The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-11-14

Address Of E1-GoE Wise at the
Memorial Ceremonies at Win
chester, Va.
Mr.. Sherrard then introduced Gen. Henri,
A. Wise, whose appearance was greeted
with marked manifestations Of gratifica
ton, though the solemnity Of the occasion
was not disturbed by any audible demon
stratiOn. He said he had come to meet 6
mourning people in the holy ground o.
graves, the dust of which was more sacred
than that of kindred. They had met to dc
homage to the memory Of stricken heroes
who died for the land they lived in and
loved. He had come to invoke the spirits
of the mighty Confederate dead that they
might teach the living to live after theil
example. The dead were free, and Their
mausoleums to perpetuate their memory
They were above at headquartersin Heaven
and Heavens Adjutant would keep them
in the book Of martyrdom. They were
martyrs to law, liberty and right, and nc
malignity could injure them. Eternity has
the record of their work, and with them
all was we'll. They are now clad in al
armor more than bullet proof, as they were
approved Of heaven when they fell. His
friends was not dead, but yet lived, never
to die. He paid glowing tribute to the
character of Stonewan jackson, and held
up his life as an example for the young
men of Virginia to emulate. His faith
would be found saving faith. and history
will point to the fact that the Confederate
effort was sanctioned by the faith of Stone.
wall Jackson. He would not have walked
arln-and-arm into q convention with his
oppressor. He would not have consented
to pay the debts of his enemies and re-
pudiate his own. 1t was shameful to pay
for invasion and grudge to pay their own
debts. Stonewall Jackson would not have
consented to keep imprisoned his sick chief,
and Join hands with radicals, had he been
Vice President Of the Confederacy, and the
responses from the Confederate dead were
a sad rebuke 4
The cause which Stonewall fought for
and died for is maligned by calling it q
lost cause. The God Of Heaven laid down
his life that the cause might live-so with
these gallant dead. Except the seed die
it cannot bring forth" II lost, the cause
was false; if true, it was not lost. It was
not lost, and at the proper time will surely
illumine the world. Ifvictories could win
a cause then the Confederate cause was
won. It was not waiting for the resurrec-
ton or reconstruction, for the cause still
lives Stonewall jackson would not cry
out :" what better can we do9" when Con-
stitutional amendments might be offered,
because his faith was strong. The dark
est hour always precedes the raising sun,
and grace might come when least expected.
/" ALI things shall pass away, and all things
become new" So should old weaknesses
pass away, and light awake the world.
The aged might die before the day breaks,
but their children will see the dawn. They
must have patience and strive to bear on
without reproach or guilt. Should bitter
thoughts drive the youth from his native
land7 fthey give up indispair, and give
up the State for expediency and doubt, the
change will be loathsome to Virginia.
They should rather go to work. Stonewall
jackson had no capital, and he went to
work and he succeeded. The time had
come when the young men of Virginia
must take hold of the pillow, and 70 more
think Of "a life of idleness and mint-iulips,
Of syren retreats in summer and city bells
in winter. Stonewall jackson was not
ashamed to work at home, and by patient
toll he reached q position which shook
States to their centers.
The young men should stay at home, and
work at home, for there was no land SO
lovely to work in as the mother of them
all. He loved his own native land more
than all the outer world-no mongrel Vir-
GINA, but the Old Dominion which led the
armies and co1lnselsof the country for more
than three-quarters of century. She
could rot remain divided She was Old
Virginia still. He spoke Of the resources
of the State which must now be developed
that the incnbus Of negro slavery has
passed away. Of the prospects Of manu-
featuring development, with a water-power
equal to any in the world, and of the CON-
mercial development when the great trade
of the West as far as the Pacific coast, and
even to China, will find its way to the
Atlantic sea-board over her soil to Hampton
Roads. e 81
The negro was now free and would not
work--so the whole system Of agricul-
ture would have to be changed. The
change would be repulsive to their habits
but they must abide the result. Nothing
but fire and blood could make the change.
The Yankee did not do it. Negrodom
did it. God SO ordered the surrender. It
was to give them Caucasian race instead
Of q lazy negro race, and in the change the
lands would pay all the laborers worthy of
their hire. BE would not have them call
on the North, but put their own shoulders
to the wheel. The young men should
thrust aside their broadcloths and do that
which will pay debts and cause old age to
smile again. That is the life alone the
Confederate saints will approve. He
counselled the tillage Of her land and a
close application to its improvement by
making their own fertilizers--not by bor-
rowing money to pay them, or going IN
debt for them
A DIsPAss1oNATE VIEw.-A sensible cor
respondent ofthe New York Journal of
Commerce takes . dispassionate view Of the