Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-09-01

80
to the gallantry Of the true soldier, with
out inquiring or caring to know on
which side OF the line he died. l say,
these we're all M c%ountrymen and yours.
and those young immortals, the unre
corded dead, who sleep in their but
ternut uniforms yonder under the sweet
shade IS OF Elmwood, are your country,
men and mine, and we have q common
heritage ia the common glory they have
achieved for the American name. Con.
template for q moment the record that
history has made for the butter.nut'
and the union-blue." The glories OF
the olden lime-the actions that lent a
fabulous splendor to Greek and Roman
story-the martial glories that cluster
around the coronet Of the British Isles
the rise Of the Dutch Republic-the
romantic border wars OF bonny Scotland
the noble Switzers life long war OF
liberty-the blazing e~scutcheon Of the
great German Empire the wars Of Xsrx.
SEES, Alexander, Hannibal, Napoleon, and
that fine old Irish gentleman, the Duke
OF Wellington-all these pale, confess.
edly,-before the grand historic prestige
OF the butter-nut" and the . union
blue Who shall have the lions share
OF all this renown2 Is it not the COM
mon property of the American people
aud ought it not to be a tie Of the proud
est fellowship as long as the world shall
stand ?
| stood not long since upon a spot
surrounded by a thousand Confederate
graves. There was no SPLENDID msuso
leum or towering obelisk to tell the tale
OF a peoples gratitude or a peoples
glory. | was asked why is this so2 /
replied to my i~nterlecutor, that there was
not marble enough in all the quarries
of the world, to add the slightest
s%ppreciable glory to the simple tale
OF their achievements as it would 90
down to posterity in story and in song
to the last recorded instant Of time. But
that the God of nature, with every re.
turning %springtime, would provide a
more fitting monument than marble, an
emblem Of peace and love and reconcile.
atinn-"a thing Of beauty and a Joy for
ever"-and that the delicate hands of
women would lay tenderly upon their
graves every year a new and fresh mem
orial, to the finest exhibition OF con.
stancy and courage, the civilized world
has seen. Aud | said, also, that the day
is not far distant, when, in the cycle of
each revolving year the time for that
beautiful oblation has come, the men a. d
women Of a united and happy country
will cease to inquire under which flag
did this poor soldier die2' II the daisy
and the violet, the lily and the rose with
their eloqu mt doctrines and sweet
aroma, "a keep the memories of these
brave men-the %unrecorded dead-lresh
in the minds of their countrymen from
generation to generation, the cold and
%passionless marble could do no more.
But have | not already too far trans
cended my mission here today Would
IT 1t not have been enough for me to have
simply pronounced the eloquent word
WELCOME, as the most appropriate speech
| could maker Pardon me if | have
gone out of my way, thus briefly, to pour
my poor cruise Of oil into the great caul-
dron OF national amity, which is at this
moment the object Of the most intense
interest with good men everywhere
everywhere under the sun.
In conclusion ullow me TO say that we
may boast Of the g~allantry and fortitude
OF our men-at arms, and the skill and
proves of our great leaders; but the
tactician, at last, who will best commend
himself 10 an everglorious fame 10 this
country is not be who can best set a
squadron in the red field Of fight, but
the tactieian in civil life, who strikes the
hardest and the timeliest blows for the
oeace, happiness and prosperity of this
sr.Rt country the tactician who will
solve by the soundest statecrait and by
an exac. measure OF justice to both this
evershadowing proll m that now con.
fronts ia, growing out OF the conflict be
tween capital and labor; the tAclician
who never looks at the points Of the
compass, or to his " purse, or to tie
reward oil friends, or the punishment OF
enemies, when he originates or support
a public measure think | see a hand.
writing on the wall, like unto that which
made old Belshazzars knees smite
each other. 1t speaks to the aspiring
men of this country, and proclaims that
It is to this character Of mar alone in
the American people are willing
to cen6de their public affairs. | trust
in God that this is so, and that sectional
or bungling statecraft will never
this country in war again; aud
that the day has gone by when the
plumed troop and the big wars alone
shall make ambition virtue" Once
more, ladies and gentlemen, | bid you
Welcome, thrice welcome, to this ban.
luet of the soul
Gen. Chalmers Of Mississippi being
for, that eloquent gentleman made
IN extemporaueous speech, brilliant,
witty and full Of patriotic sentiments.
The barbecue followed, and it was en-.
Dyed by some five hundred guests. The
'arbecued meats were gotten up 10 aristo
ratio style by Mr.. Meister, proprietor of
he park.
LEWIS BONDS SPEECH.
Hon. Lewis Bend was the frstspeaker
fter dinner, aud his appearance was