The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-12-26
EEv. J. v. TURNER.


In The first three verses uf tie
third chapter OF Isaiah We end t',y.se
words:
'For, behold, the Lord, the Lord
OF hosts, doth take away :
the stay and the staff, tile
mighty IMAM. the man OF war,
the Judge, the prudent, :
The ancieat, The hon.rahle. :
the counsellor, and the
eloquent orator." / have not usnd
me text in its entirety, but have g
lected from these three verses the
epithets that are appropriate 10 the
noble character of him whom we
We would commemorate on this oc-
casion.
First, let ii be understood that in
speaking the praises OF jefferson Da-
Wis am not here 10 honor mau. but
to honor God through man. Reli
gion AMI patriotism are closely al
lied. The truest christian is often
the truest patriot. Ii is but right
and proper that the christian minis
ter should single out high and no
bic character-an Instance of true
christian and pure patriot-and hold
up his example for men to initiate
and follow. "An honest man j.
Gods best work. in honoriun
Gods masterpieces we honor Him.
Jefferson Davis was q masterpiece.
His was a character noble in lis in
tegri'y, pure in its purposes.
| Tho nrnSnnt :
one IN several respects. II marks
the centennial of the Nations his
tory. The Nation was but a youth
When Davis WIS born. His life COW
els tour-titths OF the first century of
the Nations existence. During
three-tifths of that time he was a
prominent and lea ling character.
In many ways he served his country
and took part in several wars. He
dearly loved the Union and sought
to preserve it. On one notable oc-
casion he expressed the earnest wish
that from Aroostnck to San Diego,
from Key West to Puget's Sound,
grand arch of our political temple
might stand mistaken. He sought to
preserve the Union but was unwill-
ing to do so at the sacrifice of his
principles.
Here late in the afternoon of the
nineteenth century we have reached
a remarkable period in the Nation's
history, and this centennial year is
a fitting standpoint from which to
review the past and forecast The flu
ture. a hundred years ago we were
but thirteen colonies. WenoW num-
Der fOrty-two States and seven terri
tories and we are a strong and mig h
ty Nation, whom other nations de-
light to honor and whose flag is re-
spected wherever it is unfurled upon
the seas. Within the present year
we have celebrated the hundredth
anniversary of the inau9 uration of
Washington, our first President.
Washington led our armies when as
colonies we fought for seven long
years to gain our independence. The
mother country called us rebels.
Washington was called rebel. II
is said that "nOthing succeeds like
success" Had Washington failed
llC llttu " a. lSb'Cl
But he succeeded and has rightly in
herited the grand and glorious title
of "Father of his country" and is
properly reckoned First in the
hearts of his countrymen."
See how unjustly the world
judges! If success is to he the test
of right, now many a righteous
cause must be condemned! How
ofte:l is the majority in the wrong
while the small minority is right
The majority by. brute force may
overwhelm and crush the minority
and often does.
Does might make right?
But seeming fallue is often the
beginning Of a grand and glorious
success. Truth crushed to the ground
will rise again. The right will con
quer at last, for God will have it so
In this world it seems that provi
dence has so ordered it that he who
esp0uses a grand and righteous Gauss
must himself often fall a sacrifice e
that cause. But the blood of the
martyrs is the seed of the church
How wrongly the world judges
"Follow not a multitude to do evil
says scripture. Christ came to re
deem mankind. When he hung up
on the cross, doubtless satan ant
the wicked men who crucifie1 him
thought that he had failed. But GU
of seeming defeat came forth glOri
Gus victory. How christianity has
succeeded theseN8 centuries do tes
tify. The principles for which tht
South fought estates Rights ant
the Preser walton of the constitu
tom may yet triumph.
| Washington was called rebel
Had he failed, he would have beer
called so still. Had Davis succeed
led he would have been handed dow
Ito prosperity as the "Father Of hi:
country
Rebellion! Rebellion!
"Feul dishonoring word, whose wrongful
blight
So oft has cursed the hottest cause
That tongue or sword e'er lost OF Won"
If Davis was a lebel, we too were
rebels, for we served and were hi
soldiers.
Davis was representative man
He embodied and personified Oul
cause, the $50 called) Lost Cause
Lost! No, not lost, ior the riSh
can never be lost.
In hating the cause our eneinie:
hated him as the personification o
that cause. In hating him they liz.
ted lis; for he was but the head ant
front Of our offending.
They call us rebels! But were NJ
rebels? When did any but patriots
ever endure such hardshipS and fri
i vations as we soldiers of the ColI
federacy endured, imperiling GU
lives without pay or hope of reward
We fought until overwhelmed b.
numbers. We yielded the sword