The Russellville Democrat., 1891-08-06
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 The material for history which was
 made by the valer of Southern troops
 during the fiery period Of our civil war,
 cannot Tor several generations yet te woven Into an impartial and dlspas-
 siouate record, creditable allke Co them
 and just to their foes. But our chil~
 dren's children shall set their eyes upon
 the page, where shall be portrayed in
 terms of eternal unity an account of tne
 valor and heroic chlvalry Of the ragged Confederate, which shall exlst through
 the ages 10 come, as an inspiration to
 all who may have 70 do and 10 deal with
 such fearful conditions as confronted us.
 A generation has passed since last the
 bugle called to arms, and we, dear com raoes, are left, struggling remnants os that immense army of actors, who con- stituted the dramatfs persona of that eyentful period. The scene has changed. but the act continues. Con- ditions are altered, but with added gray hairs and increased responsibilities the play goes on, and you and must man- fully bear up and meet the expectations oA . thVivuSutJ f~eeco M@h@Atf VI tti7 real trag dy.
 It is the part of wisdom occasion ally to cast ebout us; to take in aud accu-
 rately comprehend all our environ ments; to weigh duties and responsl- bilities, and determine whether or not we are so deporting ourselves as to in- tensify by our subsequent lives the
 brilliancy of that record which we
 <, .ls.. s..s ago, when we stood together and were tried by fire. Then the world looked
 on and stood aghast at what we dared. pllshed. But the very surround
 ings then--the pomp and pride
 of war--the songs and prayers
 of the pure and good, the deep conyic- tion of just cause, and if death came the hope of glory, were an inspiration sufficient to swell tse heart of the most indifferent, and spur h,m on to an honorable life, or a still more hoLorable death. But it is not so now. other hopes now fill our bosoms, other con- alterations nut now furnish our in- spiration. Death, which might then have been honoraDly courted. must now be summed, and he who could then mo st thorou2b 2biy attest his devotion to county by his blood, must now prove his allegiance by an honorable acd iaboriou, life the more honorable as it is the more laborious. Then, our field of action was chosen for us. Now, we select for ourselves from among all the pursuits of life, each choosing for himself that particular sphere of action in which he is best suited by nature to gain distinction. If the quiet comforts of delightful country home, surrounded by wife and happy children, and face to face always with nature and natures God, be most at traclive to your fancy, such life lies before you. If you choose rather to seek fame upon the rugged heights to which her votaries must climb, then the law and politics afford inviting fields for your labors.
 If the good Samaritan be largely wrapped up within you and you wish, along with making living, to do good l to your fellows and administer to their physical wants, as thus you journey to- gether, then become disciple of Esculapius, and fad consolation and competency in the most honorable life of physician. The busy marts of trade, the buying and selling and get ting of gain by merchandise, is life iulI of attractions, and many there be who thus go forward to wealth and social prominence. But 1t matters not through what channels your taste may run; care not in what field of labor you are now an actor, certain well defined and clear cut principles of
 action must govern your lives if you
 have attained, or shall ever attain, dis tinctlon.
 The same fidelity to duty, the same
 un6ying courage; the manly self-reli-
 ance and the prompt and cheerful per-
 formance, which rendered you
 distinguished as soldiers, must also be impressed indelibly upon your lives
 now. And, above all, must we carry With us, and constantly act upon, the advice of old Palonius to Laertes: 'sTo thine ownself be true and it must fol- low, as the night the day, thou can'st
 not be false 10 any maa." We must
 have the courage of our convictions. You, my friends, will soon occupy, nay, you now do, Ia very peculiar and high ly honorable position in the minds of all right minded men. In my juc cgment no grAnder or nobler picture of L-anhood can be found upon earth than is afforded by the spectacle of an ex-C Conf. deraie soldier who, having been always true to his colors and to every duty in war, Is to-day combating suce essfully with the obstacles and diff culties of life, and winning, by a pure, upright and laborious record upon the fields of peaceful rivalry, laurels for his brow as beautiful and verdant as the halo of glory won upon the field of bat lle, is bright and enduring. Indeed, can scarcely conceive of q gallant, true and noble soldier becoming an utter | failure as civilian. Degrees ofsuccess, | of course, there are. And one of us will climb above another one now, l just as enc soldier would fall more | quickly into ranks than another, or l mount his horse with more fire in his eye | at the bugle sound of .Boots and Sad- dles." He who takes life easily and waits always for something to turn up, may well suggest to us that comrade
 whose gun was generally foul, whose horse was poor because poorly cared | for, and who always got left when
 energetic action called to prompt and important service. Such an one will never attain distinction in civil life, just
 as his war record affords little to be
 viewed with pride by his posterity.
 But il is difficult upon this occasion,
 so filled with delightful and inspiring .f.a.