Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-16
the cross to the crusader or the crescent to
the infdel.


In battling for southern independence,
whether right or wrong in the Judgment
of the world, the southern soldier
was animated by hopes and
aims as pure and high
as inspired the chivalry Of Europe 10 fol-
low Richard, OF England, through desert
sands and tropic heats, through the holy
land of the east, TO war with the infdel
for the tomb of the Savior.
The armies of Lee and Johnston, led by
Jackson and Longstreet, by Polk and
Hardee, displayed in ey;ry battle Of our
long and bloody war, from Manassas to
Appomatox-from Shiloh to Atlanta, all
the daring chivalry and iron courage
which made the legions OF Napoleon, led
by Ney, Soult, Masena and Moreau, van
auishers of allied Europe on the fields of
Austerlitz and Friedland.
The horsemen Of Forrest and Stuart
were as knightly in bearing, de-
fant in danger and bold in action as the
chivalrie troopers who rode to the charge
and battle with Rupert, Of England, or
De Candi: of France.
To withhold these evidences of respect
of the purest virtues and highest man
hood-to forget this reverence and vener-
alton for deeds and sacrifices that ennoble
humanity, at tho bOhest Of friend or foe,
would be to degrade the manhood of the
living to the level of slaves and towards
and tarnish the honor Of the dead with
the odium of felons and malefactors-
what though, in the mad passions of the
hour following the shock and wreck and
ruin of war both the dead and the living
of the south we're arraigned and harshly
judged by hostile tribunal, without
hearing a defense-yet time will reverse
the verdict. What though they have
been called "traitor" and "rebel?" they
can wear these epithets as badges Of
honor, until the writers of future history
shall efiace them from its pages, and write
in their stead, in letters OF gold, bright
with the halo of truth, Hero" and "Pa-
triot."
Until tho story of our great civil war, of
our great struggle and overthrow, shall be
truthfully told until the figure Of every
actor in the mighty drama shall stand in
rightful place in the tableau Of history, we
have but to cherish the memory of our
dead as sacred thing and hide it away
from the cold gaze Of the world and rude
touch of strangers in the deepest, holiest
recesses OF warm and loving hearts.
While doing this we owe duties and
obligations to tho living that we cannot
and ought not to escape, for the honor of
tho south. that jewel which was preserv-
ed through all its disasters and ruin, is
held in pledge for its performance. The
brave and true and manly of your coun-
trYmen now see that the struggle was in
evitable-that its seeds had germinated in
the very structure of our government, had
grown with its growth, until they had
given life and vigor to a parasite too
strong to be torn away save by the
strength Of our whole people struggling IN
the throes Of giant civil war. They un-
derstand now tho source of
your convictions and appreciate
the courage with which you
maintained them. They are now anx-
iously looking to you for aid in making
greater and better and more benifcent our
common country; to tear out the thistle
and the. thorn, planted by the hand of
hate, and add brighter and sweeter
flowers to the chaplet of liberty-tO stud
with richer and rarer jewels the crown
and scepter Of freedom.
Your sacred task for to-day is done; you
will soon leave your dead to the solitude of
their dreary homes, but holy memory
will guard this hallowed spot, and tho
aroma oflove and faith and prayer will
ascend from this consecrated ground until
you come again.
You have planted to-day among these
humble tombs, flowers and vines which
watered by the dew of heaven,
in tears from woman's eyes, will grow in
sunshine and shade, until their opening
petals shall smile on every grave, and
twine their tender arms in loving embrace
around every stone and grassy monu-
ment.