Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-10-30

the ancient friendship which existed In
colonial times between Virginia and the
mother country. We accept it as a
prophecy of the incoming of British
settlers to our sparsely populated terri
tory, and hail i: as a pleasing omen for
the future that the rebuilding Of our
shattered fortunes should be aided by
the descendants of the men who laid
the foundations of this commonwealth
We accept it as a pledge of the peace
full relations which we trust will ever
exist between Great Britain and the con-
federated empire formed by the States
of America. Cheers
DR.. Hoge entered into an analysis OF
the character of Jackson, showing the
causes of the popular love for him and
his influence over the minds and imagi-
nations of not only his own country
men. but Of the civilized world.
First in the fact that he was the incar-
nation of those heroic qualities which fit
their posessor to lead and command men,
and which, therefore, always attract the
admiration, kinde the imagination and
arouse the enthusiasm OF the people.
DR.. Hoge dwelt on the admirable
commingling of strength and tenderness
in Jacksons nature, aud said that not
only sensitive to every touch OF human
sorrow, but no man was ever more sus-
ceptibe to impressions from the physi-
cal world. His was the greatness which
comes without being sought tor its own
sake-the unconscious greatness which
results from self-sacrifce and supreme
devotion to duty. The orator illustra-
ted this devotion to duty by the Incl
dent of the letter sent by Jackson to his
pastor, Rev. Dr. White, after the first
battle of Manassas, when everybody was
waiting in Lexington tor authentic
news and a crowd was collected at the
postoffice. DIR. White, on recognizing
a letter to himself from Jackson, said
.sNow we shall know all the facts" but
on reading the expected "war bulletin
found it to run only as follows:
"My Dear Pastor: In my tent last
night, after fatiguing days service, |
remembered that l had failed to send
YOU nv contribution for our colored
Sunday School Enclosed YOU will find
my check for that object, which please
acknowledge at your earliest conve-
nience, and oblige yours, faithfully.
Thomas J. JACKSON.
This letter gives the key note to Jack,
sons character. There was not word
about the conflict which had electrified
a nation! Not an allusion to the splen-
did part he had taken in it; not refer
ence to himself, beyond the fact that it
had been to him a fatiguing days SER
vice. And yet that was the day ever
memorable in his history, when he re-
ceivcd the name which is destined to
surplant the name his parents gave him
-"StoneDaH Jack5on."
To attempt to portray the life of Jack
son. while leaving out the religious ele-
ment, would be like undertaking to de-
scribe Switzerland without making men,
ton of the Alps. Those who imagined
that his faith savored of bigotry do not
know that one characteristic of his re-
ligion was its generous catholicity, as
might well be inferred from the fact
that the first spiritual guides whose in
structions he sought were members of
communions widely different in doctrine
and polity.
And yet the cause to which Jackson's
yalor was consecrated and for which SO
many sacrifices were made was not des-
tined to triumph. But if we call the
roll of the worthless who have given to
the world its valued treasures ofthought
and faith, it will be 70 und that nearly
all of them were in a lifelong grapple
with defeat and disaster. Other things
being equal, however, the tribute of our
admiration is more due to him who in
spite of disaster pursues the cause which
he has espoused, than to one who re-
quires the stimulus of public applause.
Defeat is the discipline which trains the
truly heroic soul, to further and better
endeavors. Our people since the war
have illustrated the lessons learned in
adversely. Having indicated their val
or and endurance during the couf1ict.
they have since exhibited patience and
self-control under the most trying cir
cumstances.
1t was in the noontide of Jacksons
glory that he fell; but what pail of
darkness suddenly shrouded the land
from that hour! The Congress of the
Confederate States had adopted device
for their flag, and one emblazoned with
it had just been completed, which was
intended to be unfurled from the roof
of the capitol 1t never futtered from
the height it was intended to grace. 1t
became Jackson's winding sheet. o,
mournful prophesy of the fate of the
Confederacy itself.
1t is true that memories unutterably
saG 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 principles in the defense ofwhich
Jackson imperiled and lost his life, then
l answer form of government may
change, a policy may perish, but
principle can never die. Circumstances
may so change as to make the applica-
tion of the principle no longer possible,
but its innate vitality is not affected
thereby. The condition of society may