The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-06-05
THE SOUTH.


Iu War and ia Peace
From the numerous printed addresses
on memorial occasions commemorative OF
the Confederate heroes who fell ~ the
late war, We have found none more beau
tifnl in expression, patriotic in sentiment
and sound in principle than the address
delivered at Jackson Tennessee, by ii.
NJ. Doak, Esq. of the Nashville Ameri-
can. The following extract is richly
worth reading and preserving:
\, neople ever exhibited more heroic de
vnrinn in war or in peace. F-om the n"b'e
President OF the Confedpracy-who>e name
Shoue with conspicuous luSter at nome auu
abroad during the contlicJ-who has oorat'
accomplishing. more than his share OF sur
teriugs and obloquy, ia peace-whose patri-
otiSm and devotion was rs conspicuous as his
ealmness and ability in the try ing scenes OF
war-to the rank aud file. we have, as "A peo-
ple. no cause for selt-reprOach.
Ia the fret burst of patriotic emotion, and
in the lat sad parting of comrades; in the
first proud Situation of anew nations ban
.uer. and in the last fearful. reverend gaze
up,u it folds before iL WAS furled forever.
they were patriots, soldiers and heroes, n
home ami in the camp. BY flood ana iieid'
n,ssee aud the plains OF the South. in tan
lied brakes and ooZy swamps-where the
cypress moved its funeral arms over sol
dier's resting place, or the long teaNru pihe
whispered "A continual requiem; where the
sturdy oak stood a fitting monument To en-
durarice ar granite eli ifs were typical Of
ranks which yielded only to superior force;
on the lonely picket post IN the silent hours
when the sentinel stars had set their watch
IN the sky; in the drrary winter march. IN
n fsala al In Ve4P q
around the dim camp tire-hungrY aud
wasted bV fatigue and MISUNDERSTANDING
beneath the hot sun or cleaning sands; In
the battles. marches. seiges, trench :; IN
bright days, or gloomy Ia the army, or en-
during at home and nerving the arms OF
those in the tield-the people Of the South
were heroes worthy to be honored by the
word.
Whether langui>hing in prison, or endur-
ing the slOw-lagging days in camp, or tot
lowing the Southern Cross up smoking
heights; or with mad courage, confronting
blazing EN- brazurcs-tn the furious charge,
in the steady, oaward march, III the leaden
sIeet, or breasting the iron hail OF battle; or
in logged, sulien retreat cOntestlng posses
sion of their native sOiI-they illustrate
everywhere the daring, courage and endur-
ence of the SOuthEOu, the Anglo-SaXOn-
the American.
But this was the smallest part of the
Southern courage. If these deeds entitled
the great of the earth, what shall we say o.
the thirteen years succeeding? \ people
bred in careless ease and luXury-pIssion-
ate, hasty, little given To sClt-control, were
suddenly confronted by a necessity for the
exercise of prudence, endurance and forth
tude, such As no people We're ever called
upon to exercise. Disfranchised, placed
politically beneath the enfranchised slaves,
they seized upon the leading principles OF
the Wharf.-The doctrine of States right the
h. i,fr Il
with one hand, whilst battling with the
other and one by one tarng loose the shack
les fanatcism and FOLLY forged. They
have exhibited earnCstne>s of purpose
and logged resolution unparalleled in
history. Never did any conquered party or
people resist so strenously every persuasion,
every bribery by office gold, every threat
and persecution. True, we yielded here
and there. When one was bought with Of
flee. seduced by gold or yielded to coward
fear. let him go down "doubly dying, un-
wept, unhonored and unsung." To couvic-
rious let us accord res ect; to bartered obei
sance to power. only contempt.
Never before did people so heroically
lift themselves up from the position of
conquered people to that of exact equality i'll
a free COMMUNICATING with them the prin-
ciple for which they contended and making
it a part OF the Government for all time to
cope. That it is so is an honor TO our late
enemies and attests their soberer second
of the Southern people. Never has the world
seen exhibited in a higher degree that pru-
dence, patient forbe lrance, long suffering,
which mark great people. We have done
what our foes could never dO-conquered our
spirit, and repressed all disposition TO yield
TO renining or passion.
But even this was notthe highest achieve
ment. In the social and industrial field our
pc lDle have conquered that stubborn pride
which makes itself as offensive as decaVed
greatness-the most melancholy of unbur-
led corpSes. They have faced the situation
with a manly resolution. a moments tear
ful glance at ruined homes-a sad thought
and IA silent tear for the gaps in the home
circle-a brief contemplation of poverty and
bankruptcy-a firm resolve. and men aud
women trained in luxury. elegance and ease
began the battle of Iife-flrst, TO learn the
way, and then to follow it.
When the stern war spirit is in the heart
and the light of battle is in the eye, courage
Is easy, endurance is uatural,and great deeds
are uncousci0usly performed. In politics
we were confronted by foes, aroused by
wrongs and nerved up by excitement. In
this cold, dark struggle-a ruined people
battling for life ana subsistence-event the
light of hope was pale glinmer, and no
foemdn worthy the com batants steel con-
tronted the weary workers in their dull, dali
is routine. The still, heavy hand Of power
ty was felt, not seen. 1t could crush il
could not inspire. There was no mounting
fever of excitement, sustaining and strenth
there was heroic, stern endur-
ance-never tlinchiHg-never failing-pur-
suing the end silently and effectively. Are
these people not worthy to have produced,
to have followed-are they not worthy to
enshrinc their dead heroes, Lee, and Jackson, |
and Johnston. They have exhibited, in war
and in peace the same noble qualities, the
same fierce heroism. the same fortitude, the |
same calm quiet endurance of the inevitable. /
the same ready resistance when resistance |
was practicable.