Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-01


county. The full revelation is reserved
forothsr men and times when the vapors O
, prejudice and passion have been ROLLED
away with the useless rubbish of othel
things and tie sunlight Of unohscuret
| lintellicenoe falls upon \ vision ef histori,
and poetic spendor.
The present is ours TO improve, 10 us,
and to enjoy; it is ilnmined by "a,
glorious sunlight of mercy, hope ant
pesce-and should be stirred by !
high sense Of gratitude and duty. In tn,
mosaic Of life there il always as much
. sunshine as cloud if We but look forit BS
contrast, by trials and deprivations, ",
learn the value and the joys efour being
Every life may have its rainbow and ii
crown Of hope These span and rise evel
above the turf that smiling nature kissei
over the grave 50 we act our part we'll
80 We ill up the present hour with present
duty. The results can be left TO an all
wise. ever-present and mercif1l Provi.
dence, with the Christian and philosophiC
assurance that all viii be we'll at last.
for one believe now that il was best
for slavery TO be abolished when and as Il
was that the Southern Confederacy, ~
conceived and constructed, laden with
fairest hopes and household gods-an
argosy Of rich freight--a thing throbbing
with glorious life and pride-its oolors
flying and faithful crew on deck, went
down like the AlaSama, as il did, rather
thar i should hsve succeeded and sur.
vived-we surrendered as brave men, and
saved what could be from the wreck. No
apologies are required or offered between
fair-minded antagonists, and we have no
word of complaint, no mental reservation
as 10 those who were gallant, magnani-
nous foes In political, business and
social life, many Of them now, We End,
are the truest and best Of friends. Such
ties, based upor mutual respect and good
understanding, are 10 be valued IS some
thing above price, an evidence that life is
not al q mockery and selfish struggle.
Ii developed and afforded opportunity
to the highest and first traits that ever
ennObled mankind. is gave US Zolli-
Golfer, Stuart, Johnston, Morgan, Forrest,
Jackson and Lee. and an innumerable host
of illustrious heroes, many Of them name
/ less and sleeping in unmarked graves,
who faced death as cheerfully as tired
men lie down 10 rest and sweet dreams,
But there is something to be done be-
sides eulogies over the dead. or regrets
over failure. There was a Paradise lost
and q Paradise regained. So there was a
lost cause, and is s cause to be regsined by
each Of the living. This is TO be done by
the geni0us Of work and the energizing
| forces of that hope and courage that
know no such word IS fail-that can be
adopted to any and all circumstances. 1t
would be unworthy of brave men to rest
supinely when so much is to be done and
such glorious opportunities are pre-
seRted on every hand The rich soil and
woods and mines of the South need but to
be touched by the wand Of in
tslligsnt labor to bud forth
the blossoms and fruit Of pros
perity and wealth, comfort and happiness.
You need not to be told Of the material
development that is going on all around
US. of the extension of railroads, the hum
of factories, the march in science and
arts and ali that bespeaks improvement
and the advance Of higher civilization.
The attention of the world is drawn to
this section. All necessary capital is COM
ing this way and class of immigration
that will stimulate every industry,
quicken competition in all the avenues Of
trade and strengthen the safeguards of
law, order and society. A new era has
dawned upon US which is full Of promise.
Wars are not always fruitless of good re-
suits. They often clear the murky, slug
gish atmosphere and open up the way to
planes of thought and action that before
were unattainable. The crusades were
apparently failure, yet the returned SOL
diers introduced in Western Europe many
OF the arts, Injuries and better ideas Of
the oriental world and FASTENED the break
i ing up Of Feudalism, the formation OF
States and the strengthening of spirit OF
discovery and enterprise and thought
which preceded and made practicable the
greatest and most benefcent changes in
the worlds history. The Old World was
then ripe for the printing press, the
Reformation and the discovery of Amer
lea. So our late war, apparently dark
J and cruel dispensation, brought about
{ great and unforeseen results. II
disposed of question that had
| vexed the country for more than q
century. II developed the most glorious
devotion, patience, heroism and self-sacri
ficing womanhood that history has vel
/ rendered. The story Of suffering, love
and fidelity manifested BY Southern wo.
men will 90 down in history and song, OF
canvass and in sculptured marble as long
as the English language is spoken. Thu
: higher and diviner qualities of human ma
ture stood outin striking contrast to tn,
horrors and baser instincts which always
5 prevail in the shadow OF war. The bes
! let US hope has been remembered for al
( example and will survive as long as soci
] ETY. exists. The old soldiers are rapidly
crossing over the river and let us hopetha
( they will find ''rest under the trees" TIL,
/ boys who came out Ofthe army are almos
} middle aged men settled in life, many 0
{ their heads are tinged with gray and the!
are anchored down by the sober realitie
: Of life. A younger generation has grown
up since we came out Of the army. Tb
/ children Of 1851 are the grown up younl
people Of today. They bear none Of th
: lcars Of war upon their cUmely persons
} none Of its wounds or warpsin their hearts
: The war TO them Is matter Of his
: tory or hearsay, and they shoul
e he thankful that they are neve
/ likely TO see a war in this country. Llf
y is open 10 them, and full Of glorious OF
4 portunities This IL a day Of progress ]
J. the South a. well as'the North, and Their
i is work and ample reward for all who 2
8 forward in the fine Of duty. But let It B
d impressed upon the rising generation tha
b while the Union is indissoluble, as far O
Z we are concerned, and our swords tha
!, ever rust upon the wall, that their father
Il did not 20 into this struggle without caus'
8 and that those who fell did not diein vair
: They fell as American citizens, animate
i by the loftiest patriotism, and their name
8 will be honored a. long Is the higher Al
tributes Of man are held in esteem.
/, No history Of the war or address Of th
3 character would be complete without
q tribute 10 the noble ladies Of the Soutl
L In tho world Of beauty, and unselfhne.
Il and good works, man must always, in civ
y ilized countries, yield the palm 70 woman
+ From the cradle 10 tho grave she is man
It trueh and most valuable friend, eve
n faithful In he.hour Of distress and lOyin
y companion In days Of peace and prosper
= ity. 1.-THE men Of the South had been =
% determined and unfatering a. the lAdi,
d and a. united, II Is probable that the n
4 snit ~ the war might have bocn amman Il,