The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-05-16
Memories aud tho Justice |
n tho

Sumter the full text OF an admirable
address delivered at. that place on the
9Th instant, by Gen. Joseph B. Ker-
shaw, on the occasion OF laying the
corner stone OF monument to the
Confederate dead. We cannot resist
the temptation of making couple Of
extracts, QUE from the beginning, the
other from the close Of this address,
which, as was said of the old ballad of
Chevy Chase, "stir the heart like q
trumpet"
We stand today suffering. con.
quered, but proud and patriotic peo.
pie. Upon the altar of our hearts the
torch OF liberty yet burns with un.
quenohed and inextipguishable fires,
more lervid and more Intense because
the temple is closed, and the priests
and wcrshippors as her sEr;ne sit at the
gate IN sack-cloth and ashes, stepped in
the waters of Marah. We stand be-
tween tho living and the dead, be.
tween the past aud the future, and we
appeal to posterity to justify the lives,
opinions and principles, while they
admire and applaud the heroic virtues
OF our martyrcd dead. Before that
ultimate tribunal of appeal, for tho
arbltrament of human opinion, We
staud, confident alike in the rectitude
OF the cause and the righteousness of
the arbiter. Calm and impartial, as it
is removed by time from the men and
the issues upon which it is to pass, il
draws nearer and nearer towards the
ultimate aud exact truth, only to be
pronounced by the supreme, omnis-
cient and final Judge of human con-
duct. 70 the future we commit the
cause OF the past; ours the task to
vindioate by the record. ourselves. our
brethren, our sacred dead.
This monument is in itself Il beauti-
ful and touching manifestation of your
faith, daughters Of Sumter, in the
purity and justice of the cause for
which your loved ones lubored,
achieved, suffered and willingly died;
u tribute to virtue and vulor, u noble
testimonial OF devoted and tender
affection, an expression of your pro-
found respect and admiration for your
dead countrymen. Who and what
were they, whose memory We would
thus perpetuate in sculptured marble
aud enduring tablets? How were they,
beyond other men, distinguished, that
such honors are invoked and laid upon
their tombs? They were the descend
ants of Celt. Saxon aud Norman.
They Inherited the blood, the history,
the civilization, the religion, the ha-
bite. the thought, the vigor, the energy
and courage, and thnt priceless and
unper;shable public virtue of the Bri-
ton. the love Of liberty. The Scot,
Hibernian and Huguenot had con-
tributed to this rich Inheritance, pru-
dence. patience, endurance, firm q ess,
generosity, warm m-heartedness, vivacity,
versatility and enthusiasm. Aspiring
and capable men-the pioneers OF
new civilization brought them enter.
prise, daring and love of adventure.
Refugees, driven by religious persecu.
tion into exile in tho American wilder
ness, gave them o religious devotion
to prlnclpie-the very cap-stone of the
national charaoter-that quality Which
taught them to die for the faith that
was in them. Their characteristics
are written upon every page of the his
tory here recalled-most of oil in the
bloody record of the so called rebel
lion.
Rebellion! foul; dishonoring word,
Whose loathsome blight 80 off hAs st ain.
cd
The fairest cause that pen or sword
Or mortal ever lost or gained"
The word has been sanctified and
endeared to Us by the two most ho.
norable and important epochs Of our
history. We love and cherish it as the
very patent of our nobility by
honorable achievement on the battle
fields OF two bloody wars for the right.
How Justly earned as honor's badge,
let history tell.
OF 1900 voters, Sumter sent to the
field 1000 OF her braves, the whole
strength of her manhood. or these,
one-thirl fel! on the field of honor and
duty. Proud but bloody reoordl Well
may you honor your dead with monu-
ments OF marble, and inscribe upon
theirItombs the highest need of praise,
worthy tho citizen, the soldier and the
patriot. Daughters Of Sumter, bring
your wrcaths and gatlsnds of beauty,
and decorate their honored graves
with emblems and offerings of faith
and love. Though your gentle tears
OF aiiilction as drops OF dew gem
your noral offerings. rs they glitter and
shine ann sparkle in the beautiful sun
light, each precious diop will irradiute