Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-04-01
PRICE or SUBSCRIPTION.
ORATOR BY HON. II. W. HELLIARD.

Ladies and GcHtlEReH: We are assen
bied here within these cOnsecrated hal
20 pay n tribute TO the memory of th
dead. We DO not come TO offer our con
gratulatiOns 70 the living, nor to sWe
the pOmp Of triumph that greets tn
cOnquer0r.
Ills one Of the nObiest instincts Of on
nature that prompt Us to honor the mem
ory Of the good, brave, and the generous
From the earliest ages il has been Gus
t0mary 70 inscribe their names on mon
uments, and to hang garlands on tbei
graves.
Especially is q tribute due TO the mem
ory Of those who have fallen in defensi
of their country. The death Of the tru,
and the heroic always aWakens our grie
and our sympathy. But when the spiri
OF self-sacriice impels 10 danger anC
death, We find il impossible 10 withhold
our admiration. Our noblest faculties ar,
appealed to, and We strive 10 perpetuati
the memory Of the fallen martyrs TO hu
msnity.
Pericles, the illustrious Athenian
whose genius shed immortal glory ovel
his country whose craftsmanship ad.
vauced his power whose heroic spirit
led her brave sons to battle against ever.
whelmiugnumbers, and whose elOqUence
SO moved his cOuntrymen that they COM
pared it 10 thunder and lightning, was
chosen 10 pronounce an Orati6n in honor
Of those who had fallen in the early part
of the PelOpODnesian war. Standing
before ms COuntrymen assembled 10
hear HMM the presence Of all that
was most important in Athens-ber
scholars, her statesmen, her artists-he
declared it 10 be a debt of Justice TO pay
superior honors TO men who had devoted
their lives in fighting for their country.
The sentiment of the great Athenian
auimates Us all. Those who die in de-
fense Of their country fall a sacrifice for
us all. No transient glow Of gratitude
prompts u to honor their memory. We
recognize ii as a debt OF justice. The
living may wear the laurels they have
won. The dead can receive no reward
for their courage and their sufferings, in
this world, but that which the survivors
decree TO them.
1t is impossible 10 withhold the tribute
OF our admiration from those who toll
and suffer for our race; who yield them
selves up in the spirit Of self-sacrifice for
Others. No matter how humble the place
may be that one fills, who bears the bur
dens Of humanity, we yield him the in
voluntary homage Of a grateful recOgni-
ton of nObleness. II with true manhood
be stands firm in the presence OF danger,
aud cOnfronts death for the sake of
Others, he cannot die in vain. He Is at
once a hero and a martyr. The pilot Of
q steamer on one Of our great lakes, who
stood at his post unshrinking IN the
midst Of the tempest Of fame that
wrapped the illfated vessel which he
guided-was a hero. SO soon as it was
discovered that the vessel was on fire,
the passengers rushed to that part Of the
deck which the flames hsd not yet
reached. The order was given 10 head
the vessel for the shore. The flames
spread their fury toward the spot where
the faithful pilot stood. The vessel was
rapidly approaching the shore. The cap
tain called out to the pilot 10 stand ut the
helm for five minutes more. He replied
that he would. And he did. The flames
scorched him, but he did not yield his
iron grasp. When the shore was reached,
an on board rushed for their lives. Not
one perished. But that heroic man was
seen standing at the post Of duty,
seorched and blackensd by the fire
which swept around him with destructive
fury. Who would not honor such man2
So Of those who have fallen in defense Of
their country. They persisted for others. 4
Pericles is right. lt is a debt of justice |
10 pay superior honors 70 th5iT. memory.
The war IN which die Athenisns had 1
fallen, whose memory Pericles wished to /
honor. was a civil war. Several Of the /
States Of the PelOpOnnesus, with their /
allies, took up arms against Athens and /
other States Of Greece. But this did I
not chill the ardor Of the iIlustrious /
when he spoke OF those who 1
had fallen in the defense Of their country. |
Nor did it stint the tribute Of praise 1
ff4afGTrrraa
them, when they assembled to pay the 4
deereed hon0rs 10 their memory. 80, 1
too. Of the late war which shook this /
continent; it, was a civil war. No
foreign nation sent its hosts against rs. 1
No foreign banners Haunted in our sun
Iit skies No foreign b8yonet pierced /
the hearts Of those who fell lighting for
the Independence Of the S0uth. il wss
q fierce civil war. Men Of kindred
blood: descended from q COMMON an
eestry, inherit0rs Of the priceless glory
and freedom which the men Of the revo-
luton won for Us, confronted each other
IN battle.
The smoke Of the conflict went up TO
lie heavens. Itdimmed the sun by day,
aud darkeRed the guiding stars by night
States once harmonious had become dis
-ordaut and belligerent. The vaior dis
d
We feel nO disposition 70
ietract from the gallantry Of those who
took part against Us in the great contest
and upheld the power Of the United
States. But we know how 20 appreciate
lie higis-solled courage Of thosel who
.suged themselves in defense OF the
soush, and upheld heT banners against
overwhelming numbers. The South is
She has yielded the great
struggle. The States that undertook 70
an independent government
and lifted a new flag under our Southern
.kiss, taSe their places once more as
oval members Of the l,,,Yerfu repuoile
.hat extends its rule over the contnellyi
and while ii seats its Institutions IN full
view Of Europe on the Atlantic shore, at
TIE same time rears them in sight Of the
Asiatic nations beyond the Pacific. The
great battle has been lost by the South !
but it has been won by the Government
that embraces the whole county. That
Is our own. We shall re-
JOile in 81 prosperity, and contribute 70
ibe advaBaeu3eEt af ~ power ana glory
But ia resuming our religions 20 lilc odi-
er States ofthe American Union; we come
with Our hearts true 10 the states that
have teen OVerP0gered IN the great
struggle; hearts loyal, t6o, 70 the gov
ernment Of the United States,
We cannot forget those who feii IN de-
fense Of the South. We honor tl,emem-
CRY of our dead.
Aatured manhood, uudegeloped' youth
we lament them ALL Not tn. South
alone, but the true, the brave, The gene
rOus, Of the whole country, will say gar
lands on the grave OF the dead hero who
sleeps at Lexington; who by his steady |
h. f-Fa ri
StOnewaN, and whose Christian spirit |
famed with matchless ardor I'm the great
fight. The glory which he won shed
.usfre upon the American naIae His
fame belongs TO TIE WlOie lQuaary. No /,
marble yet marks tHe spot
where the lonely sleeper rests, hut il viii
set rise toward the skies, aud pilgrims
frora lie y forth, the South the East and the
West. viii meet there through tbs coming
gow that tlle war IS ended, true hero
Isa. is heToisnl, no matter IN what ranks
ID shone. No matter en which sl.e the
merits Of the struggle lay - 3 political
contest; no matter how ul0eb tr3 NJ We
ment that preeipitaisd The cogAu5 INTO
revolution may be c0ndemped and de-
rloted II is impossible 70 Withhold ouf
honoace froai lfle noble men VINO ranged
ibeToselves Ia ranks Of hattse 70 strike for
sIe homes that they loved and principles
fbaf they cherished. Their reDown is
fhe common property Of the nation. /
Hitherto the North and the South have 4
l,eeu rivals ln the arts Of peace, IN litera-
ture. IN Craftsmanship, IN the pursuits
uhieh enrich q people ROW they have 4
met In the shook Of battle, and they 4
know how 70 respect each other. II /
woaid be Q narrow bigotry indeed, that
reused 10 see and 10 holor hen0iG quali- /
fies on either side Of the line thai diFided /
the two great sections ia Their late
struggle.
we NAV well mourn our dead heroes. /
II the South lad been Triumphant, IL /
fbe light Of victory illumined her ban 1
ners. II to-day her fertile soil yielded It's 4
nroducts TO the labor Of ker people as in
former times, if she were prosperous-
her sons may be silent. Standing In the
midst OF the power ana splend0T Of free
and great State, We might leave to his
torv the task Of recording the uames Of
tbose who laid down their lives for her
sake. We should be content to see her
GLORY shine cut upon the nations. But
now, with her banners torn her arms