The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-05-21
(.N'inrty-Si:r Gu0rdian.)

ANclSDll DtCduSC It ltilllltl l<tIlLtu uNlt II
carried "Six Hundred to death at Balaklava.
cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in front Of them.
IT made Havclock illustrious, and to-day bids
defiance to the blood-thirsty tribes in south
Africa. England has placed her dead on an
immortal roll, and Westminster Abbey, with
its grand and 1rcited arches, cmhalnIs the
most precious dust in all her wide domin-
ions.
America carries on the record. The name
OF Washington iSa taliSlli;tn, ana atler Il cell
fury Of achievement his memory Is 4 shining
example to every child, born on American
soil. His fame and name grow purcr, and
brighter with each succeeding cherished an
nivcrsary. Each State has its own precious
names that they will not let die. South Caro-.
lima has her Moultric, and kutlcdge, and
Marion. and Sumter, and PickcnS.
Universal custom and universal sentiment,
then, shows it wise and right to honor the
heroic dead. God has implanted such emo
ions in every well regulated breast. This cs-
pccially is an obligation on us to honor those
who died for the country and for Others.
surely he who cheerfully yields life for an
other should possess his highest regard and
esteem.
Greater love hath no man han this, that
q man should lay down his life for his friend.
The cultivation Of respect Tor great men and
great deeds make great men. We are mould
cd by our associations, and when the young
grow up amid noble and inspiring cNcnplarS
they unconSciously grow great and noble
acknowledgement in VirtuOuS actions, and
great In devotion TO truth and honor.
We nrc, then, to-day walking in the paths
of the wise and good of every age aud cOrn-
try. We meet to pay the last sad services TO
those we love, those who loved us and died
for US. Have we ever realized the extent of
their sacrifice? What was it2 They gave up
friends, family, country, life, and all that
makes life valuable. When the War COM
mcnccd these men were young, buoyait and
flll Of plncr pSnpptHtinnf To tuSfp and cnjON
the sweets of Il well spent and long existence.
The soldier had ailcctionate brothers, devoted
sisters, II fond and tender mothcr-sacred
memory ia father l%caningOn his strong arm,
friends tied to him by hooks OF steel, ana
maybe Il nearer and dcarcr tie than ala new
made wife resting on his manly breast, or a
lovely and loving maiden to whom his trOth
was rlightcd. Life was very dear and sweet.
lie walked these streets in the joyous flush Of
young manhood; he SpOrtcd In this glad sun
light; he dreamed Of the future in this soft
moonlight; he drank in the songs of these
birds, and danced i'll the festivities that cluS-
tered like flowers around his path way. He
breathcd this delicious air; he Tram these
pure waters-thc same air, the same waters
the same sunshine, the same friends whom,
in Gods infinite mercy, we now still enjoy.
But where is he? From every hill and vail
ley and stream echo answers. Where? Where
indeed? lie lies In a soldiers grave, on the
anlOu Manassas, and no stone marks his
resting place TO turn the unfceling. He sleeps
unhecdcd in the SwampS OF the james, with
no requiem save the solemn cry of the night
bird. He lies in "a strange land, on the soil OF
Pennsylvania, ut the foot of Il hill fifty called
"Ccmetcry," and better still to be known as
the field Of blood and ruin. His bones are
bleaching at Donclson, Vicksburg, Nashville,
Chattanooga, Atlanta, Maybe they are at
at AppoLnattoX, where the Southern cross
went down in IL bloody and cloudful sky.
They are gone ioreVcr-Sonc BACK to the
mcrciiul GOd-gonc from all these sweet as
.rNjn tinns nf ifu. Ti,f down like thn f1pII.nrS-
cut down FORESIGHT down for the country!
And shall We, who have their heritage OF
InInc-Shall We, whose pathways are lighted
by, the blazing beaconS OF their yirtuous sac
~rificeS, not cherish their memories?
They died for us, we say. Not so! they
live for us they live To-day! they will live!
they shall live forever in the hearts OF grace
full and admiring countrymen!
History teaches it! Conscience approves
1t! owe OF country demands 1t! And the
universal sentiment of humanity b!cssses
and upplauds such recognition Of departed
worth.
On famc's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents arc spread,
And glory guards with solemn round
The bivOuac of the dead.
We raise no hostile flag over their graves!
We arc waving the standards Of peace. Grief
and affection, twin sisters, come To this sol
plnn Service clad in the habilimcnts or woe
not war. Ill the untutoreu Indian, we have
buried with the heroes their arms and lnuni-
tionS of war. We commemorate their virtues
TO learn lessons of wisdom and transmit
them &c generations yet unborn. THIS SOL
emil and touching memorial scene gives
voice TO the plants II sorrows of our suf-
fcring land-a land itself vocal with the
praises of her sons, her hero children. Every
mountain pass has its legend and its tale OF
daring unto death. Every swamp has lis
lonely grave, that ~carrics q poem In It's nara
ton. Every stream Is noisy with the uecuS
of It's jewellers and its dead. 49,.
He who sits by the graceful and beautiiul
Rappuhannoci recalls Fredericksburg and
charlottesville, where the southern flng
waved so proudly in the summer air. lie
who wandcrsin the valley and vets his lct-
locks in the laughing shenandoah will be
overcome with 4 thousand memories OF pride
and joyous eXul!ation as he rode with Hump
ton ard Butler, or marched with Jackson,
Hood, kcrslInw and MCGOWAN. But. we re-
peat, these memories are everywhere. The
air is thick with them to-day. We come to
deck with flowers the graves of our patriot
dcnd-to Strcw these fresh and typical ever
greens and roses over their tnmhS. We reach
them I'LL with our hearts. We drop roses at
Fredericksburg, SharpSburg. Gettysburg,
ChancellorsViilc. Richmond, Petersburg, p
ponlatloX aud licntonsvillc. We scatter cv-
crgreens OH the blue grass hills of Kentucky:
We strcw The roses over the mountains ana
valleys of beautiful Tennessee. We deck the
'.Futlcr of Waters with g;srlandS, that he
may wash the wounds of Missouri, ARKANSAS,
Louisiana and Mississippi.
We have wreathS for Alabama and the En-
pire State, from the mountains To the sea,
and wa bring the cyprCsS anu myrtle anu