The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-05-04
LETTER FROM MOBILE.

Editor Morning Star:
Last Monday-the day set apart by tn
Ladies' Memorial Association for the decora
ton of the graves of Confederate soldiers
was celebrated here in an appropriate manner
The places of business were generally closed
and many of them exhibited hodges of mourn
| ing. The immense clouds of dust that lowered
over the city throughout the day deferred
many people from joining in the pilgrimage to
the Soldiers Rest still there was a general
| outpouring of the people. The street cars
were crowded, every available vehicle in the
city was called into requisition, and all the
avenues leading to the cemetery were thronged
with pedestrians freighted with floral tributes.
Not u grave in the eternal camping ground "
was neglected; upon each head stone hung q
green wreath, and every lowly mound was
covered with flowers. The incomplete monu-
ment, and the mound upon which it rests, in
the centre OF the Rest, were covered with
howers garlands and scrolls, inscribed to the
memory of soldiers who sleep in distant fields.
The Grafton was pronounced b. Col. Thos
II. Herndon, a gallant defender of the Lost
Cause. find in the Register brief but excel
lent resume of the leading points of his address
which append:
He approached his patriotic task with n
touching alluson to the character of MANY of
those whose graves were before him. Stran-
gers, unknown heroes for whom no mothers
sisters, or widows planted flowers, but who at
this solemn, patriotic festival were the coun-
trys honored guests-though dead. higher
sentiment OF patriotic love and devotion re-
cognized them as gloriously baptized in blood,
sons Of Southern mothers. This he said, was
our part of the general tribute to the Confed-
crate dead wherever they fell, wherever they
SI,trro - III
land or sea- But here was a greater signifi-
canoe in this ceremony. It was n vindication
of principle, lofty reassertion of the faith in
the justice of our lost cause which animates
the great heart of the people. He wished to
say nothing that would CRATE harshly on the
ears OF any or enScnder animosities He bat
spoke to his theme, he but unbarred his heart.
We love our dead we respect ourselves. We
have been arraigned as traitors, stigmatized
as "rebcls" by selfstyled historians. Rebel
lion Is selfish; it's spirit is greed of power and
inspired by faith, supported by honor and de-
votion. Who shall say that Lee and jackson
had not these Time will vindicate US. We
the friends of our dead. We who can
speak and act come to testify against the stig-
ma of treason sought to be branded upon them.
We swear 1t IS not true; they were brave,
honest devoted men, who proved their faith
by the highest test-death We are net
ashamed of them. They have fallen, but we
stoop by them to raise til cir memory in honor
and love- Did VIC not it would be shame to us.
ries of the days when Lee led his dauntless
legions to victory and Semmes made the name
OF Alabama" immortal. Battlefields bury
men, not rights. The principle for which we
fought lives yet, III the love of Southern hearts,
in the memory of the past, in the stories which
mothers toll their children ut their knees Lee
surrendered an untarnshed sword. He sur
rendered the policy of resistance, not the prin-
ciple. The speaker closed with q graceful
allnsion to the devotion of our ladies in their
constancy to these memories, and their efforts
fl,nf
tai was now in their midst. True to her his
tory, woman was last at tho cross on which
persisted the hopes of the South, and first at
the graves of our departed brave to rcsuscitate
the immortal memories i'll which the hopcs of
a future South still live.
To-day begins the month of May, the farest
and sweetest in all the year, because it is the
month consecrated to Mary, fairest of the chill
dren of men. Her shrines, in every land and
CLINE, will be Garlanded with the loyeliest
flowers of the May, and from them will ascend
prayers, and petitions, and acts of conservation
that will bear rich fruitage of favors. How
full of beauty is the month of May!
We had q most refreshing shower of rain
this morning. 1t was sufficient to alIay the
dust with which we have been afflicted for
some time, but it will require plentious show
ers to satisfy the thirsty vegetation.
The Register gave, notice q short time ago
that it had disposed of its city circulation to
w. p. Barlow. Most people believed that it
was simply rnse designed to cut off "dead-
heads" But delinquents and dead heads learn
cd this morning that it was bona fde business
transaction, Captain Barlow having assumed
| charge to-day, and relentlesiy cut them Of.
This arrangement is great relief tothe paper.
| THKMIs.
Ten Thousand emigrantS left Liverpool last
| week for the United SsateR: