Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-11-03


by desperate battles, sang while others Ia
meuted, shouted victory to the despairing,
and never rested from the great work until
their Oppressor abdicated at Fontaiuebleau.
Why should not our Fraternity be, in itself,
a similar union of Virtue Why should not
its members act. within the sphere of our
social, commercial aud political formsy to pu.
rity and ezalt the character of the people and
the nation Germany's liberation was the
work of her young men ; and the redemption
OF the United States from a decentralization
which clouds the escutcbeon We all desire to
see advanced in the fore front of civilization,
must be the work of omr young men.
But those tasks which seem easiest to the
ardor of youth, because most natural, become
diticultas the years increase. There is a hard,
worldly wisdom, as it is called-but whose
truer name is selishness-which knows
thousand covered ways of assault There is a
mistrust of the nobler qualities of manhood
"a social -unfaith-which works with most
intangible instruments. There is the We9ri-
ness that follows disappointment. the Incidence
that comes with ease, aud often drearysense
of loneliness when the expression of mans
truest aspiration seems to win no echo from
others. The foes that meet you in open field
are least to be dreaded those others lie in
ambush to worry, and discourage, aud finally
overcome. Some will tell you that, in these
times, each particular form of activity carries
with 1t an indirect reproach-that the devel>
opment of our material resources, the ways of
traffic, the fields of professional life, and the
political arena are each and all invaded by the
unworthy, and have lost something of their
ancient honor. Why, if this be so, the dec-
laration should be as trumpet summoning
you to enter the lists. 1t is a low idea of
manhood which imagiDes that it can be con-
tamiuated by associations There can be no
contamination from without until after it is
born within the man. He who aspires to ''the
grand old name of gentleman" only becomes
worthy of that name when he ceases to fear
that he can ever lose it. The principles of
honesty, fidelity in friendship, high honor,
aud tho faith that other men possess these
principles, once rooted in our conscience and
incorporate with our religion, will forever, like
water, purify themselves from the turbid con.
tact OF lower natures.
More than this, yon will find that there is
no virtue which does not compel respect from
the very men who pretend to deride it. The
ignorant millionaire is ready, in his secret
heart, to give half his possessions for the in
telligence aud refinement of the men at whose
the politician is like shirt of hair, cloth. con-
stantly fretting his skin under the brosdcoth
OF his Office The selfish egotist is pierced
through all his nature when he behot1s the
devotion of friends and the love that follows
the footsteps of n generous life These are
old aud threadbare truths am aware. but the
course of life continually brings them back to
us as fresh discoveries 1t is not the assent
of the lip would ask from you but the cul>
ti'atiOn of that faith and patience which in
sure the only true success
have spoken of the decentralization which
follows war. We are now laboriDg under it
FROM one end of the country to the other The
hIshest manly qualItres-courage devotion TO
political idea, self>sacrifce-ca into &C.
ton opstoth sides, cnnDOt elevate the mass of
lower interests which fed upon the struggle.
The best blood of all, because the youngest
and most aspiring, was lost and il is for you
to replnce it, not by continuing prejudioes
which must fade in the light Of better mu.
tual knowledge-uot by re>echoing on the now
silent battle. fields the vaunt of victory here,
the resentment of defeat thsre,-but by COM
ing forward to bear your part in the new du.
tics of the day. / was born upon that geo.
graphical line which SO long divided the SYM
psthies OF the States the war took from me
beloved relatives on the one side, beloved
friends on the other; and l vowed, when the
last precious blood had been shed, to remem-
Der only our common self sacrifice and our
common heroism. | could not tear leaf
from the garland which commentaries these
qualities in the dead of the South, without
disphragement to the memory of the Northern
dead.
In all this have said, have only meant
to indicate the direction which our lives
should take, not to trace out the rigid path of
the theorist We need impulses, quite as
much Os ideas 1 cannot yet feel That youth.
like joy, stands with his hand al his lips,
kissing adieu If there were any chill IN
my gears the warm blood which beats IN
every saie ., ~ l'stssEni|y !. ! e lo1