The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-14
The Address OF welcome.

THE LOST OAUsE-It has been assigned
TO me to extend to you, in behalf Of
the people of this town, q much de-
served welcome on this, to us, and
which we hope to make for you,
most interesting occasion. We assure
you that not more enduring are these
lofty oaks that have seen the century
in its infancy and defied the storm
king in his fury, not more lasting are
yonder hills, nor yen blue dome OF
heaven, than our remembrance Of
the hsrdships you endured, of your
patient suferings, Of your heroic
deeds on an hundred battle fields, Of
your devotion to cause that you be-
leved to be right and which defeat
cannot make wrong, and for which
you periled life and all. Mona of this
have we forgotten, nor can we forget
them. They will live in the history
of brave, once crushed, now resus'
citated people; in its traditions, in its
songs and st9ries, and in the hearts
and affections OF its people, as a rich
heritage forever. Ia these respects,
soldiers, veterans OF the Stars and
Bars, yours is not a lest cause. 1t
lives in all that consecrates a
causs-a principle 10 people in
that which comes in adversely, not in
prosperity; which comes with the cy-
press wreath and not with the roses
which appeals to the heart in its sad
ness and not when it is joyful; which
comes to the people of ruined homes
and sacked aud burned cities; all
this has fed your cause with the food
Of the immortals, 80 that it has become
exhaulted and must live always.
Is there any hing wrong in all this
Who and what forbids 1t ? Is there any.
thing wrong in the memory Of heroic
deeds, of devotion to country and
home, no matter on which side Of the
line that devotion be shown. 1t con-
stitutes an heritage for Americans on
both sides of the line.
No, we love the honor Of that hsg
On land and sea there are Southern
hands to hold it, Southern swords 10
save it, yes, and Southern blood to
lave it. It's folds have been baptized
in Southern blood on many well
fought fsld and may be again. RAJ
lied under its folds once more all the
bitterness of the past ia forgotten, all
that is great and good on both sides Il
loved and cherished by reunited
p2ople.
Have you seen Use again to view to-
day the battle line OF the boysi in gray
Have you sean the onset, the charge
and heard again the old rebel yellP
You may, for time, have drifted in
thought from peaceful fields of waving
grain, OF bounteous cropg, to the bloody
battle fields-now for time converted
the implements OF agriculture into
those OF war.
You have meu-remnants OF the
Confederate soldiery. You who have
been 50 favored of fortune as to hsv;
actually seen r bit. L Lee and "Stone
wall" Jackson, the Joh1sous, ant
Forces, and other chiefs in battle, anC
followed their lead, to you, the in
itialed, there may have passed in re-
view these grand events in the history
OF our county in which you took e
prominent la't.
Anu BIZ Ju6N5 I6uulCuS, Jlllo paooihe
in review before us of the mighty
events Of the past-of the lost cause
serve but to Craven them deeper into
the tablets OF every Southern heat.
1t is taid that aitsr the death of the
gre at Napoleon and his b;dy had beer
brought from st Helena that one
night a co osssl shade perched it'el
up On the top of the arch OF triumph II
tne Champs E ysees and summoned
from the fields Of fame his vast anC
slumberinR armies. From Egypt
from Palestine, from Italy, from Spain
from the STOW drifts Of Russia and thu
glsciers Of the Alps, from MarsDgC
and Aus.eIlitz, and Jena and Wagram
and Friedlaud, aud Lsipsic, anC
Waterloo, the dad armies with theil
leaders came and marched silently
and swiftly forward. There Yves thu
Old Guard and Murat and Ney. Or
they moved with their thousands anC
the pageant was over, but before they
disappeared the colossal shade STOPPED
and pointed with his sword 10 thu
arch. A sudden fash of lightning il
lumined its s. des, and there these he
foes saw their names inscribed in i'm
perishable rock.