The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-06-30
Southern Memories.

A cotemporary very reasonably asks the
question, "Will it ever become burdensome or
annoying to the people of the South to read or
to hear of the Southern Confederaey-its glo-
ries, its triumphs, its defeats 2"
The question has more than once occurred to
us. and we sometimes fear that, with large
class of our people, the records of the grand
struggle for Southern independence have be-
come wearisome.
We are all, more or less, yielding to the in
huences which are operating to bury the mem
ories along with the animosities of the past.
The age is decidedly materialistic, and we are
hurried along so rapidly as it were upon an
iron track that all of the old landmarks are
fading away in the distance. The stories OF
Southern valor and devotion seem to be grow
ing commonplace and tedious; soldier with
an armless sleeve dangling by his side, or
wooden leg to supply lost limb, excites but
little interest; all appeal for charity does not
receive more attention because 1t may come
from widow and children who were left with
out support when an enemy's bullet pierced
gray Jacket or when lingering disease con-
sumed the life of a husband and father in
some hospital, away from home and perhaps
friends.
And this disposition to ignore so much that
should be cherished does not proceed from any
account of sheer Indifference and that forget
fulness which is so ungratetul, and it is be-
coming more obvious every year. Our memo
ries are not cherished with the same fondness
that they were when fresh, and, with but too
many, the affections which were born of the
war lie buried far deeper than the heroes who
fell in battle or died in hospitals. This is seen
by the small number of persons who generally
engage in the floral decoration of the graves
of our fallen soldiers 1t is painfully evident
lin the unsightly condition Of neglected ceme-
teries where hundreds lie buried. But some
complain that it is waste of money to devote
it to the erection of monuments and the wall
ing of cemeteries. For this reason the bleach
ed bones of the fallen have whitened .ploughed
up battle-felds, and then mouldered to dust
and mingled with the common earth. But
such men have always pleaded against such
"useless" expenditures since the day when the
the woman poured precious ointment on the
Saviour's head and a disciple rebuked her for
waste of what might have been sold and
brought money into the treasury.
Let it be borne in mind that the South con-
tended for principle which is itself ETERNAL,
and although the arms which so long and so
gloriously upheld it have been conquered, yet
this controlling principle is an imperishable
treasure which is beyond surrendering, and no
earthly power can retrench the smallest frac-
tion from it. Then, ought We not to esteem it
no less privilege than a duty to hold in
grateful remembrance those who freely gave up
life itself in defending what we yet believe to
be right? And besides, right or wrong, we
should delight to honor the memory OF every
soldier because he was actuated by pure mo-
tives. And, if that time should ever come
when we of the South shall cease to cherish
these memories, we shall then show ourselves
unworthy to be called citizens under any gov
ernment, for he who deserts living comrade
or forgets fallen one, is fit only for treason
Piedmont LatcMgencer.