Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-11-11

Xiraiuia FREE gress.
The Grady Monument.

yelling of the Grady monument at Attain
ia last week. 1t was an eloquent effort,
but, in our judgment, not equal to the
letter of Hon. Henry Watterson OF the
COmier-JomnaI:
HENRY wATTERsoNs TRIBUTE.
Among the letters read was one from
Henry Watterson, in which he says
The conveyance of Gods message of
peace to America was fittingly reserved
for the coming of one so young in feeling
vet so old in wisdom, so gentle, yet so
brave so like child, yet 50 truly man.
He was sent direct from Heaven, bring
ing with him its light. and the touch OF
the angel impressed upon the sensiLili-
ties of his counlrymen, he was taken
away, leaving only blessed memory
| was not fl his IA liant spirit TO be con-
taminated by long contact with the I'M
clean things and sad realities of this
world aud, his mission of $50 ID will 10
men" accomplished, he was called back
TO the bosom of his Maker His appoint
ed work was done. His race was won.
His career was complete.
He pleaded, as no other, for the past,
the present and the future. He stood, as
it were, midway between two generations;
aud was at once type of the good that
had been and sign of the good that
might be. From him the South heard
the voice Of lis best-beloved speaking fol
millions who could not speak for them
selves. In him the North saw promise
and hope, which it was unable to see in
party leaders, whose utterance was often
identified with political interest and con
tention, and whose motives were, there
fore, always distrusted. Even the open
hearted and broad-minded appeals of {
Lamar and a Hill came short of the
mark and fell outside the breastwork:
of sectional passion. Grady took up the
wondrous tale OF valOr, travail and de
spair; and, by the magic Of his presence
and his words subdued the genious o
war, whilst the vitalized its heroes th'
legions of Lee lived again, but no longer
in martial array the camps of Stonewal
jackson shone anew, but on flames eter
nal camping ground and back of al
were pictured the living, allied to thu
dead in glory and in grief, but Christian
men and women, still loving their deat
and true to them, yet loving their coun
try, and true to it. The spell of preju
dice was broken. On both sides the I'M
reconcied listened and passage once
nude for truth, the North began 10 real
ize equally with the South the need O.
something more than justice, and to re
joice in a rivalry Of generous concession
1t is easy now for all of us to join IL
this. Grant and Lee, and Sherman and
johnson, and Grady, comrades at last IL
immortality, walk together amid the light
of the perfect day and, in little while
the rest of us whom the war divided will
be immortal, too, and know the truth
The ark Of the covenant is restored the
flag of the Union waves on high. Este
Perpetua 1t was politicians war 1t
is a peoples peace. Let the North and
the South alike rejoice and give thanks
to God, sure that the Iinal verdict will
not be a political or sectional verdict
because it will be registered in Heaven
where all is made right that so puzzles
us here. In the meanwhile, let sectional
ism be expunged from the dictionaries
let it be blotted from the biographies so
that the living may do their duty to their
Country and the dead, and the purpose
and the glory of the fathers may be full
filed.