American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-04-07
GRAFTON BY HON. II. W. HlLLIARD,
Church Sabbath School, Augusta,
Ca, October 80, 1865,

Dled mere within these coDSecrated nall
to pay tribute to the memory of th'
dead. We do not come to offer our con
gratulations to the living, nor to swell
the pomp of triumph that greets the
conqueror.
1t is one Of the noblest instincts Of oul
nature that prompt us to honor the mem
ory of the good, brave, and the generous
From the earliest ages it has been Gus
tomary to inscribe their names on mon.
uments. and to hang garlands on their
graves.
Especially is tribute due to the mems
ory of those who have fallen in defense
of their country. The death of the true
and heroic always awakens our grief
and our sympathy. But when the spirit
of self,sacri6ce impels to danger and
death, we find it impossible to withhold
our admiration Our nobest faculties
are appealed to, and we strive to perpet,
uate the memory Of the fallen martyrs to
humanity.
Pericles. the illustrious Athenian,
whose genius shed immortal glory over
his country; whose craftsmanship ad-
vanced bis power; whose heroic spirit
led her brave sons to battle against over
whelming numbers, and whose eloquence
so moved his countrymen that they com.
pared it to thunder and Lightning, was
chosen to pronounce an Grafton in honor
of those who had fallen in the early part
of the Peloponesian war. Standing
before his couRtrymen assembled to
hear HMM the presence of all that
was most important in Athens-her
scholars, her statesmen, he::' artists-he
declared it to be 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
animates US all. Those who die in de-
fense Of their country fall sacrifice for
US all. No transient glow of gratitude
prompts us to honor their memory. We
recognize it as deb. 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 to withhold The tribute
of our admiration from those who toll
and suffer for our race; who yield them.
selves up in the spirit Of sef,saoriGce 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
tion of nobleness. Ifwith true manhood
be stands firm in the presence of danger,
and confronts death for the sake of
others, he cannot die in vain. He is at
once hero and a martyr. The pilot of
a steamer on one Of our great lakes, who
stood at his post unshrinking in the
midst of the tempest Of fame that wrap
ped the illfated vessel which he guild
ed-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 had not yet
reached The order was given to 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 snore. The
captain called out to the pilot to stand ct
The helm for FIVE minutes more. He re,
Piled that be would. And be did. The
1smes scorched him, but he did MOI
yield his iron grasp. When the shore
was reached, all on board rushed for ;
heir lives. Not one perished. But that
heroic man was seen standing at the
post Of duty, scorched and blaekened by
he FIRE which swept around him with
destructive fury. Who would not hon>
,r such man? So OF those who haze
allen in the defense Of their country.
They perished for others. Pericies is
light. Its debt Of justice to pay su !
,erior honors to their memory.
The war in which the Athenians had /
allen, whose memory Pericles wished to i
onor, was q civil war. Several of the c
tates Of the Peloponesus, with their a
lies, took up arms against Athens and
ther States Of Greece. But this did not :
bill the ardor of the illustrious Athenian. {
Ihen be spoke Of those who bad fallen 7
l the defense Of their couatry. Nor did , ,
stint the tribute OF praise which their !
ountryuen bestowed on them. when
bey assembled to pay the decreed hon
RS to their memory. So. too. Of the
tie war which shook this continent; it c
Iss a civil war. No foreign nation sent J
s hosts against us. No foreign banners
aunted 10 our sun-lit skies. No foreign
syonet pierced the hearts Of those who