The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-06-12
THE LESSON 1T TEACHES.
What Such Demonstrations as the I'm
yelling of the Lee Statue Show to
the World.
Manchester (Va) Leader.1

l-AouShSStCt va J lcduSI.J
Among the great lessons inculcated
by the splendid celebration that oc-
CURED on the 2oth of May is one that
presents the Southern people before
the world in the brightest light and
elevates them to the highest point Of
greatness-and that is the wonderful
energy, the indomitable pluck and re-
Operative power they have displayed
under the most adverse circumstances
and within the most depressing envi-
ronments.
TO speak of the valor and martial
glory of these people is superogatory.
To comment upon their lofty virtues
and splendid intellect is but to repeat
the verdict of the world. TO praise
their chivalry and craftsmanship is but
to read from the fairest and most re-
splendent pages of our natural history.
Whatever they have touched has been
refined, hallowed and glorified. In
law, in arms, in literature, in the arts,
and in the industries removed to the
calmer arenas of life, but that are at
the very foundations ofall civil strength
and grandeur, they excelled and con-
quered. They were the makers of our
nation. They framed her constitution
and jurisprudence. They led her armies
to victory. They nursed the waning
light of liberty until it blazed forth a
consuming fire. They developed the
grand resources of the country. They
blazoned on her shield the brightest
legends of glory and renown, and, on
the land and sea, bore her banners to
triumphant success.
1t was conceded that the Southern
people possessed those splendid attri-
butes and this magnificent heritage of
fame and usefulness and when they
came from the late war, enveloped in
battle clouds and begrimed with the
dust of a hundred great victories and
only one signal disaster-and that the
last-when they were not conquered,
but overwhelmed, and that, too, by
exhaustion and lack of resources-they y
still challenged and won the applause
and admiration of all men.
But it was then left to them to pre-
sent the greatest spectacle to the world
that had ever been seen. These gal,
liant men, these brave soldiers, though
crushed to the dust, though their home:
were laid waste, though their field.
we're desolated, though their wealth
and resources were destroyed, sat no
down to bewail their losses and sorrows
but, taking from them the trapping
of the war, marched fourth to the fu
ture, grappled with all the ills tha
surrounded them, ,overcame all the dis.
advantages that were thrown in theil
way, whether domestic or foreign, and
and with the same high hearts and
dauntless pluck that had lifted them
up and shone from their brave eyes ir
battle, became conquerors and victor
in peace, and have by their civic glo
ries won and deserved the plaudits o
mankind.
This is the one great, golden lesson
that we learn from the great parade
the magnificent celebration to our peer
less Lee. Above the pomp. the sol
dierly bearing, the waving flags, the
rolling drums, the grand association
and memories that cluster around the
occasion, the high and ardent enthu-
siasm that sprung from the hearts o
the whole people that produced and
emphasized that occasion, lives the
spirit of the Southern people the plucl
and energy,the courage and endurance
that have made them conquerors il
the present and the future, arched with
bright auguries of renewed glory anc
success. The South still lives and tri
umphs.
-" Beauty's ensign yet
Is crimson'd in lips and in her cheek,
And Deaths pale flag is not advanced
| there"