Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-04

and sef-maintanance in peace, Just as he
made his devotion illustrious on thousand
fields in war
Our banners bear names well known and
dear to us. First, the dim eye of the veteran
will see in this column the name of Frank
Cheatham floating on the sllken air of peace,
as calmly as II 1t had never known the temp
est OF battle; next, Forbes and Leonadas,
Polk and McEwen and Ingram; Daniel s.
DonelSon and Woodbridge and Frierson and
McDoualdson and Palmer, give name and
identity, here, to bivouac's of men who have
seen the cam p-fires in eleven States, glitter
along the line OF battle that divided a conti-
nent, like fire-fies on summers hight.
From the little gathering at Nashville on
winters eve last December, behold how great
a fire has been enkindled? Twelve hundred
strong. Within this circle OF flame no bastard
dares come no self-seeker will ever prost-
tute our glorious standard to base uses. In
the mantling goblet of our friendship, there's
not drop of political slime, nor OF the
venom, sectional hate. Here Old Mortality
cleanses the mossy marble, that the legend OF
our dead comrades honor may be plainly
read, and rears the stone to the memory Of
our unknown dead.
We vindicate the truth of history and lay
the chaplet of unfading glory upon the brow
OF the Confederate Soldiers.
But not alone am called upon to accept
welcome from comrades; the keys of the
pround city of Clarksville have been laid at
our feet Her hands have woven wreathe
for the boys in gray, and the hands that wove
1t are OF Montgomerys' fair daughters. The
dearest welcome of all, comesf from eyes and
hearts of our women.
When did the Southern girl ever forget us,
and my comrades when can we ever forget
her We may have been conquered, she
wasn't. Her hand bound up the wounds OF
war her voice gave courage to the fainting
heart. 1t Is to the women of the South that
she owes her rapid rehabilitation, all honor
and love to her, the tairest and bravest and
best gift of God to man.
Capt. Morton had remarked to q
comrade just before being introduced
to the audience, that he had much
rather face battle than an audience,
but before his speech was half finish
ed, the audience were of the opinion
that he could face a crowd with the
same boldness which characterized
meetings with the enemy.
Gen. Basil w. Duke, Morgan's
right hand bower, was next intro
duced by Col. Young, but his re.
marks were interrupted for a time by
the intrusion of one of the bands
which seemed compelled to turn its
melodious strains loose. When quiet
was restored, Gen. Duke said:
More than score of years have rolled
away since the great contest was lost and
| won. We look back upon 1T as we might re-
memember another existence. Our remlnes-
| cences OF those days of ardent convictions
burning impulse and earnest efforts are be-
coming dimmed as time and age creep on U.s.
That which was once vivid and glowing
realty seems now scarcely more tangible than
"the stuff that dreams are made OF, rs we
gaze on it reflected In the mirror of memory.
And, indeed, the difference between dream
life and every day existence, between the
world we know and world we can imagine,
is hardly more distinct and positive than the
contrast between the life before and during
the war and that Of the present day. The po-
liticaf consequences of that conyulsion are
scarcely perceptible, now that the dangers
threatened during the years OF so-called re-
construction except In so far as that merely
sectional ideas, aims and interests find little
II any expression in political declaration ana
action but never before, in modern history
save by the revolution which destroyed abso-
luton and arstocracy in France, and obllt-
Grated every trace OF fendal infuence-has so
complete O social transformation been ell
fected.
We who saw the beginning, progress and
conclusion of the great controversy can not
regard IL as we did when intoxicated with It's
inspiration. Removed from the period OF
actual strife by almost the life OF generation
we can realize clearly now what we could not
then discern, that while the causes which In
duced 1t were resistless, the results which
came out of it were, in the nature OF things,
inevitable. The sectional pride and partisan
bitterness which impelled the conflict, the
passionate patriotism which urged men on
both sides into that terrible struggle, silenced
for the tinae all other suggestions. In the
agonies of hope and fear with which that war
was waged in the fierce grapple when the
spirit of battle was upon us, we could hear no
voice save that which bade stern aggression
on the one side, or stubborn resistance on the
other: could listen to no counsel which ud
not stimulate combat and promise victory
But the survivor, Federal or Confederate, OF
that fiery ordeal, who can still cherish the
angry thrill OF conflict; who fails to recog-
nize the wise dispensation which preserved
the Union and the good Providence which
protected constitutional liberty in saving the
South from subjugation, is strangely lacking
in appreciation OF the true meaning aud
smoral Of the great historic drama he has wit
messed.
The generation which has grown 10 man
hood since the var is subject TO influences 30
unlike to those which produced IL; lives un-
der social conditions so changed and different
that, while it may revere the efforts and sac
rihcss it can scarcely understand the motives
OF the men who fought and fell. The very
fact that the issues submitted then are ali
tried and determined, the questions In con
tention all settled, the problems which the
adoption of the Federal Constitution and the
establishment OF the Union had left unsolved
have been removed by the decision OF the
sword from the region Of disputed construc.
, ton, renders il almost impossible for those
who sec only the adjustment 10 comprehend
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