The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-05-21
wild flowers to cover the head of Sumter, OF
Morltric and Wagner, and the beautiful

wild flowers to cover the head of Sumter, of
Morltric and Wagner, and the beautllul
mother in her tears by the sea. ..,
We scatter our cvcrgrecnS over our rapiIal.
for she has sprung from her ashes, Inc
crowning evidence of her recupcration lsprc-
scn,cd in the promised ceremonies of Tues
day next, 18th of May. The shaft thai was ~
the stone has come forth, 4 thing OF Dcauts
and Joy. After years of toll the Eiorious rs,
suit will be reached on that day. The women
OF Carolina have wcpt and prayed and labor
cd TO raise this monument TO the deaa. Inc
condition of the State, and its possession ny
the alien and the stranger, p~recludcu Sth.c
aid. They have depended alone on private
subscription. They have sowcd beside oil
waters. and o their harvest time has CONF.
Their labors were supplemented last WHIT
by an appropriation from the Legislature,
and the sun will rise and set upon Such Il
scene as Columbia, in all the pride and glory,
of historic memories, has never, WlliicSsT"
before. South Carolina, through her dilnSh,
tors, will unveil II shaft to commemorate neT
warrior dead. Her streets Will DC rrowucu
with the veterans of the war. Men VINO
stood shoulder to shoulder on n hunuftu
fields will gaze with fearful vision on. tho
scene. Living heroes will do honor 10 uc:iG
heroes. Brave hearts that quailcd not anna
the shrek of shot and Shcli-plllrnL toiacIs;
who have Struggled Hnd suffered and uttered
no complaint In the fourteen years OF dcsl,cr.
ate conflict against poverty and oppression
and wrong, will ga.icrtopay tribute to dcad
ct,llfluCS. Men on cTtllCIlSS VIII l'NS'a''
men on crutchcs will lead them: and men on
crutchcs will take the place of honor IN the
dunn Carolina will be there irc!ins'
and she will uncover her head as thnt IA
Of the war will be there, and manly hearts
and manly arms will close around them ana
when that shaft Is unveiled. not only the I'M
mcnsc thronS before ii, but Carolina Will ne
on hor knees, with barred head, to ask Al
mighty God for blessings on the loved and
lost. Let us. too. remember to-day those VINO
came back to us IN crutchcS-thoSc who lost
limb and health and pcriled nl for country:
We too often forget the dead, and, all too OF
ten forget the living. Each community has
in it those who, by the calamitics OF war, are
disabled. II is Il badge of honor to them.
Let us sec to it Is nota badge OF inGratitlldc
to us. IL matters little whether we Ike the
individual or not. This question has moth
ing to to with II. We confess that we never
pass Il onc-lcggcd or onc-armcd man without
feeling like coming to the front and giving
him q salute. Let us cultivate sentiments SO
honorable to the human heart. Tho orphans
too, OF the great str~uggle-thcir protectors
zone, their support gone, turned over 10 pun
lie charity. Give them protection ana glild-
ance. Let them feel that 1t is their heritage
not a dole of charity, but M right
On the mountains, by the sea. on river. NIL
and plain, wherever shot was fired or a soul
went out, there goes our sympathy, ana VIC
crown the spot with flowers, elnbieInS OF otr
love anu our pTllllUuc.
And this to-day Is woman's work. She was
true in war-Slic Is true in peace. She raises
monuments to the unknown ana me nhrc-
corded dead, and we raise monuments IN our
hearts to her beauty. her virtue and herpat-
riOtic devotion to country.
We strew flowers on the graves OF our dcao
comrades. and we invoke the smiles of hclV-
eli upon them and our country.
Sleep swcctly in your humble graves,
Sleep, martyrs of Il fallen cause;
Though vet no marble column Graves
The pilgrim here topausc.
In seeds Of laurel in the earth
The blossom Of your fame Is blown,
And somewhere waiting Tor its birth
The shaft Is in the stone.
Meanwhile, behalf the tardy wears
Which keep IN trust your stnrird tombs,
Behold your sisters bring their tears
And these memorial blooms.
Stoop, angels, hithcr from the skies!
There Is no hnlier spot of ground
Than where defeated valor Hes.
Is mourning beauty crowned.