The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-06-11
AT GRANTS TOMB.
MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES.
An Eloquent Tribute to the Great
Soldier by Southern Man.

hon. JOnn .. WISE, vi virginia
who has recently made his home ir
New York City, was the orator of the
Memorial Day exercises, held at the
tomb ofGen. Grant. In introducing the
speaker Post Commander knight re-
ferring to the unanimous decision O
the Confederate Camp to be present
and take part in the ceremonies, said
"Ne may as we'll admit, SO far a:
their courage is concerned, there are
few men here who wear the blue bu
have the marks on their body thai
testify to it. If any one should assai
our flag, the gray would be found
marching side by side with the men
who wear the blue, ready to fight
ready to die, if need be, for the country
we all love so we'll"
Arising amid applause Capt. WISE
spoke as follows:
Commander and Comrades, Laaie!
and Gentlemen:
AS the eastern worshipper, before
he enters the precincts of a holy
place, diverts himself of his work-day
garments, lest they profane it with
their grossness, so should we leave be.
hind us the passions and prejudices O
our daily lives as we approach the
tombs of the mighty dead of our re.
public.
These are the shrines of American
patriotism.
At them, above all other places are
we moved to reflection on the blessings
we enjoy, and inspired to reverence
and patriotism towards the govern
ment under which we live.
Our system is SO free from all form
and ceremonial about the powers that
be, that reverence for our representa-
tives in Office has little place in oul
hearts; and the homage of other peo-
pie to their rulers, offends our sense
of equality, or amuses us as syco.
phantic.
With US, all men are deemed oul
equals-so equal, in fact, that, while
they live, we indulge in unrestrained
criticism Of our public men, often ex-
tending to abuse, without fear of the1
power, or reverence for their public
station.
We have no favored class to whom
repeated trials are given, or whose
blunders are concealed or condoned.
We open the lists to every conner.
Yet, the tests which we impose are
severe, and we are merciless in judg-
ment. With us, the stumbler seldom
rises, and is often trampled into the
dust of oblivion by the crowding feet
that press around him.
Many there be, who after life's hard
struggle, are cast at the final account
into the mass of mediocrity.
Few there be, who earn the only
honors which republics bestow after
death-a tomb, monument,-top pre-
serve their names as examples.
To the memory of such, their equal
fellow citizens in life our people bring
such tribute of love and tenderness
and reverence, as Vassal never felt
for Master.
Death leaves us nothing but theil
greatness.
To it may we do homage without
self abasement.
We cannot mar it by flattery, breed
ing ambition or pride.
Hither we come, heart hungry fol
the only spot where we may express
gratitude to Divine Providence, and
testify to our countrymen our patriotic
love, unalloyed by even the appear.
ance of oDeslance to living ruler.
At the tomb ofthe great, the American
freeman draws his inspiration from the
fountain head, for high resolve and
mighty deed. There may he pledge
his fealty to principles, without trans
mitting it through any representative.
In this tomb lies one whose grea,
qualities of head and heart, whose
bravery, whose simplicity, whose mag
nanimity, whose patience, whose stead
fastness of purpose, whose loyalty tc
every obligation, whose capacity fol
administration in the highest Office:
in the world, military and civic, have
placed his name as among the most
remarkable men who have ever lived
The theatre of his career was only
the United States of America; the
most dramatic episodes of his life were
in his character as leader Of one of the
armies of his divided people. Yet
even on that narrow field, and under
those restricting conditions, he so bore
himself that the whole world watched
him, and when his work was finished
proclaimed him to be of the stamp o.
true greatness, rarely developed; and
of a greatness blended with such quail
ties of manhood as entitled him to be
held up as an example of the world.
The world! How vast the term
How selfish, and how busy with theil
own concerns, are the far off million:
of other nations. How unimportan
their struggles seem to the things or
which our thoughts and energies are
bent. How unknown to US are the
names of their leaders. How uninter
esting, as a rule, are we to them.
Many of our so-called great art
never heard of beyond the limits o
our narrow land, and are, indeed, soor
forgotten, even by ourselves.
When the cold, selfish world-th'
world which is moved by local senti
ment or passion-proclalms the great
ness of man, the verdict carries with