Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-02-01
Good deeds are lasting All
Others pass Away.

The truth OF our proposition is plain
to every thoughtful reader of history.
Going back 60 the point where man first
stepped forth, and tracing his history on
down to the present, We lind number
Of men who nave mOu ded for themselves
characters, and done works that will ev-
er shine forth upon The records of the
parst, enduring lOr ever. But here and
there and not ial between do we find
others with like chances who have con-
strucied Il work which has long since
been consigned to the land of forgctful-
ness. We find that where man has turn
ed his attention TO that which is noble and
true that his work still survives. On the
opposite, where he has gone against his
own interests and the welfare of his
country that his deeds are excluded from
memory. or the day of such fate is rap
idly approaching. Man has at his dis
posal power to do something which will
add true and never fading lus,re to the
land which gave him birth. He is, also,
posscd of a power to build upon a foun-
dation that will not stand. We
find all along the past, and on down to
the present, examples of each descrip-
ton. Some have eXerted every possible
power to add TO mans comfort and re-
nOWn. Others who have and are trying
at every point on the way to blast our
brightest hopes and to disorgan1e every
union for the purpose of affecting that
which is noble and praiseworthy. | am
sorry that | cannot say to-day that our
legislative halls are filed with an assem-
bly, Of true patriots. "l'is true that we
have firm men--men who would die
rather than shrink from their duty. But
all are not such. We have men who,
pretending to work in our defence, and
and to seek after our interests, who are
selling our greatest hopes and brightest
prospects Tor future happiness The
time i, fast coming when men can weigh
actions in the philosophers scale the
scale of Justice. The old Bible maxim
che that rW,cth himself is greater than
ne that tpkcth city,' is beginning to
take hold upon the minds Of the people.
Napoleon placed his affections upon Eu-
ropcan wealth, and towards that goal he
ran like a strong man. He, like Alex
ander, placed himself up as his own idol
and resolved that all humanity should
bow In humble alteration before him.
We need not wonder at the world bury
ing the deeds Of such men. Their object
has been 10 do nothing that will add to
mans comfort either here or In the great
hereafter. Their deeds only make shine
with brighter huc the actions of true
men. Such men have LOST sight of the
great object Of life. Had Alexander
wished for himsclfa never failing wreath
he should have wept for other worlds to
have been brought under the light Of
science and Christianity. Caesar should
have used tho weapon Of Paul. Vol
lairc should have proven to the world
Luther. We sec that they have failed
TO pursue The true course. On the other
hand we are graiiled to know there are
deeds Of which man can boast-dreds
which viii stand Il test though critics
may DO their worst. Among these we
find Columbus who aroused the people
with u new world and all ils natural
wealth. Ills achievement IL one among
the many that shall survive the decay OF
empires. Fulton " another who reYO-
lulionizcd the world by the application
Of stelm TO machinery nv which The
huge ship Is driven through the mighty
ocean, and the iron ear from station 10
station. A franklin who stole the an
CRY lightning from itB ccrllcan home.
4 Morse made It the lretlooted post
boy 70 bear messages around the world
in the twinkling ofun eye. Again when
we perusr the history Of Clay and q
Webster gud see what measures they
took 70 make u people great. II was The
hand OF Ihomas Jefferson thHt pcuucd
the Declaration Of Independence. IL
was the drilling words Of Patrick Hem
~ that placed In The hos0ms of the
American people u burning desire for
freedom. lie 1t was who kudlnd u fire
which nothing short of the blood Of
hparlcss uppirstur5 could qurnch.
Washington mastering lila little band Of
mountain bOla, and, under Ciruum.,au-
ccs which were hcurt-tcnding, led them
10 the field OF contest and gained the
glorious liberties which Wr to-day enjoy.
Again, scientists, by II long reach OF
thought and much experiment have gone
deep down into old earth; have scanned
the aerial regions; have uuiolded the
hidden mysteries of nature and revealed
to man The light Of the world. They
have brought light ont Of darkness f;
have caused the influences Of education
10 spread far aud wide over u darkcncd
land, The gIitlering church spires aud
elegant colleges now stand where was
once the home OF thc aayage. The clash
Ing note Of machinery .mnglng iu sweet
Ia IL ..I
dustfy, are now heard where wuA once d
land ui dc-uluiou. The durthrs3 which
long ovptsliWloWed Our lAud o. giving
way before lhp uul.p.ess Footsteps ot APP
pr0a.hug light Ibc rlslug eun Of 70
better duy IA beginning 10 kiH away
from lho bosom of our fair luud the era.
el marks Of q bloody war; To what class
of actions are Wc indebted for the cir
cumsluure. hy which We are surround
CdY The ausWcr is not hurd
to make. Good deeds alone ruuuln.
All others pu4g away Napoleon for n
time made kinrlums hia playthings, and
human slaughter Nh. trade. But IN nn
evil hour his glory lcit him aud he died
" lonely exile. tWsDr waved the Romnn
eagle over fields Of q conquered world,
but lls great empire Inns pusscd away
leaving not u wreck behind, So II is for
those who live for anything else than the
good Of mankind but the actions Of those
Who have Ia view the improvement Of
the race cnunot die, Hence n u that
towering monuments are reared over The
many graves Of our buried great. Hence
" T. the Inscriptions ol their tombsl0nes
ppilnph their Immortality. Sleep on ye
heroes. quietly rcpose IN your narrow
tombs Your deeds nre hlll living mud
ARE growing brighter day by day.
Young man, young lads, shall YOU fold
your hands aud muse upon The hopes
which fancy 0nerY Or shall you follow
the examples of those whose deeds ney-
pr dicS Should YOU wish the npprobn-
lion Of generations yet 10 COME should
VuU Wiat IA tUW ptfuu monument mark