Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-06-20

~ can we exhibit-being under the ban
of proscrp,ion-our devotion to the 'lost
cause" and i,s buried martyrs. than by
sire wing their graves with the treasures
OF the floral realm believed with tears Of
love and Of gratitude. pray you. never
yield to the hypocr,ical suggestions OF
those who would induce you 10 believe
! that these annual commemorative offerings
are productive of no good. bu, rather tend
TO keep alive the seeds Of dlscorG and TO
! fan the flames OF sectional strife. Let
perform our duty regardless OF conse-
quences. Shall We forsake friend be-
cause the world persecu.es him. Shall
we forge, or neglec, to pay respect 10 The
memory OF those who fell in our defence
and in the defence OF Truth because enc.
mics and fslsehood are for while TIL
umphan, Must the cause OF justice, be-
cause stunned and felled TO the earth, be
not only forsaken. bu! forgotten and bur.
led on, OF sigh, 7 Already have we yield.
ed much. This we cannot, must not
yield; we will hot endorse Fslsehood, be-
cause Truth is de,hroned; nor will we
fail 10 honor our fallen defenders, because
Falsehood brands them traitors.
II is over the dead body Of its leader.
that an enemy often reiiieves iis reVerses
aud puts TO Aigh, pursuing foe. So
over the stunned and PROSTATE form OF
Truth, may Falsehood be checked and
d,iven back in dismsy. Though Truth
be PROSTATE, and Iampled beneath the
feet of victorious foe, it is. /, can be
bu, a momentary pros,ra,ion. Truth
crushed to earth will rise again" and our
fallen cause will rise with her. Princl-
pies for which these sleeping heroes fell.
cannot die. nor will we yield them up
as lost. a, the suggestion Of their opPo.
nents.
As much as deprecate civil strife. as
much as long for political peace.i would
no, consent TO appease The one. or TO Sc
cure the other, by a base and unmanly
betrayal OF our Southern dead. or by an
! ipnominiou. deserlion OF the great princl-
plies that prompted them TO action. But
were we willing and base enough to do
either or both OF these things. would the
| performance thereof bring us political
rest consider .ha. to do these things
would be to sggrave. not to cure. II
| would be TO Sc, the heel Of Tyranny more
firmly on the neck of Truth. and 10 retard
the on coming reaction in favor Of that
PROSTATE virtue, that is even now gaming
strength day ny day. and which. we hope
and trust. will ere long sweep from place
and power the opponents OF those very
principles for which they. our fallen
coln,rymen. Tough, and died. Those &C
counted the traitors in the present, ase
destined to be, as they are, the universal.
w acknowledged patriots Of the future.
lie, falsehood Gant as it may. and call tue
worst passions OF misguided. will o',he-
wisp led people TO its adm The ?FoSi-
dence Of the Grea, Eternal it is prcde,er-
mined TO defeat: the gres, agency in bring
ing about this result will be Truth-,he
centre star Of all tina, is valuable and per-
msnenrly lasting. alike in Religion and
Morals, az we'll as in foli'iGs.
Then, neither as a matter Of policy, nor
for any other cause. ought we 10 relin-
quish single principle Of Right Where
in have those Wings which we have al
ready yielded, prof,ed US? Has not
each civil RICH, tina, we have given up. as
peace offering. brought along with II an
additional INSULT has not each relin.
quishmen, OF an attribute Of our manhood
-presented as an olive leaf-been greet
ed with scorn and srcerings! Has no,
injory been heapeI upon insult 10 such
an extent. that our political humiliation is
Gample,e and full! Add could malice,
envy and hatred have accomplished the
result. our social condition would have
been lowered 10 The depths of infamy,
Then. wha, have We 10 expect by offer
ing our dearest right. and privileges up.
on the altar OF pesee' A voluntary re-
linqui.hmen, OF one single RICH. or privi-
lege. would debase US more than 10 be
robbed Of them all.
In vain have been our efforts a, conrll-
isiion. Truth 10 spurned=-ju.tice tramp.
led under foot--our honor dead, DETAINED
ourselves degraded Shall we still
attempt Cancellation! make a yet further
sacrifice Of principles and OF our manhood
by yielding 10 the unnatural suggestion
advanced by some. that We should for.
bear to engage in these commemorative
ofIerings-,hst We should deem our
Cause no, only clos; cause" but dis
honored cause. and consign il and every
thing connected herewith. except the 81.
prescription "rreason." 10 az cplivious
gravel This history Of iha world. as
weR as ops own experience. a,iests. that
cancellation can accomplish nothing for
the esuse Of Truth. Let Us then, discard
ing all suggestion, Of this character, let
Us. as a sacred duty. as each vernsl sea-
son comes round with its green leaves. its
vsriested blossoms. and its lragran, flow
frs. gather these beauieous treasures Of
Nature. and with them s.rew the mounds
Of earth tina, rest above the bono'ed dust
Of our Southern Heroes, Most worthy
aIe they of this tribute Of affection and
gratitude. Their country, tho despoiled.
dcsola,ed. decorated. by the ruthless
HANGS OF her foes. cannot refuse them this
tribute; Natures boun,eous supply Of
beautiful Anwtr.. is sll that she has left
with which to ornamen, their tombs.
Srew their graves then with these ex.
pr~.slve rmhlcms OF love and puri,y-em-
blem. Of our love for these fallen ones.