The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-06-11

SPPoSSN PoAiliSosiy Wy thS SlCda AIeaS
of Confederate soldiers.
Other federal commanders wer,
candidates !or federal Office. To such
political support was given, accom-
panied, for the time being, by mor'
or less enthusiasm. But at no time
and to no officer of the federal armie
has the heart of Lees veterans eve
warmed; for none have their tears beer
shed, as for him at whose tomb we
stand assembled.
Yes, my countrymen, strife ane
bitterness have passed away. Her,
stand we, loving brethern, ,about Grant
tomb-members of a happy, reunited
prosperous country.
How much he did, to bring abou
this fraternal and loyal feeling, al
men know.
Your presence here is natural. Youl
invitation to US to join you has touched
us more than l dare express. 1t proves
that his great example has brought
AOk Ill aDQuod1t lldI Vol III lllC lCdl u
of his own brave followers.
We come rejoicing at an oppor.
tunity to testify our respect for the
memory of our great countryman.
We have, it is true, in many a
southern cemetery, an army of dead
comrades to whose memory and te
whose valor we delight to pay the
tribute of loving hearts.
In quiet chapel, under the shadow
of the Blue Ridge, sleeps one who, ii
days gone by, was to our love, to oul
hope, and to our idea of patriotic duty
all that Grant represents to you.
Yet, our hearts are large enough
for both, and when Grant sought then
he never asked us to forget our dead
Our voluntary presence here to homo,
the memory of Grant means no forget
fulness of our dead comrades. If We
came as recreants to them, his ghos,
would beckon us away.
On many we'll contested field
Grant and Lee, and those who followed
them, came to know each other we'll
and TO feel for each other the respec,
which every brave man entertains for
an adversary who has the courage O
his convictions.
All that Grant contended for wa:
established.
All that Lee maintained failed OF
accomplishment.
Every sensible citizen of this re-
public now acquiesces cheerfully ir
the result.
1t is certain that many thousand:
of the Confederate veterans are today
as affectionately loyal to the federal
government, as if the lamentable strife
had never been.
We come as men who feel that time
has taught all citizens of this republic,
that they honor themselves in honor.
ing this great American.
Passion has subsided sufficiently tc
let us see him as he was-greater than
any part of our divided country-a
patriot whose fame belongs to all his
fellow citizens.
As to our own beloved commander,
it may be that the time will never
come when men who sustained the
union cause can reconcile it to theil
sense of loyalty to do public honor to
his memory. Far be it from me to
urge that course upon you.
We, who followed him and loved
him, seek not to share our veneration
for his memory with any one who is
unwilling. 1t may be that his name
and fame will be left to US as all ou1
own.
Yet, it will be strange, passing
strange; it will reverse all history in
the past, if with the American love oi
valor, of honor, self-sacrifce and
humility your grandchildren, wher
the bitterness Of our day has been for
cotton, shall deny their share in the
name and fame of him whose sword
50 often and SO gallantly crossed thai
of Grant, and never lowered its point
to any foe but him, or yielded save to
the power of overwhelming number:
and resources-one who, when he
ceased to fight, accepted the result ir
cheertulness and displayed the same
manhood, sincerity and humility which
makes US honor Grant as great.
Still, be this as it may, here stand
the old Confederate veterans at Grant:
grave; mo longer as sectional partisans,
not as his vanquished, disappointed
irreconcilable foes, but with new hope
and new pride, and the ambition o
citizens of the whole republic, claim
ing full share in the glories of Grant,
and entitled to do honor..to his memory.
Do the dead look down on us?
1t must be SO.
What joy of Flysium could compare
with that experienced by the dead
warrior, as looking down upon the
land for which he died, he beholds il
blessed with peace, prosperity and
fraternity, fruits of his self-sacrihce?
Can We lock up to them
With mortal vision-No.
Yet, in imagination, Yes, indeed!
And this, my brethren of the NORTH
and south, is The vision which saw.
Through the open portals of the
Great Beyond saw the boundles
plains of Walhalla-where, far as tht
eye could reach, were spread the snowy
tents of ghostly legions ranged beneath
the banner cf enternal peace.
l heard the booming of Heaven
artillery, the strain OF celestial bands
and the hoarse roar of shouting thou
sands.
Here and there, out of the hurryins
hosts, stood out the faces of the Ion:
ago, young and fresh, as we knew then
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