The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-23
GOV. GoRnoN,s GRAFTON.

'sH A'llhft an iilltltht dS luAt Oi NtIEl " imam
Jasper
1t we inquire for the reason of this peculiar
interest, we shall find 1t due to other causes
IMAM those which ordinarily make men famous.
There was nothing ia JGsper'S birth, education
or circumstances as far as these are known,
calculated TO arrest the attention or impress the
Imagination. lie did n& belong to that class OF
men who usually challenge the homage of man
kind, and 10 whom the world ascrlbes greatness
or builds its monuments lie was neither phius-
opher, nor founder nor lawgiver nor conqueror
nor founder Of empire or Of state, lie was not
the apostle OF any religion or sect or creed
which bound his followers together aud com
mitted them To the duty Of pcrpatuatmg his
memory. He achieved no great triumph IN
politics IN war, or IN literature; indeed none
OF those brilliant successes in any me OF
thought or action, which GID the nameSot great
leaders and dll the world with their praises.
THE ONLY MONUMENT.
He was born In orr sister State Of South Caro-
liza of humble parentage, and died an unpre-
tending soldier in the nOn-COmIulSSlOned ranks
of Il rebel army and died too, in the very hour
of disastrous defeat Yet there stands not upon
this or any other continent one monument more
worthily erected than the granite column and
bronze statue which We are here 20 unyeil.
The reasons which called this memorial INTO
being are numerous and of commanding import
II is due first to Jasper himself-to the modest
man who was model of unselflSh devotion TO
his country, and yet who steadfastly refused all
offers OF promotion and every testimonial
which titles confer, and to which men ordinarily
aspire His career though brief and compare
lively lncOnsplcuOuS was rare example OF inc
most splendid and romantic ranks OF armies.
II was chivalry without its plume; courage
without it's star Of distinction; martyTdOm
without its benediction or signet OF saint
ship. No note of popular applause ever
reached bis ear nor thrilled his spirit nor Streng-
theued his resolve. No dream of place in his
tory ever disturbed his repose or excited his
Imagination. The only reward he proposed for
himself seemed to have been the indulgence OF
an instructive magnanmity OF soul and con
scOus elevation Of spirit, rs expressed IN
deeds Of daring IN defense Of his country. At
Fort Moultric, on June 2S, l176 he eaped
through an embrasure, under furious fire, and
recovered, with its shattered staff, the fallen
flag Of South Carolina. In Georgia, on outpost
duty, he released prisoners from the enemy
hands, and distinguished himself by deeds Of
extraordinary daring
YOUNGER THAN ALEXANDER.
On Oct 0, 1879, at Savannah before he had
reached the age of 30 years, wounded, faint and
bleeding, he pressed to the front and fell with
the flag of his country in his hand while seeking
to place it on the enemy's entertainments.
His life was noble illustration of all the
characteristics that adorn the soldier and the
patriot. 1t was an exhibition of all the boosted
virtues of the kniRhthood of the olden times.
Patriotism burned with a steadfast and undying
flame In his breast. His courage was one of the
most heroic and elevated type. His modesty
was as conspicuous az his splendid and unseliSh
valor, He little thought, when with his dying
breath he said: Tell Mrs Elliott that | saved
the Nag she gave us, though lost my life, that
he was placing in the hands Of the historic
muse one of the rarcSt gems Of chivalry that
ever Sparkled upon her bosom. Indeed, his
modest worth, HIS lofty courage, his self-sacri-
flee his dsinterestcdneSS and his touching rev
erance for wcmauhOOd. in the hour of danger
and of death, constitutes the very essence and
glory of chivIlry. They illustrate the truth
tlnt the genuine greatness Of soul is indepen-
dent OF rank, of titles or Of station In recog
milton Of this great truth and the sinRuarly high
and diStlnctively noble qualities, this memorial
is most worthily erected to Sergt. William JAS
per.
A LASTING TRIBUTE.
In the next place this monument should stand
as perpetual testimonial to the noble men and
women whose spirit conceived .ands whoSc labOrs
have built it. History Is partial and exclusive
in the selection of subjects for the beStOwal of
its iavOrs. Its spirit is essentially arisocratiC.
1t delights to play courtier, not TO prvates to
untitled heroes. but to epauetted chieftains, to
monarchs and TO great commanders. In select
ing, therefore, this nodes hero of the ranks as
your model to give the world assurance of u
man." you have honored yourselves as surely us
you honor him You have raised this monu
ment not only to Jasper but to that vast army
of unpretendnR heroes who, in all armies have
fought and suffered, and without the hope of
Distinction have forgotten self, braved dangers
faced death uublanched, torn flags from the
enemy's hands, and placed their own on hostile
breaStw0rks or gone down to unlettered graves
in the crash and carnage of war. ! most heartily
rejoice that, despite our poverty, Southern
hearts have conceived and Southern hands com
pleted this enduring memorial to this diStiu-
tngulshed representative of noble brother
hood who, in every war, fill its ranks, suffer its
blttcrest prtvatlons and face its tiercest fires
BINDS ERIN AND COLUMBIA.
Again thank you, my countrymen that YOU
have thought me worthy to utter. III your be
half, becoming sentiments upon an occasion 80
significant and SO replete with patriotic sugges-
tons.
llut again. This monument will become
another bond Of sympathy between ireland and
America. Let us regard it in some sense as
memorial OF the heroic and pathetic struggle,
Wagcd for self government by Jaspcrs Father
land that Niobe of the nations ''sOngful, soul
ful, sOrrONful Ireland the echoes of whose
woes ara in every heart in Christendom, whose
genius and courage have enriched and ennobled
every land and whose irTepressible passion for
liberty. growing stronger through centuries of
oppression Is the great phenomenon of history.
Tender. Comely valiant Ireland may her
resurrection morn speedily break in a blaze of
triumph and Of deiverance from. oppression.
May II herald the erection of another move
ment- butt by her own sons upon her own soil,
to her own freedom, and TO the conceded and
inalipnable right of lrishmen to local self-gov
eminent forever
HIS NOBLE CHARACTER.
Lastly, interpret the purpose Of your monu-
ment 70 be the comemoration of those noble
attributes of character which Jasper so beauti-
fully illustrated in his life and death. God
save liberty and my country was his exclama
ton as he rescued the flag at Fort Moutrie
He declined Il commission because he felt that
he could better serve his country ia his humble
station. In his dying hour he declared that the
recollection of his services brought a secret
Joy to his heart when II was about u cease it's
throbs forever. Aud as he closed his eyes upon
his struggling country ne desired that his
father De assured bat his son had died with a
steadfast faith in an important life beyond the
grave.
Such are the exalted characteristics and senti-
ments which this monument commentaries.
Around 1t are TO stand Ia unhrokeu circle all the
virtues illustrated 10 Jaspers modest but glori-
Gus career. Here arc TO stand courage. with its
lance at rest, but lis star undimmed; modesty,
with its veil heighteuin2 the merits it could not
conceal: dsluterstej ness, with all its grgces of
exquisite moral beauty; patriotism, the rightful
king Of the historic virtues; and lastly, the
spirit Of "a willing martyrdom in the cause of
truth and Of country, receiving its immortal
crown In the moment of self immOlatiOn. Al
though not represented to the eye in brass or
chiseled marble these virtues are To stand, as if
with visible presence, around this statue of
Jasper, and with inspired lips shall speak 10 the
youth Of this and coming generations, invoking
them TO a higher and more consecTatcd life
with an emphasis ami eloquence which no
human tongue can rival.
WHERE LANGUAGE FAILS
To conceive the thought Of building such a
monument is TO make departure in commem-
orative usage, which no language eau too
strongly commend History, repeat is always
arstocratic. Its civic crowns are too often be-
slowed on unworthy princes, rather than upon
mertOriOuS representatives OF the common DeO-
pie. The world builds its highest monuments TO
power and raises its triumphal arches to inteec-
tual grandeur and II builds wisely. But I wish