Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-06-08

world. these are the graves OF soLuieis
only. of soldiers who fought and fell IN
unsuccessful war; whose yalOr and zeal
won the ephemeral applause OF their Eel
low men, but failed to achieve the SUD
stantial rewards of victory and success,
but we know that with these dead the
martial powers and heroic valor, con-
spicuous and dashing as hey were, were
but the necessary and incidental adorn-
ments of virtues, which, in peace as IN
war. are the foundations Of all true man
hood. the springs of all true life.
Theirs indeed was the courage which
blazed in the face of danger, but theirs
also was the modesty, that could per
form heroic deeds and spurn the fame
of their achievement; theirs, lndeed,wa
the zeal that oyercame suffering and sac
ritice. but theirs also the unselhshneSs
that could lay upon the altar of ITS
faith. comfort and wealth, reputation
and life. all things that men most eager
" covct and strive after in this world,
without murmur, and without boast
of sacrifice and theirs also the un-
shrinking devotion to duty that made
this life of danger, suffering and sacrifice
a courted destiny. These are the mem
cries which we arc permitted to recall
on such 4 day as this, for these were the
qualities with which the dead were in
vested when they moved in life among
us. qualities so rare among men that the
world can afford to lose no manifesto
ton Of them.
Is it then mere sentiment that
brings us to these services ! Are there
no lessons for the living to Ice learned
at the graves of the dead! When the
bands of earthly kinshiP and sympathy
are smdcrei. are not the influences OF
such 4 place and such 4 day, SO many
incentives to urge Us 10 seek Nnshlp
and sympathy with their noble qualities
and their unSuIlied virtues Al, We
need such shrincS as these more and
more, each passing year, we need such
lessons to he urged upon lis by voices
we cannot refuse TO hear. /AmId the
hustle and tumult, amid The rivalry and
contention, amid the vain and hot Pur-
suits of busy liff~ the whispcrings of
modeSty, the tender plcadiugs of unset
tishneSs, the clarion voice of duty are
UNDECIDED or uuheard and happy is the
people which rs the air thickcus with
the cXhalations of moral and political
decay as gross and naked soliishucs>
becomes the sole commended and rrcog
nizcd law OF human intercourse ; Is the
blight Of matcrialisln hardcns and dead
ems every high and generous Impulse Of
mat spiritual being, as the duties ot
patriots in the ties OF blood, the honor
of family, the confidential trusts of life,
are rated at 4 price in the current coin
of the day; happy, indeed,is the people
that can and Will gather TO snch a spot
a. this, bringing the flowers that fade
with the morrow's sun and taking hence
a garland 10 make their own lives fra
grant forevermore. Let us, therefore,
guard with increasing tenderness, let us
invest with increasing significance, this
customary tribute to the memory of our
dead, decming it privilege dccming it
a duty, to gather at their graves, not
with SumptuouS offering, not with pomp
Of ceremony and simulated expressions
of sorrow, but with hearts warmed TO
grateful sympathy and open to every
cnnob'ing influence ;hat hoycrs about
their uudccaying shrincs.
Let us meet, not to call up the spec
tres of hate, not to foster and rckindlc
the passions and arrangements of war,
nor vet, in mean subsurviance 10 the
fashions of the hour, to insult the memo
ricS Of Our dead, by dubious praise, nor 10
record or own littlcncss in words OF
excuse and Of apology for them. What
though the banners they followed be
turlcd forever What though the cause
ON which they layishcd all their soldier
lyyaIor and heroic virtues he lost for
ever? Such devotion TO Truth and duty
are beyond the reach Of conquest and
decay. immortal and inyinciblc. for
Virtue the strength and beauty of'he soul
/, the best gift Of heaven; happiness
Tha, even above The smiles and irowns Of fate
Exalls great Natures fsyortes.
Let us also pcrpctultc along with
this tribute, The unrrotcnding ccremo-
ny by which It is offered, so impressive
in lis simplicity, SO enhanced to-day by
the properties Of place and Of time.
For where can the Southern soldier
more fifty rest, his warfare ended, than
here upon the borders Of his Southern
land. with tie blue mountains to guard
him and yondcr rolling river to sound
his requiem? When could loving
friends more fifty meet TO honor lis
memory than on this the opening day
of summer when from natures face all
SIGNS of death and decay are bIniShcd,
and only the communings Of our own
hearts can bind us to the dead ? And
what rarer Offering can We bring than
flowers blessed by the love OF woman q?
Purity and unselfishncSs. beauty and
moiesty, love and duty, yalor and he
roism, meeting and blending IN the Nv
ing and the dead For If there lac
aught in the moral world that is pure
and unscllish. if there be ANY cord still
answered reaching back iajo lhesiuIess
purity OF orr race it Is the love OF
mother, wife, sister. daughter, when
that love has tcen chastenct by the fire
of affection or consccratcd 10y the seal
Of death And if there he IN the mate
rial world, blurred and stained as it is,
by the lansc of those that dwell nnnn II