The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-10-27

the truly heroic soul to further aud better eDdeaV-
ors. And if these last should fail, and he can do
battle no more, he can lay down his armor with the
assurance that others will put it aud in Gods
good time vpdicate the truth in whose behalf be
had not yainly spent his life.
Our people since the termination of the war
have illustrated the lessons learned in the sci DOL
of adversely. Having vindicated their vaor and
endurance during the co1hct, they have since ex-
hbited their patience a0I seIl.conirol under the
most trying circumstances Their dignity in the
midst Of poverty and reverses. their heroic resg
nation to what they could not avert, have shown
that subjugation itself could not conquer true great
ness of soul. lAnd by none have these virtues
been illustrated more impressvely than by the
veterans of the long conflict, who laid down their
arms at its close and mingled again with their fell
low citzsns, distinguished from the rest only by
their superior reverence for law, their patient in
dustry, their avoidance of all that might cause
needless irritation and provoke new humiliations,
and their readiness to regard as friends in peace,
those whom they had SO recently resisted as enc
mics in war.
The tree is known by it's fruits. Your Excel.
lency has reminded Us that our civilization should
be Judged by the character Of the men it has pro-
duced. IF our recent revolution had been irradi.
ated by the lustre of but the two names-LEE and
JAcKsoN-it would still have illumined one of the
brIsntest pages IN history.
I have not spoken of the former to-day not be-
cause my heart was not full of him, but because
the occasion required me to speak Of another, and
because the day is not distant when one more COM
petent to do justice to his great theme than have
been to mine. will address another assembly OF the
men of the South. and North, and West, upon
these Capitol grounds. when our new Pantheon
will be completed by the erection of aIother mon
ument, and the Inauguration Of the statue of Lee,
with his generals around him. amid the tears and
gratulations of countless multitude.
| 1t was with matchless magnanimity that these
two great chieftains delighted each to contribute
to the glory of the other Let US not dishonor our
selves by robbing either OF one leaf in the chaplet
which adorns their brows; but, catching the in
SEPARATION of their lofty example, let US thank God
that be gave US two such names to shine as binary
stars in the armament above us.
It was in the noon-tde of jackson glory that be
fell but what pail or darkness Swallowed all the
land in that hour IL any illustration we're need
ed of the hold he haa acquired on the hearts of
people, on the hearts of the good and brave and
true throughout the civilized world, it would be
found in the universal lament which went up every
where when it was announced that Jackson was
dead from the little girl at the Chandler House
who wished that God would let her die in his stead,
because then only her mother would cry, but il
Jackson died all the people of the country would
cry"-ffom this humble child up to the Command
er in chief, who wept as only the strong and brave
can weep at the tdngs of his fall from the weather
beaten English sea- captain who had never seen bis
face, but who burst into loud uncomfortable grief,
standing on the deck of his vessel with his rugged
sailors around him wondering what had happened
to break that heart of oak, up TO the English earl
honored on both sides of the Atlantic, who ex.
claimed when the sad news came TO him, jackson
was in some respects the greatest man America
ever produced"
The impressive ceremonies of the hour will bring
back to some here present the memories OF that
day Of sorrow, when at the firing of a gun at the
base of y0nder monument procession began to
move to the solemn strains OF the Dead March in
Saul, and the hearse on which the dead hero lay.
preceded by portion of the command Of General
Pickett, whose funeral obsequies you have just cee-
brated, and followed by mighty throng oil weeping
citizens, until having made detour Of the city, it
paused at the door Of the Capitol, when the body
was borne within by reverent hands and laid on an
altar erected beneath the dome. The Congress OF
the Confederate States bad adopted device for
their Flag and one emblsz ,ned with it had just been
completed, which was noended to be anfurled from
the roof of the Capitol. Il never futtered from
the heigh it was intended to grace. 1t became
Jsckson's winding sheet. o, mouruful prophecy
OF the fate of tie Confederacy itself The military
authorities shrouded him iu the white, red and blue
flag of the Oonfederacy. The citizens decked bis
bier with the white, red and blue flowers of spring
until they rose high above it, soft floral pyramid;
but the people everywhere embalmed him in their
hearts with love sweeter than all the fragrance Of
spring, and immortal as the verdure OF the trees
under which he now rests by the river of lite.
And where in all the annals of the world s sorrow
for departed worth was there such pathetic per
sonation Of nations grief as was embodied In the
old mutilated veteran of Jackson division who as
the shade of evening fell, and when the hour tor
the closing of the doors of the capitol came, and
when the lingering throng was warned to retire,
was seen anxousy pressing through the crowd to
take his last look at the face OF his beloved leader
"They told him 1t was too late-that they we're
closing up the coffin for the last time, that the or
der had been given to clear the hall. he still
struggled forward, refusing to take denial, until
one of the marshas of the day was about to exer-
else his authority and force him back upon this
the old soldier raised the stump of his right arm
toward the heavens and with tears running down
his bearded face, exclaimed By this arm which
lost for my country. demand che privilege of see-
ing my General once more' Such an appeal was
irresistible and at the instance OF the Governor OF
the Commonwealth the pomp was arrested until
| this humble cOmrade had also dropped his tear
upon the face of his dead leader
Your Excellency did we'll to make the path broad
which leads through these capital grounds to this
statue for it will be trodden by the feet of all who
visit this city, whether they come from the banks
of the Hudson, the Mississippi, or the Sacramento;
whether from the Tiber, the Rhine, or the Dan
ube. .9
| Tender though they be, cold and sad are the
closing lines of Collins in his ode to the memory of
the brave whose rest is halowed by their countries
benedictions, depicting, as they do, Honor coming
as "a pilgrim gray" and Freedom as weeping
hermit repairing 70 the graves of departed heroes.
Not so will Honor come to this shrine; not as o
worn and weary Pilgrim but as generous youth
with FURNISHED shield and stainless sword, and
heart beating high in sympathy for the right and
true, to lay his mail-clad hand on this altar and
swear eternal feaity to duty and to CID
Nor will Freedom for time only repair to this
halowed spot, but here she will linger long and
hopefully, not as weeping hermit but as a radi
ant divinity conscious Of Immortality. Ii is true
that memories uuutterably sad have at times swept
through this mighty throng to day, but we are not
here to indulge in "reminiscences only, much less in
vain regrets We have future to face, and in
that future lies not only duty and trial perhaps but
also hope.
For when we ask what has become of the prin.
ciples in the defence of which Jackson imperilled
and lost his life. then | answer form OF govern
ment may change, policy may perish, but prin
clple can never die. Circumstances may so change
as to make the application of the principle no long
er possible but its innate vitality is not affected
thereby. The conditions of society may be SO al
tered as to make it idle to contend Tor principle
which no longer has any practical form, but these
changed conditions of society have not annihilated
one original truth.
The application of these postulates to the
present situation of our country is obvi-
ous The people of the South maintained as
their fathers maintained before them that certain
principles were essential to the perpetuation Of
the Union according to its original constitution
Rather than surrender their conviction, they took up
arms to defend them. The appeal was vaiI. Defeat
came aud they accepted it, with its consequences,
just as they would have accepted victory with its
fruits They have sworn to maintain the govern
ment as it is now constituted They will not at
tempt again to assert their views of State sove-
reignty by an appeal to the sword. None feel the