The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1891-06-06
and their comrades made there is no


and endurance, with the same stimulus AM
the same spirit Of devotion. shall shut thei
eyes to untold odds against them and clos,
their ears to every warning OF calculation o
pOllcy. ana wage great war upon
cherished sentiment and sincere conviction
1t was the effort to establish the true boun
Diary line between the constitutional author
ity Of u State and the General Government
that brought the war upon us. 1t was t.
maintain the theory OF government whicl
Mr. Ca lhoun and those OF his school taught us
that six hundred thousand Southern soldiers
went eagerly to the field and they. to whom
| lives.
IT was not for power nor for riches. nor fol
ambitions sake, but fora great governmental
principle, Of right. which was rooted .ant
their Judgments. Without faltering Or Wav.
ering our martyred dead stood by this prin.
ciple with their lives, and while the great
guns OF war shook to its centre this nov
peaceful! and prosperous land. while men
were slain by tens Of thousands and hearts
were stricken and homes were dArkened
while the, S,oans of the dying and the walls
Of those bereft. burdened The very air from
| their example those who survived stood to
the last by the teachings OF Calhoun and
Davis and those who held the same political
faith.
When the end came, and with it disappoint-
ment and defeat. it seemed only natural that
| tho losses and a!llictiOns of those whose ban
ners had gone down should engender bitter
ness toward those whose teachings and guild
ance had contributed to produce the disas-
trous conflict. Here was Il trying test Of fideii-
T, ty, sincerity and truth.and here the grandest
characteristic Of our noble Southern people
finds beautiful and honorable illustration.
No citizen nor soldier. no man nor woman
of all the bereaved and disappointed sons
and daughters of til" South. ever cursed the
tatesmanship Of calhoun. for whose
and lost all; and for our. grand old ckief.who
came home to spend his declining years
within the limits Of our State and his. there
never was II breath Of criticism or rcpinng
from hisscourged and afflicted peoplc--notl-
ing but faith and trust. affection, adnllra-
tiun. sympathy and honor. 1t was most fit
ting and becoming that the evening of his
life should be passed on the sol! Of the State
to whose name he had brought so much Of
honor and distinction. IN the digniGcd re-
tiremcnt of his unprcteGding home, on the
southern bnrtlr: uf that separate Southern
nationality for which. in vain, his best efforts
and his prayers had been given. this disfrau-
chsed citizen OF a government whose flag he
had defended with his blood. had II tirmer
hold upon the hearts of his people than any
ruler rel s,ling in the world.
There is nothing in history like this: Look
time. turn through the books of the worlds
history whenever written. search all the an
nails Of the earth and you will find no other
single instance where II vanQuishcd people
have 50 idoIized the leader Of Il cause that
thought. 1t fills me with admiration and
with gratitude. Tam proud and am thank
full that | am Of y people who have this
matchless, record Of devotion to lay before
strength gain from their example. and if.as
has hee, said. their deep sentimental nature
Is their weakness. am thankful that share
that weakness, I glory In that quality what
own history. for it ID the same that sustained
them In war and gave them strength to bear
the greater strsl in TO- which they were after
wards subjected, and makes them the true
and loyal citizens they are to-day.
But what less was to be expected Of these
people, with their history and traditions and
the examples they have had to give them
strength and Inspiration Back to the time
fore, we can turn with pride and point to
what Southern men have done to elevate
and stimulate and cultivate the as
Of the masses Of the people, and to
make this country what it Is. From among
OF Independence. and strange
us 1t may sound In this day of universal
freedom. It Is said that all who signed that
Declaration. except those from the State Of
sS SF s
came the father Of his Country, the father
Of the Constitution and the greatest of all
its expounders. At the head OF great armies,
In the presidential office. in cabinet and
in peace and war. great South.
ern lights illuminate the annals of
America, and shed upon our country's name
its chief honor and renOwn. From the fOun-
epOchs of peace and arms, down to 1861, South
ern statesmen and orators, Southern philOso-
piers and judges, Southern patriots and SOL
aiers have enacted the brightest chapters OF
this cOuntry's history, and to them we are in
debted for the fundamental sources OF its !
present power.
When the disunion movement grew out Of
the construction Of our written Constitution, |
which was adopted ITO form more perfect
Union" and the Southern people sought to
from the government to which |
they had contributed 40 much, the great war |
came and with 1t came the matchless South |
ern soldier. Manhood and pride and honor |
10 him through 9 long line Of Southern pat |
riots, who were the mOulders Of Southern sem |
timent and opinion. and through fire and
blood he proved himself true examplar Of
history as the most resplendent illustration |
The world has ever known of duty eagerly |
performed, Of unrequited sacrifice without
and OF spirit proof against de-
ii MENTION names nor @ rank nor conspicu9as s SER
vice. The roll Of honor Is too long for this
100 full Of deeds Of heroism and patriotism
must be content to deal with the Confeder.
fnS 1 n snss 6ss ssss
vii consider me invIdious II i stay TO cali
Jingle name. would speak Of him who, when
10 saw the end OF the struggle was near, said
s. s fSe sn g sSs C% %ho biz
'erve the most honor and gratitude are not
he men Of rank: but the men OF the ranks
he privates." This just tribute to the name
ess heroes who won fame anne and y titles for other