The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-11-17
GOVERNOR KEMPER'S ADDRESS,

MY CouNrRYMEN:-
The oldest of the States has called
together this great concourse of her
sons and her daughters, with honor
ed representatives Of both the late
contending sections of our common
country. On this day, Astounding
with stern memories of the past and
great ausuries of the future, come
to greet you; and, in the name and
by authority of Virginia, / bid you
all and each welcome, a heart
come to her capital.
With mothers tears and love,
with ceremonies to be chronicled in
her archives and transmitted to the
latest posterity, the Commonwealth
this day emblazons the virtues, and
consecrates in enduring bronze the
image, of her mighty dead. In every
country and for all mankind, Stone
wall Jackson's career of unconscious
kereism will go down as an inspira-
ton, teaching the power of courage
and conscience and faith directed to
the glory of God. 1t speaks to our
fellow-citizens of the North, and, re-
yiving no animosities of the bloody
past, it commands their respect for
the valor, the manhood, the integri-
ty and honor of the people of whom
this Christian warrior was repre-
sentative type and champion. 1t
speaks to our stricken brethren of
the South, bringing back his sublime
simplicity and faith, his knightly
and incorruptible fidelity to each en-
gsgement Of duty; and it stands an
enduring admonition and guarantee
that sooner shall the sun reverse it's
course in the heavens than his COM
rades aud his compatriot people shall
prove recreant to the parole and con-
tract of honor which binds them, in
the fealty Of freemen, to the Consti-
tuition and union of the States. 1t
speaks with equal voice to every por-
ton of the reunited common coun
try, warning all that impartial justice
and impartial right, to the North aud
to the South, are the only pillars on
which the arch of the Federal Union
can securely rest. 1t represents IN
bought spirit of honor, and stands
forth mute protest before the world
against that rule of tyrants.
Let the spirit and design with
which we erect this memorial to-day
admonish our whole country that the
actual reconciliation Of the States
must come, and, so far as honorabiy
in us lies, shall come, but that its
work will never be complete until
the equal honor and equal liberties
OF each section shall be acknowledge
ed, indicated and maintained by
both. We have buried the strifes
and passions of the past; we now
perpetuate impartial honor to whom
honor is due, and, STOPPING to resent
no criticism, we stand with compo-
sure and trust ready to greet every
token Of just and constitutional pac-
ification. Let this statue stand, with
its mute eloquence to inspire our.
children with patriotic fervor and to
maintain the prolific power Of the
Commonwealth in bringing forth men
as of old. Let Virginia, beholding
her past in the light of this event,
take heart and rejoice in her future.
Mother of States and sages and he
roes! bowed in sorrow, with bosom
bruised. and wounded, with garments
rent and rolled in blood, arise and
dash away all tears! No stain dims
your glittering escutcheon! Let your
brow be lifted up with the glad con-
seriousness of unbroken pride and un-
sullied honor! Demand and resume
complete possession of your ancient
place in the sisterhood of States; and
go forward to- the great destiny
which, in virtue of the older and the
later days, belongs to the co-sover-
eign Commonwealth Of Virginia. It
Is in no spirit of mourning, it is with
the stern joy and pride befitting this
Jay OF heroic memories, that I inaug-
urate these ceremonies in the name
of the people.
DODGERS g. SONS TABLE AND
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