Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-06-12

federal arms. But let no tongue
ever offer apology for the acts and
faithful honest fight of our dead sol
diers. They followed their States
and though their cause was trampled
undertook, yet like the graves of the
soldiers of old Theomopylae, they lie
beneath monuments on which the
minds eye can read the epitaph,
IS Go tell the world we died obeying
the lawsof our country"
That there were numerous knightly
deeds, and generous acts of greater
magnanimity and heroism than are
recorded of Sir Philip Sydney and
Gustavus Adolphus. Be not forget
full of those who sleep the long sleep
of death; keep their memories green
they died for US, their love should be
felt forever; the sad pleasure of
strewing their graves with flowers
should continue each returning
spring; no monument erected by
man will last longer than twenty
generations, but the glories of our
dead, their patient, timeless spirit
of patriotism, their immortal lessons
in bravery and virtue will become
bright, and consecrate- our people to
the worship OF. peoples govern
ment.
us. Senator Pasco, of Florida, was
nextintroduced. He said he was in our
lovely town on a visit, and was not
aware the great compliment would be
paid him of calling on him for a speech
on this sacred day.
But that the aspiration of the occa-
sion, and the bright faces of the
lovely women and girls met here TO
celebrate the heroic achievements of
the honored dead, filed him with
burning feelings that he could but
feebly express. He was highly de-
lighted to see such gathering; he
hoped the people of the South would
perpetuate the memories of their
fallen heroes, those brave boys who
asked not the wherefore, but valiant
ly dashed along the path of duty
Such scenes teach the children the
truth about their fathers, the honor
and devotion to country, which is not,
alas! being taught in some of the
school books forced upon our chill
dren. Let hate and animosity be
buried; let only patriotism guide us
onward the bugle blast of history
will one day set right before all man.
kind, the fame of our beloved COM
rades who lie beneath the cypress
in the dreamless sleep of fallen
braves, to whose memories their liv-
ing comrades are this day paying the
beautiful annual tribute of appro-
pirate floral offerings as the tenderest
sentiments of mourning hearts for the
victories preserved in the gallantries of
the dead. Let this zeal increase; this
pleasant task we owe our departed
comrades be performed each year;
and teach the rising generations to
hand il down to far distant times.
Col. H. Kyd Douglas who was on
the orators stand, was presented to
the assemblage by Cleon Moore. ESQ.,,
the chairman, as one who was always
ready to say word in honor of the
gallant boys in gray. Col. Douglas
said he was. allotted the duty of
speaking at night. but he was ever
prepared to give words of praise for
the beloved who died in gray. He
bore warm-hearted message from
our sister State Maryland,-s stood
by us in adversely. and was doubly
hound to MS, in prosperity. That we.
all would pass away, but the monu-
mental feats of martial prowcss, pa
tient suffering and bravery in defeat,
of those who so honorably died while
wearing the gray. will remain as pc
rennial as love. He had followed Vir-
ginia right or wrong; he went to war
with no hardness; he obeyed her as
he would his sanity mother, because
she called him to her side. He had
never offered any apology for his
dead comrades; he had ever Joined
with gladness in encouraging lauda-
ton of their heroic lives. and lie
hoped time would cease its relentless
course ere the people of the South
came to the mistaken notion of ne
glecting the sacred acts of memorial
day, and he should never falter in
praising the heroic dead, and his eff
forts in .bedecking their graves with
flowers of love should never be per-
functory. He had no apology to
make for his devotion to Virginia and
her cause; and nor danger, nor
threats, nor desire of success, nor
money, nor political preferment,
would ever wiring from him the cring-
ing sigh of apology to timeserving
political vandals.
The closing remarks of Col. Doug
las completely reused the patriotic
impulses of his friends, and they gave
him an enthusiastic applause.
Hon. D. B. Lucas then came for
ward and recited an original poem,
on the memories of the Southern pa
triots, and the legacies they left us.
The poem abounds in exquisite
thoughts, clothed in beautiful Ian
guage of real affection.
IN MEMORIAM.
of The Southern Dead in Edge-HfH,
June 9th, 1888.
BY DANIEL II. LUCAS.
And shall we then forget these heroes? Never!
The Southern heart that boasts their mem-
cries not
Shall be itself descrvedly forgot.
While they in fame live on forever!
The sceptre. like the ebbing tide departs.
While like the grant cliff. whose stable form
Huri hap he hrpQ bp