The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1879-06-20

come 10 vindicate the cause In which
these brave men died, nor to onel
apology for the imperishable record
they have made. Judgment thereof
belongs Of right to those who are Il
follow me; to the pen Of impartia
history alone the issue must be com
mitted. We do not deny the settle
ment that was reached nor seek tC
avoid the verdict that was rendered
upon the field Of battle-the stern ar
bitrament Of the sword was given
against us-nor is there in this broad
land today one who would seek to as
sert again by arms the principle for
which these lives were given. IL the
cause in which they died was criminal,
when all the passions and prejudices
that surround US shall have passed
away, pOsterity should, and will con.
denim il; if Il was just, future ages
will 80 declare. From that tribunal
there is no appeal, and to its judgment
WE ARE CONTENT TO BOW.
Science has demonstrated that in the
myriad Of ages past, no particle Of
matter was ever lost. In the morals
as In the material universe this rule Of
uniformity holds good. No atom Of
truth can be destroyed. Itself an es-
sence Of Deity, il can no more die
than Diety itself can perish. With
those differences to which 50 much
blood has been given, this generation
can have no more to do; ourselves
turning TO the duties Of the present,
and earnestly resolved 10 improve the
growing promise Of the future, we
leave them TO sleep in the same tren-
ches with the Wondering remains Of
their heroic defenders. No good can
come Of wrangling over graves, the
receptacle Of issues rs dead as these
heroes whom we mourn. II Is not the
part Of patriotism nor manhood to
seek to stir mems passions by recital
Of those woes that war has brought
and LEFT behind il. The horrors Of
that struggle. thank God. are passed;
let the causes pass with them 10 obliv-
ion. We have only come TO tender
homage to the memory Of the gallant
dead; nor do We refuse the fullest
measure 70 the brave men against
whom they struggled. He who would
withhold 4 tribute from the memory
or a flower from the grave Of a brave
and honest Federal soldier would but
prove himself unworthy to be remem.
bered as a comrade OF those who sleep
around me. We only claim for these
men what we accord to those by whose
hand they fell-absolute conviction
that they battled for the right; this,
in justice to the living and the dead.
we will never yield. The sincerity Of
him who seals his devotion with his
blood is placed beyond cavil or dis
pute, whether he be the victor or the
vanquished. It's to tender homage
to such men that we to-day summon
for review our armies from the grave;
let neither the stalwart nor timid be
afirighted. they are no longer formi-
dable. The armies of the South are
buried armies. The flower of her
chivalry sleeps peacefully within her
bosom. lis only phantom legiOns
and specter battaliOns that we mar.
shall, whose Aeshless limbs and rusted
armor clank as the skeleton host
moves by in deaths drear pageantry.
Their shiveIed swords are red With rust.
Their plumed heads are bowed;
Their naughty banner tFaiied In dust
IL nov their martial shroud;
And plenieous funeral tears have washed
The red stain ifom each brow.
And the proud iOrms BY battle gashed
Are free from anguish now"
II l vas asked TO tell the object Of
our gathering, | might answer in a
single sentence. l might say that in
every age of the worlds history, among
every people, whether pagan or Chris
tian. he who has
DIED FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE
Has been held worthy of a martyr.
crown. lis this for which We come
to impress upon the living and fu
ture generations the veneration ID
which we hold the memory Of mer
who gave their lives for the establish
ment Of principles sAeredly cherished
In their heart-men who died il
wha. they held to be the cause Of hu
man right. human liberty and human
progress. Twas thus these men lived
aud thus they died. Here is the sc
cret OF our homage.
"Cease. than. 70 prsts about your ereeds,
They wrought their lives In noble deeds."
The wisest and pursst Of the philos
ophers Of the ancieuts was doomed 4
drink the fatal hemlock In his cell, he
cause OF his adherence to conviction
His Csrthaginian captors sent TN
/ ---Ll--. e A. L. a