Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-06-25
an 0RiTl0H.
ToR rHE ROBERTSON PRIZE MEDAL DELIVERED
AT EMJRY HsSRY COLLEGE
JUNE 9TH, 1863.
SUBJECT; Only the Truly Great
deserve the Nations GrStttude.
BY ". a. SHORTER.

Far in the East, hen time with man was
young, was first seen to rise the Star Of his
destiny. Ever since, the human race has
been drifting down times broad Ocean and
generation after gensration has passed be-
meath its billows, till we Of the present have
our existence.
Standing to day beneath the clear sky Of
the nineteenth century, lighted up by the
reflected glory of many ages, blessed with
degree Of enlightenment that none before
have ever enjoyed, the true worth of man
his real value to himself and country-ean
be weighed with even handed justice. The
bro I'd fact stares us in the face, that we
must do something noble, something true
and generous, something for the good of
mankind, il we would I've for God and our
fellow man, for the gratitude Of our cOun-
try and to add one spark Of true lustFe to
the name and renown Of our people.
Looking back to the wars of departed
ages, to Empires that have been created
and destroyed, b holding the birth aud
watching the progress of nations, wo see
| that it was thea as it is to-day. Men, who
have enjoyed the smiles of fortune and Of
wealth, though ,heir hearts be blackeped
with avarice, ambition and vice, rise with
the sun Of nations glory, clothed in its
powers and i;s honors. While the hard
X
true interest Of his country, who sheds his
blood in battle in defense of its institutions
and laws, whose heart beats with patriotic
zeal, without place in his nations history,
finds his grdre "unhonored and unsung."
| Brutus, with n glowing love for power
and n false love for country, murdered the
| mighty General Of his people. Napoleon,
| wet with the blood OF his cOuntrymen
marched TO the imperial throne. In usurp-
ing The high powers Of his government, he
pleaded devotion to the liberties of her
people. Cromwell, setting ks high hopes
on the royal garb; with his heart fxed on
ruling the destiny of England, claimed 10
be friend TO progress and freedom. Men
who have thus won their way to posterity
are not truly great, but rather a ruin to the
world and q curse TO themselves. But We
know to day that he is great, who labors
for the good Of man; who comforts the dis
trcssed and broken hearted who helps the
needy. who has pure and honest heart, it
matters not whether he is rich or poor
Men whose actions are in sympathy with
christianity and civilization, whose bosoms
are filed with affection for afflicted humaui-
ty are worthy Of nations Gratitude. He,
who is thus great, works for no monumen.
tai structure TO keep alive his memory but
his life is spent in building n monument OF
| affection in the hearts OF his country men
For his epitaph he wants no gilded letters
, | fixed ia costly marble, but living, speak
ing sigh, flowing from the gratitude Of those
, whose wants he has supplied, whose suffer
iDgs he has lightened, aud into whose heart.
he has poured the light Of Joy and set III,
: fire Of Revelation. We see around rs ouI
homes and cities destroyed our feds strip
J ped Of their yerdure, many Of our people
/ poor and ignorant and the bones Of our
kindred scattered Some lie far from home
resting on unkn ,wn couehes, over whose
lowly he'd loving mother cannot shed a
tender tear, nor can gentle sister cast
! one flower upon the bosom Of her fallen
) brother.
Who, then, fears that he cannot bscome
! great Here Is work for all to do. Il re-
mains for rs, by teaching the ignorent, Il
] add light to the ris ng genius Of our country
: The tOttsring chmneys that nos stand :,
e mourning monuments throughout the land
: must yield their places 10 shops and { .cto
g ri,s, By the side Of every stream and rip
, pling rill, where nov the eye Is met b,
t darkness and gloom, mast be heard tn
Q clashiny noise Of machinery, mingliDg il
4; sweet melody With the sonId of ceaseles
. industry. The full development OF our re
3 sources, moral, physical and intellectual
T. rests with US.
d Like mama, thrown from heaven by tn
q hand Of Col, we can place bread at tn
y doors Of the starving women AMI cbildrel
Il Of this country. Yes, let wave Of kind
) neSs, lowing from our aching hearts, glad
den the bosom Of our land and let us re
solve, by the blessing Of God, TO make thi
Il the home Of freedom, an asylum for thu ex
}, lilo aud oppressed, land 10 which the pow
: er of love aud the goodness Of God are felt
/ -. 0NaNa
i needy widows, do not despise, but help o n
, respect them for their husbands are sleep
u ing a noble sleep.
3 when we meet the littlo orphans Of ou
) fallen countfymen, do not stand by ami Sc
!. them starve and suffer, but clothe and ed
d ucate them teach them the rules Of 10
% dustry aud the sacred wJrd OF their make
Df for their fathers and bruthers are pruull
d sleeping laid low with the buried caus
10 for which they fell.
a When We see throughout our land N
N crippled aud one armed soldier, we have o
7, rignt to think that because the battle
r over aud lost, that we should not do hil
Il honor that because he Is nov poor, sn
the gray jacket which he wore in the sci
: vice Of his county is now torn and ragged
l. aud he himsslf Scared with the wounds
n battle, Is any reason why we should NJ
10 claim him as our friend aud brother. b.
~ on the other hand we hear the holy yOC
e. Of ChFsianity, the noble pleadings Of maj
70 ly justice, the plsint.ve tones. flowing froi
k. the bosom Of humanity, and the inspire
rs whispers that now rise from tho "Stars an
es Barr" the blood stained banner Of our pee
OF Pile, telling as to love and protect him.
! We mast iift the folds Of darkness frol
10 the minds OF the people, and through III
r. holy medium OF Christianity set free ii
l II. Ia -. II nd Iaf h. Il
I'd impulses Of their natures sparkle wit
hopes OF freedom and civil ition.
e, Men at pres, nj arc to- apt TO judge
VI man's greatness frChf his wealth or Tepntl
e. ton, while the poor labOrer Is disregsrd-d
as Ia the minds OF all sensible men, who lOV
ut right, who follow the car of justice as
OF moves forward, sneh opinions must CIV
DO way before sound jRigment aud The hAI
Is logic Of eommon sense.
n The time must come when we, as PEI
1g pie, will honor the hero OF tho workshop
~ much as the mighty general, the meehan
es ss philosopher sRd tho farmer as a state
- man.
~ To become great, old opinions must fac
le away, our prOnl Thoughts must crumbl
be our hears must b. cicansed, and IN them
n, new altar built, and kindled with q hl
d, caught by q spark from Heaven. All mu
ar engage 10 this god work who do not vii
as To see that lght that has led christlanit
I'll science aud eiyiliEsiiJn to the west, fas
to from our Ky fervvor. aid who would n
IN sti6s that love Of justice snl tight that Al
~ with valor the breasts OF men. Anoth
- generation will rise Just In time toeAtch o
nd fAllirg mantle. and may IL descend from
.s- people great and good.
by Lot us, moved aud animated BY d
Is. love for tho Great God who made rs,
les lava Z humanity and a Iowa fur tha Ia
les N which We live, apply the healing balm
nd he bleeding wounds az 0ut eonniiy, tea
al hsr TO cherish this loft -..,,..sA ot chr
aTs IlSniy, Of ladaslry, aud hAleTaAl love.