed for dwelling upon a subject, which to my mikid ad mits no other conclusion than notion, both prompt and lilM*ral. It should' he boldly amioime<*d once for all, tliiat the survivors of the troops of North Oaroliilua in thfal struggle mean to set* justiice done, ami tin* obligation of the comnnombvealth fnlfidletl, at whaitever cost, to their ]M>or uitifrurtnnate fellow s<ddii*j*s.—(Applause.) THE SOLDIERS’ HOME. On what ground can the present dis t i-iniinuition in admissiun to the Holme le justified? Applifnitiosi is miade for ii worthy veteran wlio.-e record is good and. THE NEWS AND OBSERVER, SUNDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 22, 1899. at-eces-lty great, so great that hi* must sulisist with the off-scouring of earth, gathered into the County Home. Yet when his plea is* presented to Cluiiraian of the Executive Committee of tin* Mali ngers of the Home. ('apt. \Y. C. Stnin iuu who has served in this arduous and delicate position from the 'beginning of its operations, w ith zeal and fidelity, Mr. Struuach in 'most cases has no choice, but to .reply that there 'is no rnom. Es spis-ially is this the ease if the applicant is the citizen of some patriotic comity that is honored liy the residenet* of a large number of our afflicted brethni n, and has filled its quota at tin* Home. What would he the quota, by the way, of many counties, when there tin* niiit ty seven of them, to share aboini one hun dred dollars each for (lie support of tin* Home, and that support :uv !ves. food, clothing, file!, washing, lights, drugs, medical serviie. officers' and employes' wages, ine"hiding nurses, repairs and im provements of buddings, care of grounds and live stock, water supply, funeral ex penses 'and many other mi-'-ccila-mwius but necessary expenditures. Out of n1,,, it eight dollars aim nth for the whole, fig ure* how much can he expended for bare food, after all other expenses are met, Oi course, this ref creme is made to the appropriation proper, even after the increase of to 810.(Hit), the pres ent amount. The special appropriation is to be expended for a prop* :* hospital huilding. long th|.* greatc.-t need, where all are really invalids. WHY EXPAND THE HOME? I am aware of the nature of the reply of certain men who imagine that to op ]lose any expenditure for public service, however meritorious, is to render them influential with the people. They say. w hy expand our Home, when some States have none at all? True, but they have a pension syst,» m liberal enough to provide fi r tin* simalh r number of veterans in their liordi '-s; and of these ojic or two have added Hornes within the past year or two. Again, the answer is made that the vi t era ns prefer to live at their own homes wi'h a pen sion. to going to the State Soldo rs' Home, and it is not necessary. Let us pm; uuere names on the pi lision roll. Nolmhl.v desires to ask any veteran to leave h:s home, who does not deCre, ] a( i ' ' nay, who dues not numvtly ask for the privilege of entering the lltmvc. as a wel come refuge from privation anil suffer-, lug. So that 'as but an evasion. There are '.aged Men. without friends or relatives able to support thium; there are others, whatever the de-iire of friends to aid, who in their retired places of nboUe, can not obtain the medical and surgical assistance their woinuls or other infirmities require, and yet. others ,of good reimte, reduced to accept county From these come a stream of pleading 'triplications for entrance to the Home., and doubtless there would lie more, if there was greater hope of admission. | I am informed by the Secretary of the Board of Public Charities that the regu lar reports from the County institutions made to that body by its county visitors, give the name, company and regiment of a considerable 'body of our former mess mates at the bed and hoard of the Con federal e Camps. These are not publish ed for obvious reasons, but the question is asked whether the veteran desires to enter the Home and n-ply registered. II is true there are a few who have fallen back there after dismissal from the Home for drunkenness or other vio lations of good older. But after careful examination, it may be set down without doubt that two hundred worthy men, each with just claim upon tin* State should Ik* provided for, and are anxious to enter the day that the gates are iqs n ed to thoni. Butt it is not to you, who know tiie truth in.your varied localities that this declaration needs to be made, l ELAY IS CRUEL AND UNJUST. I insist again, (that fit is cruel and un just Ito postpone the performance of this duty. There are some grand enterprises that should have tlx* fostering care of the State, souse that lend to the enrichment of its material interests. Ltd them all lie cimsbleTOd, but while some can wait a reasonable time, these erne legged, IMurnflizid. broken-down victims can not wait; their march to the grave is short. And! though no thouisiands stand with 'hired heads when the pine coffin leaves the County Home which has Ixm the last refuge of the feeble w n k that could stand at the plough no lepger, and though no volley of arms bid's the soldier farewell when the clods have hetaped his grave, .vet shall he stand, all sufferings over, wit'll the great In -t beyond the riv er, with Lee and Jackson,with the men of all ages, who have striven to do their duty, in the fear of God. But how shall his fellow soldier fare, who has done nothing to relieve tin* aching limbs and broken heart of the stricken one. when lie is called to his last account? There is yet one more excuse for neg lect. so paltry that I blush to name it. It is that taxes are already too high, and North Carolina is t<w> iioor. Were our factories idle and their machinery wrap perl in dust, with cob-webs on the busy looms, our fields blasted, our streets grass-grown, and children gaunt with I hunger in the by-ways; were our flocks! and herds destroyed. the mountains stripped ol their forest wealth, the ores of our mines lying unsold and unvalued at the mouth of the pit. our harbors blockaded with wreck and ruin; were ~11 our hanks idle, railroads bankrupt, schools and colleges closed, our bonds depreciated -ami interest unpaid, our people "f wealth fled beyond the seas, and (lit* very water power of our streams dried up and gone; 1 say were all these calamities upon ns, we might divide the (j-rust that was left with the haggard old *** Kray. Rut with the gifts of benign Providence that we enjoy, suffi cient. if guided by wise administration, to make ns, if not the richest, yet the most contented people in the world, with ,i great future in manufacturing widen ing its vista every day, as the ear of progress hears us on, with added wheels* every day, and the rainbow of hope arching our future, it is hardly less than impious, to haggle and hesitate, in the presence of this sacred dirty. (Ap plause.) It is to play the part of Dives save that we would even refuse the crumbs to Lazarus. And such a Laza rus! Dm* who made the glory of his State, who was a prince in llie generous gift of his time and thoughts, his labor and hopes, his energy, fortune, utmost efforts, health, career in life, all but that life itself, and offered even that, for North Carolina! A king who bestowed upon his people’s history every element of moral and physical greatness, and stands now like discrowned Lear — “You see me here, you gods, a poor old man As full of grief as age: wretched In both: touch me with noble anger. O, let not women's weapons, water drops Stain my man’s checks!" REVISION OF PENSION LISTS. The kindred subject of the better pro vision in our system of pensions for dis abled veterans and for the widows of Confederate soldiers naturally claims attention. In the present workings of the pension law of our State, and more especially in the interference with the established system by special acts of the Genera! Assembly, there are points Avor thy of your careful consideration, and possibly of amendment, through your in fluence. The general classification tinder t'he law was discussed last year. There are now 121 pensioners of the first class. 341 pensioners of the second, 119 of the third and 2.2."4 of tin- fourth. 2,(574 will ows; the total number being 1.889. The pension fund aggregated for tin* last distribution w*as 8199,000, and the av erage amount disbursed, ns follows: First class, B*>4; second class, 848; third class, 832; fourth class, 81(5; each annually, except the few of the higher class. The propriety of some amendments to the law May lie considered in the light of these facts. The records show that certain counties have more names upon the pension list than others which sent five times the number of troops to the field, or even n greater excess. This arises most prob ably from a failure of flu* pension hoard of the county to perform its duty with requisite care. COUNTY PENSION BOARD. The County Board ot Pensions should be selected with care, and paid for the performance of duty, a proper per diem allowance; then they should be held to a proper responsibility. It is an out rage upon worthy pensioners to have their scanty sum cut down by the care less 'admission of applicants not entitled under the terras of the law. The entire pension list should be carefully revised, and the names of those not entitled to receive the amount fixed by the State, promptly stricken from it. It is claimed that there are some per sons in certain localities receiving pen sions for alleged service in both the Con federate and Union tarn lies. Tills, how ever. monstrous it may seem, has been alleged more than once. Since all public assistance is the tar get of the plunderer, it would be well, to require all persons on the roll, to appear before the county hoard in person, at a proper date in the month of July, or if unable to he present by disability, to furnish proper medical certificate of said disability to attend. The purged list could Ik? prepared by the first Monday in August. This applies also to the list of widows in the fourth elas. that evi dence of remarrying, information of the amount of property held and the like may he in the hands of the board. It may also lie affirmed as a general proposition that any mam rejected by his county hoard as a pensioner should not he allowed to obtain the same h.v a special act. The whole practice of passing special pension acts by the Gen eral Assembly is radically vicious, and should 1 v swept away, and all pensions should he given under the general laws. It is impossible for members of the Legislature to know the merits of par ticular eases, and an omnibus *iU that combines the votes of many counties to place a l* s t °£ mums on the roll can not with justice he enacted in the absence of knowledge. It is only in his OAvn county, in most cases, that a rnian's record and qualifica tions are correctly known, and every interest of his fellow citizens is in favor of the approval of his name, to share tlu* gift of the State, and bring it to that county. When, therefore, he is delib erately rejected by the county board, it requires extraordinary evidence of ig norance or malice on the part of that hoard to justify a distant body in plac ing the applicant on the roll over their heads. MEN WORTHY OF PENSIONS. Nor is there any need for special nets for the blind, as the whole subject should lie disposed of by tin* county boards. For that reason men only of the highest character, exjiert experience and greatest knowledge of the past rec ord and present circumstances of the applicants should be appointed. Il is ■ardly necessary to add that the hoard Humid have ex-Confederate soldiers upon it. (Applause.) The purification of the list, and strict compliance hereafter Avould not return any of the fund hack to the State Treas ury undistributed. It would simply in crease the present amount., now under the maximum provided for in the law, and so insure additional comfort to the deserving. It is in their interest that these changes are suggested. Indeed the time has come. when., as suggested h.v a special committee of thas body, the quota of taxation for pensions, in the annual State levy might be wisely in creased. Yet. even if this is not done, with a correct list, and «i schedule of taxahles of increasing annual value, we may see the pensions reach tin* lull max imum contemplated in the law. The honored speaker of the House. Hon. 11. G. Connor, has referred to the mistake of special pension acts, in a publication since the last legislative session. It may not he improper to add that the evil is deep-seated, and thiat if the Association shall see fit to take action, tlu* subject should be thoroughly explain ed in the press, ami such an earnest committee appointed to confer with the committee of the General Assembly, as will press the necessity of the reform. ORGANIZATION OF CAMPS. It affords me pleasure to refer to the general spirit of brotherhood and the in creased interest in the glorious memories of the past, as e\idenced by the large number of reunions held during the past year by comrades who marched under the battle cross of the South. The num ber of camps of United Confederate Veterans reported at Charleston was fif ty. larger than, ever heretofore. The union of comrades in whatever topm of organization is greatly to he desired, and this association is especially in close and cordial affiliation with the United Confederate Veterans, under the gallant Gordon, who has so long and success fully served as its honored head.(Ap plause). I am come now to ask of you to lend aid to the imjMirtant subject of the more effectual organization of eanqis of l ni ted Confederate Veterans. We know that North Carolina has more men and more losses than other State in the struggle for Southern Indepen dence. She has undoubtedly today more survivors of the Confederate army in her midst than any other State. (Ap plause,). And yet the immense moral power that they might exercise for the best in terests of our people, is almost wholly lost for want of complete organization. Every county should have its quota of cam |ts. Compare our gallant brethren' of tin* West and Southwest in this re gard, with ourselves At the recent reunion in Charleston, the roster of organized camps showed SO for North Carolina; n larger number it is true than ever before; but Louisiana had S 9. Tennessee 72. Mississippi 7(5. Missouri (whom some count as hardly of the Confederacy at all, remembering the troop she furnished the United States) had 77 and Arkansas the same. But Alabama presents a roll of 101 camps. Georgia 120. South Carolina 12.». and Texas the grand array of 234 camps. Remembering tin* comparative quota of South Carolina and North Carolina on the battle field, and comparing her 125 with our 50, which it but one more than Kentucky, and six more than A ir ginia, we see at once that action is need, to place us. as a people in our rightful position. CONFEDERATES ALWAYS STICK. 1 have already taken steps, for corre spondence with veterans in every coun ty of the State, and xvitli your active and earnest co-operation, hope to see our roll of camps doubled, aye quadrupled, as it should be. I*et us take courage from our distant brethren, proud of hav ing followed the Southern battle flag, who were represented at their reunion, from enini** formed in Ohio, and Massa chusetts. and two camps were repre sented from far-way Montana. (.Ap plause.) As in all our history, we have been slow at first, living apart from each other, in our country life, but when we do move, we stick there. (Applause). One of the leading objects of this as sociation, while it opens its doors to all Confederates, is to build up regular camps of North Carolina Veterans. The necessary literature* will he provided, and the most cordial relations established between this body and the headquarters of the organized camps, of which I have the honor to be Division Commander in our State. I ask and urge your help in this work, not only for the rea son stated of our meagre representa tion, lint because when this organization is nropcrly effected, it will be in posi tion to aid the worthy and disabled veteran, to do its duty by the suffer ing widows of tin* departed heroes, to set* that the future now looming up of this grand State, is in harmony with the glorious records of the war, land all her traditions, transmitting to jwis terity the principles which can alone keep this people free, prosperous and happy. COMRADES THAT HAVE FALLEN We have to mourn the loss of noble fellow soldiers, as the long roll of the departed grows from year to year. With out meaning to be invidious, I can not forbear to name the late Henry Clay Wall, who has not long since been laid to rest with his fathers*. A brilliant sol dier and true patriot, his devotion to the underlying principles of the Confederate cause, and his pride in the achievements of the troop* of the “Old North State.” were prominently demonstrated by his active and successful efforts in the last General Assembly to obtain the pasasge of legislation requested by this assoeia- * •tion, and its eouuuittees.- Oonspicious among these was his service in the pas age of the net for the publication of tile history of our regiments during the war. which has been referred to. and will live in the memory of this body. It was my melancholy privilege to at tend the obsequies of the late Major General Harry Heth. formerly in com mand’ of a division of North Carolina troops, in the flower of the army of Northern Virginia. You will not forget that he never ceased to express his ad miration of that superb body of soldiers as the equal in soldierly courage and dauntless resolution of the noblest he roes in history. To represent you on that sad occasion was both a duty and a privilege. Permit me to suggest that a Commit tee on Necrology might well he appoint ed at each annual meeting to compile brief sketches of Confederates of dis tinction who served in North Carolinian organizations, anil have died during the current year of the meeting. In tin* expressive words of Col. Bennett: “Let i:s gather up the fragments." A MONUMENT TO THE WOMEN. I cannot close this address, without a reference to the undertaking by L. , O'R. Branch Camp. U. C. V.. of Ral eigh, under the enthusiasm of its | Commander, A. R. Stronach, to erect a monument in the city of Ral ' cigh, in Nash Square or other suitable site, to the women* of North Carolina, who were the first and last friends of the Southern soldier and his cause. (Ap plause). By unofficial information, we learn . that the camp has not only determined upon this step, hut has set aside from its funds a liberal gift with which to begin the subscription. It has often been said among our men of the ranks that it ought to be done, that posterity might know something at least of the everlasting gratitude of our hearts. Now let us see that it is done. (Applause). Can it he necessary that u formal recommendation be made this body in behalf of such a recognition of the ]M*er leiss women of Sixty-One, and their successors? (Cheering and cries of “no,” “no"). Gifted with the intuition of her sex. intelligent and cultured, the women of the South understiMid well that the path of honor and duty was plain, and what ever of pain, horror, and sacrifice it in volved must Ih* endured. (Applause). With one hand she waved her lover, hus band. father, or child, a cheerful good bye, to the tented field or the cannon's mouth; with the other she clasped a broken heart bleeding from the severed ties of her happy home forever de stroyed, and filled with the apprehen sion of evil befalling the country she was proud of. (Loud applause). With all her pain and tears. she never ceased’ to work, to inspire the doubtful, to strengthen the weak, labor for the needy, and cheer the gallant hoys us the trenches. (Applause). She guided the farm, cared for the chil dren. controlled the servants, and di rected the crop-making. (Applause). She clothed the troops, knit their stock ings, made accoutrements, prepared blankets from her carpets, and improvis ed a substitute for the icoijfforts of life out off by a remorseless blockade. Often she actually ploughed the grow ing fields, and sowed the grain. (Cheers and applause). In the hospitals she was the minister ing angel. No matter how repulsive the task, hers was the steady hand and faithful touch, however, the heart might falter within. All ministrations of med ical skill over, she prayed by the dying, shrouded the dead, and read tin* solemn words of God over his coffin. His grave has been watched and tended by her loving care, and his memory em balmed in her breast. (Applause). Fearless in danger, unmoved by in sult and persecution, unaffected by flat tery or subtle arts, scorning the threats of military power, she was the life and soul, and inmost spirit of the strug gle for Southern Independence. (Ap pla use). Let all our manhood rally to this de termination to leave before we pass away, a memorial to her devotion, as solid and steadfast as her immovable sense of duty; as graceful in its beauty as the loveliness of her person ami character, as pure in its spotless marble, as her stainless and exquisite life, and pointing forever upward to that home, not made with hands, her everlasting habitation. (Applause). Permit me to close these remarks by the expression of my grateful ap preciation of your kind supjjqrt and or my belief that it lies in your power through your concerted action, to do much for the welfare of the aged vete ran, and for the. preservation in history of the just record of those eventful years that are the proudest in our lives and the most glorious in* the annals of North Carolina." (Cheers and loud applause.) Grocers aVe braver than anilkmen; the former have sand, hut the latter take water. The Pure Food Question Is not a new question with us. We have beeD advocating pure food for more than a *;o£t n years, and we are rejoiced to s*e others taaing ic up. We like to see men •f science taking hold of it and showing people the necessity #f eating Only Pure Food, and demonstrating it by analyti cal and other scientific tests, and we think that everybody should read Prof. Wither’s lecture on this important question. We ad vocate pure food buying and pure food eating, in the only practical way by buying and sell ing only that which is pure. Our prices may not always be the lowest, but they are as low as the class of goials we deal in can be bought at. “PURE FOOD IS OUR MOTTO” Thos. Pescud, GROCER. In new quarters—3os Fayetteville ttt n •ppoeJte the postoffice.
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 22, 1899, edition 1
2
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