Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-05-07

1911 49, FAZ W ~ EaHH 3.
but the proves Of Di0medt the sacrf-
nee 81 lpnigeuIa, the philosophy 81
Plato and Aristotle and the verses 81
Homer made them immortal. Who
can tell thelasting influence of the life
and death Of great, good men upon the
history Of a nation and of ages. Though
dead their spirit stin pervade8 the
universe. Their presence b felt still
IN the councils Of their people, and in
the times of their adversely their
names are pillars Of strength against
which all lean.
The beautiful, the good and the he
role Of every age r always garnered
for the future.
u "a not how; some grains Of wheat
Inab snirbY centuries had been
Confined beneath a mummy's feet.
Ia anew world shot frasn and sweet.
aud the young crop ofhEing green
Grew golden in the summers heat"
1t was these glorious deeds. and
their sacrifices, the age and their
country demanded; our country need.
ed the times just past for the time
which Is 10 come. it needed its bit
ter experience, its struggles, its cOur-
age, its endurance and self-saCrifce.
Without these itWOuld, perhaps, have
been unprepared 10 fill its mission in
the destiny Of nations.
Yesterday was our autumn Of chill
ing winds and falling leaves; our ger
minating winter OF clouds and storms
and SHOWS. To-day is the springtime
with its bursting buds and an the
palpitating energies Of active life. and
Tomorrow it will be a summer OF
golden grain, when the reaDers
will be wanted. No period Of history
no era in q country's growth OF
greatness-ever saw the time when
such experience and such examples
were more needed. That they should
have so come, each in their season.
and tnat it should have so happened,
seems but a part Of that Divine ecOnO-
my which, when space was underlined
aud darkness was upon the face Of the
deep, said ''leb there be light and
there was light.
We are just now entering upon an
era IN which all Of those elements Of
greatness, so conspicuous in our
soldiers, will be most needed in our
people.
The everlasting war between liberty
and despOtism, knowledge and ignOr-
ance g yet raging. With the growth
Of empires and nations, nOtWithstaud-
ing the experience Of ages, human
government remains the most cOmDli-
Gated of sciences. In the increase OF
trade, and extension of commerce, pO-
litical economy, and the adaDtatian Of
the laws to the wants and cOnveu-
ienRes of men, becomes the most i'm
pOrtant Ofstudies and in the advance
ment Of the sciences and cultivation of
the arts, Individual education and eul-
ture must command the most serious
attention.
Nor must the private virtues Of in
dlviduals be neglected. The welfare
Of nations depends upon the private
character OF It's individuals. TOtilIa,
the Goth, was in the habit of saying
that public vice and public ruin went
hand In hand"
The old war between good and evil
is still being fought. The fable of
OrmUZd Ahrim8u is as true to-day
assWhen the Chaldeau wOrshiped his
orb of gold. 1t is as necessary to the
purity and perpetuity Of our iustitu-
tons that private morals be inculcated
as that political economy should be
studied. And i5 is fortunate for us of
the SOUth-fOrtunate for the time that
Is, and the years and generations that
are to cOme-that the private virtues
of the central fguresO Of this revolution
were as conspicuous as their military
genius and public worth. We see now
why the finger of destiny pointed them
to the pedestal of fame.
The immediate future is to be a time
OF grand designs, stupendOUs under
takIngs and many noble deeds.
1t will be especially an age of ac-
tiviJy. The human mind must x
pand to embrace all the realms of
knowledge, and human energy must
be equal to the appointed tasks. he
must
Live in deeds, not years; in thoughts,
not bresths; p
In feelings, o. in figures on q dial.
should time by heart tnrobs.
thinks most, feels the DobIest, acts
the best"
1t Is then, in conclusion, for our
for the present and future
glory Of our country that the memory
our heroic dead is priceless.
Let their virtues be perpetuated by
statues, sUOrried urn and mOnu-
mental shaft. Let History come with
her scroll, painting her canvass, and
sculpture her Chisel, ami transmit their
many virtues to the reLnOtest ages.
But above all and beyond all Of
5hese-nearer and dearer than all else 4
each year, as spring returns with her 1
nOrns of roses, her evenings radient /
her valleys rObe-fOlded in green
and her breast bouquet gardens of
lowers; let woman, in all her cOnstan-
" and tenderness and truth, come 60 |
his hallOwed spot, as at evening the~i
itars steal in Gods temple to worship,
ind with her signs and tears build her
monuments to the dead, more endu-
ing than marble.
GENERAL EnRnOE ]