Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-05-16

actuated the fallen, and the other 4
typify the perpetuity of our love for thei
memories. And so long as patriotism i
a principle and valor virtue, they can
not be forgotten. To our mind and hear
there is nothing more beautiful in all thu
ceremonies Of human life than thes'
manifestations OF gratitude and honor K
the memory Of those who confirmed theil
principles with the pledge of their lives
and died in defense OF cause they hon
estly believed to be just and righteous
Failure is not necessarily synonymous
with wrong, nor right with success
Truth is truth, whether ia the grave OF
on the throne; whether it wears a chain
or a chaplet. And were it compatible
with the decorum of this occasion,
would like to dwell here for a moment
Bat desist. will state, however, that
in all shall say | would not intention.
ally inspire one emotion of resentment
in single breast in this assembly. No,
mol Thank God, the war is over, and
trust from the depths OF my seul it is
over forever. | want no more war, no
more strife, no more fratricidal slaugh-
ter.
To those Of us who battled with those
whose memories we honor these occa-
siens are doubly mournful and affecting.
We know how yaliantly they fought and
how nobly they died. What they
achieved, let the splendors Of their
deeds and the glory of their arms
attest. Often, with heavy odds against
them, they planted the starry cross tri
umphantly upon the battlements OF the
enemy. Their proves challenged the
admiration Of the world, and will elicit
the homage Of succeeding ages. Where,
oh, where, can you find nation more
truly blessed in the virtue of her sons,
or more truly honorcd in the valor of
their deeds For chivalreus devotion to
country, ardent love of liberty and ro-
mantle fidelity to principles and self
sacrifice upon the field Of battle, they
have never been surpassed. Think of
their careerl Think Of the hardships,
the tolls and dangers through which
they passed Day after day, week after
week, month after month and year after
year have we seen them, weary, worn
and tattered, with the dust of the earth,
which was then their bed, upon them,
half clad and half fed, going out to the
post of danger and Of duty and going
cheerfully-whether amid the burning
of summers sun or facing the fierce
ness of the winters blast, whether
in the light of day or when the
track of the shell was only
made visible by ~the darkness
of night, and finally falling forever, and
many of them too, leaving families in
poverty so abject that their bread is now
eaten with ashes and their water drank
with tears. Think you then that such
devotion to principle and such sacrifices
deserve no gratitude, no honor, no recol-
lection2 All the homage you can do
their memories, all the honors you can
bestow upon them, all the eulogies that
may be uttered, can never be common
surate with the hardships they endured,
the heroism they displayed or the sacri-
fees they made. Never can we duly
appreciate their worth or adequately
honor their memories. And were your
uucompleted monument to rise to a
hight to do this, its summit would be
lost in the ether of yon beautiful sky.
But let it rise to its contemp plated dimen-
sions and then let its four faces speak
to the East, to tAe South, to the West
and to the North, of what it is intended
TO commemorate. Let it tell Of the
worth and virtues of those who sleep
around it. ITO live in hearts we leave
behind is not to die" And / trust the
people of this community will 60 for
ward and complete that monument at
an early day. And when that is done,
know our eountrywomen, whose patri-
otto devotion through the past was so
true and beautiful, will then plant flowers
about those little pillows. Plant there
the myrtle and the syringa, those en-
blems of love aud memery. They will
bloom beautifully above them and keep
their gentle watch over them, when you
and and all the rest of this world have
forgotten them forever.
While we specially honor those who
repose within this holy spot, let us not
forget that nameless and nnmberless list
that sleep in lost and unknown graves.
And, oh this is the saddest thought OF
all-lost and unknown graves They,
too, as nobly deserve the sigh of regret
and claim tear OF sorrow; and though
we know not where to drop our flowers
for them, memory dwells tearfully and
gratefully upon them. They are resting
everywhere amid our green hills and by
our bright waters, From Virginia to
Texas there is not q vale whose beaute-
GUS bosom opens to the placid sky, not
mountain whose emerald head sleeps
above the valleys mist, but claims the
distinction of patriots sepulchre
Wherever we may wander we tread above
their sacred dust Let us not forget them.
All grateful people have remembered
their patriot dead Can we do less3 Erin,
that land that has gwen more than her
share OF genius and valor to the world
and consequently more Of gloom and of
glory, still weeps for her martyred EN-
met. Dying Poland still breathes
sigh for her Poniatouski. Sparta, though
dead, echoes from her tomb the name of
Leonidas. Buried Carthage consecra-
ted her sepulchre with the dust of her
patriots. And the South, God smile
upon her, still remembers her patriot
dead and weeps a tear for her valiant
heroes. Though conquered and fallen.
she fOrgets not her braves, but annually
dedicates her tributes of RENE N brance
aud honors the sod where in silence they
lie.
e Give me the land of the wreck and the