Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-05-06

flied confidence of his southern country
men and the attention of Christendom.
But as a prisoner, stripped of all power
save the power to endure, sustained by that
majestic spirit which no force but death
could conquer, awaiting his judicial trial
and all consequences with a repose of mind,
an equipoise and dignity of demeanor rare
ly equalled and never eXcelled-it Wasthen
that he bound himself to the hearts of his
people in deathless affection, and rose to
the sublimest height of the morally heroic.
OF these two scenes the one in the fortress
was more profoundly impressive. Its les
son is of inestimable value to the young
men of our country. 1t teaches that no
revulsion in political fortunes, however
sudden or extreme, can overWhelm or crush
the man whose life is blameless. TO my
mind, great and grand as he was in the
hour of his most splendid triumph, he was
greater and grander still in the hour OF his
deepest humiliation. And when aliena-
tions and bitter memories are gone, when
the crucial test of historical analysis shall
be fully, fairly and truthfully made-then
his name and his fame, his conspicuous SER
vice to the country before the war, and his
moral elevation and matchless fortitude as
prisoner of State after the war, will COM
mand universal respect and challenge un-
qualified admiration.
"The third and last thought suggested by
your committees invitation is that the oc-
casion appeals to our 'Datriotism.' | en-
brace this truth in its broadcast and most
circumscribed significance. This memorial
erent upon historic yromN will a~ssuredly
increase the strength and enlarge the scope
of the patriotism of this people. The nat
ural, logical, inevitable issue of this and all
analogous events must be to enhance the
self respect, augment the self reliance, exalt
the manhood and heighten the appreciation
of this people for their past history and
achievements, and therefore intensity their
love of country. The convers proposition
is equally true. Should we build no monu-
ments, write no histories, cherish no men,
cries of the men and the deeds which truth.
full history would make immortal, we would
sap the most solid foundations of our man
hood, and bring certain decay to the patriot
ism of our people. The soldier or citizen
of the North or the South who would froWn
upon the scenes like this in either section,
who does not esteem the renown won by
both armies in the late war, as enrichment
of the history and aliment for the patriot
ism of the whole people, is narrow in con
ception and jaundiced in vision.
"The thought of Lord Bolingbroke was
the true one, that patriotism must be found
ed on great principles and supported by
great virtues It follows that the more
commendable the principles and the higher
the virtue which moved and supported the
course of each section in the late war, the
more life-giving is the nutriment afforded
to the patriotism of all by their contem-
~plation. Let each section, therefore, while
approaching the virtues of the other, add
to the aggregate patriotism of the country
by perpetuating in brass and marble shafts
and granite piles the valor of its sons, and
emblazon every page of its history with the
glory of their achievements"
General Gordon then paid an eloquent
tribute to the valor and patriotism display
ed on both sides during the war, and group
ed together some of the facts connected
with that gigantic struggle. After compar-
ing the resources of the two opposing Sec
tions at war, and paying glowing tribute to
the fighting qualities of the Southern SOL
diery, he closed as follows:
"And now, let the many virtues OF the
fathers and stainless purity of the mothers
dwell richly in their sons and daughters
let personal and public honor be the COM
manding law both of your thought and
your action let your representatives, both
State and Federal, still maintain untarnish-
ed regulations for incorruptibility in office
let your fidelity to the whole country be as
conspicuous in peace as was your devotion
to the South during the devastating war
let the South's plighted faith to the perma-
nent Union OF the States and the legitimate
results of the wal be forever unquestioned
let all constitutional policies that tend to
unite more closely the sections and people,
and at the same time to promote simplici-
ty and economy of administration, lind
among you their sincerest and most en-
lightened champions. Then, in the march
of the republic to its high destiny, the South
will resume her place with the ranks at
the head of the column, and the names of
Southern statesmen and Southern soldiers
will live among the most conspicuous and
honored in our country's history"
General Gordon's speech was received
with great pleasure, and at many points he
was interrupted by the approving shouts Of
the multitude. His references to Mr.. Davis
and the grandeur of his life, especially the
scenes depicted in Fortress Monroe, made a
profound impression and brought tears to
hundreds of eyes. His tributes to the SOL
diers of both armies and contempt for the
men who would attemptto detract from the
valor of either, received long continued
shouts of applause.
1t was then announced that Mr.. Davis
would receive his friends at the City Hall
as soon as the meeting adjourned. When
Mr.. Davis and others of the escorting party
had passed through the lines and reached