The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-05-23

positions reserved by destiny for our loved
and venerated chiefs, we had to be content
in our highest aspirations with subordi
nate stations; and even our sainted Jack
son, leaving behind memory as fragrant
in the church Us In the State, ascending
amid the blazing glories Of Chancellors
ivi!e, was checked in his upper fight by
prior occupancy of the summit. But the
night came, and ApponattoX made can
dIdates for seats among the branches of the
willows; and rs that vacant niche, so lone
awaiting occupancy, arrested attention, an
adoring people and an almiring world, with
that unsolicited suffrage which modest
worth, attested by unsought trial, alone
could command, turned instinctiyely. to.
wards one. Made notorious only because
duty made him conspicuous, the transpa-
rent potleness of his >high nature, in sun.
| shine aud shade, had revealed all the ele.
ments which imagination had conceived as
essential to constitute the stature Of q per-
feet manhood. The heated furnace had
as yet ELECTED no alloy in the appa-
rent gold. An eNpectant world in breath
less interest awaited the result of this
last, this terccst of fierce trials. The agony
Of suspense was only protracted to enable
the tcmpter to ply his arts. Temptation
! came, but not to him fIOm unfriendly and
| unappreciatine sources. The ycriest ske ptic
| III human virtue was aWed into reverence
I by the severe symmetry of his moral stat
ure, and malice in conscious impotence
shrank from the vain essay to sully the
spotless fame ofa secured past. The tempter
came rs to noble natures he is prone to
come, in the alluremcnts OF sympathizing
| friends less equal to the high requirements
| Of the occasion.
| 1t was plausible suggestion that after
| such heroic conservation to duty as had
| characterized an already extended life, IN
view Of the realized purposes of Proyi-
dence, he might without dishonor and
| without reproach rest from his labors-and
the suggestion was enforced by counsels
| and solicitations, and proffers of assured
ease and comfort, to withstand which ex-
acted Il higher manhood than Spotsylyania
or Gettysburg. The demand was met. 1t
mattered not to him that the day was far
spent and clouds intercepted the smiling
rays Of sunlight.
| The Masters order was to work while
| the day lasted, and the only voice which
| he heard from frowning Providence bade
him suffer and be strong. Needing none
other. he put from him with a gentle firm
ness which silenced persistent entreaty
every suggestion for an old age Of ingloriou>
| inactivity. and with the ardor of youth sat
out to foot the new paths which blazed
| before him. An English noblcman, think
| ing he would rejoice in some place of re-
treat from his aflliction, wrote to offer him
q splendid country seat and handsome
annuity. He nobly replied, ~ am deeply
grateful, but | cannot consent to desert
INV native State in the hour Of her
deep adversely. I must abide her for
tune and share her fate The glories
OF Manassas and Spotsylvania paled. The
ltempler vanished. The award Of destiny
was assured, and awaited only the too
lready death scene At Lexington to elevate
this mijcStic form TO that vacant niche
wherein It's faultleSs proportions tit with
such exact nicely rs to challenge from every
bcholder recognition Of the handwork OF
the supreme Architect of the Universe,
land yindicate before men tie orGcrings ot
that mysterious Providence which made
Robert L. Lee the hero Of 4 lost CAUSE.
aud there, upon either hand, in assured
tpos>cssion from the very apex OF fame, look.
ling down upon the nations, stand the two
great irginians-cNcmplaTS through ii
looming time Of that lofty type Of humanity
(which success cannot intoXicate and diSas
ter cannot overwhelm. Rep c$entatiyc lner
of the fathers, as high Is IS their elevation
I 50 deep Will be the degradation Of the sons
of Virginia il the le,>DuS Of their lives anC
the Light o. their example be unt.ceGcd.
| NItll anu D.SSIitBs SAiit II wv - 'i5 al
1.-The manhood Of Virginia buried with the
lmartyrs Ct her lost cause? Is This Greece
but living Greece no more? The past can
in0t be the only heritage we must transmit
Ito our children. The present IS to conSti
ltute part and parcel of their past, with &c
erection of honor or humiliation of shame
III our past be the subject Of honest pride
lit heeds us to remember that to whom
much is given Of them much shall be re
uuired.f Can we meet that reqiisltiOn by
r;t1rulous narTationS and yaln-glOriOu;
boasts of what the fathers did and suffered
without intelligent conception Of the NOR,
OF Their lives and earnest emulation of theil
virtues:
That is 4 fearful misconception of oul
past which embarrasseS our reverence for II
with tic passions and animosities Of the
fiery trials which elected the high virtue:
that constitute its glory. And if that past
be only cherished 10 keep alive the dying
clnbcrs Of sectional strife and tralcrna
dscord, better that it lie buried ii
the water Of Lethe forever. We rever,
(thank God, the appliances OF power have
never yet forced us with lying lip TO deny
the reverence,) we will revere and viii
teach the dear little prattlers that gather
round our hearthstones, and bid them
when the sods Of the valley cover our bones,
teach their children and their chidrens
children to revere that old Confederate gray
which wraps the forms OF our loved and
lost, and that battle.Scarrcd flag once 50 de-
iiant but now forever llTled, beneath which
tnev fought and bled. To this southern
people that uniform and flag must always
iypity the lofty virtue which illustrated
| their brief and eventlul history and stimu
late to emulation with all the emphasis Of
ancestral example. The grosser pas
siOns of the occasion which ELECTED
the exhibition of such virtue, and the an
tagonisms and antipathieS OF 1lagrant wal
cannot long survive among gallant peo
pie who apprehend and vcneTate the mora
oi such 4 history, and the more it Is studied
and cherished the speedier and the mort
complete will be the breaking-down o!
eyerv barrier which interceptS the commu.
Mon of soul and soul and the clasp Of hano
;. and hand between the true and brave
hearted of the North and South, those who
wear the triumphant colors OF the blue
and those who cherish the memories OF the
buried giories Of the gray.
And who will not hail such q consumma
ton! Not one OF you, my brethren ot The
mystic tie. While the Obligation we vene'
rate imposed no obstacle in our rend2rln.
the fullest allegiance to our country-nay
more, enjOined and stimulated the lOttlest
heroism which illustrated the annals OF bat
tlc-it is our honest, truthful vaunt thai
not upon us rests the guilt Of invoking
tnternul strife, of adding fuel to the
flames of civil war, or pepetuating it,
angry passions. II Masonic renlonstrancc
had been needed, battle had never been
Ijoined; il Masonic example had been
followed, its tierciest passions had been
tempered; if Masonic spirit had pre-
vailed, the peace which reigns i'll re-
united household, clustering with commu'