West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-05-11
IN MEMORY OF THE GREY.
Observance Of Confederate Decoration
Day.
Loving Hands viii Place Offerings
Upon the rombs of the Fallen
Braves.
ny COL. MATT NJ. COOPER.

true the Confederacy has been laid
away forever in the tomb of lost
nationalities-that her banners tat
tered and torn in the rush and rage
OF battle are now bat hallowed rel
les in the museums of memory, but
the mighty sacrifices and the mag
nificent deeds of her warrior braves
will glcam and glitter os stars of
imperishable glory in tho coronet
of time. 1t is not the purpose of
this occasion to rekindle the re-
morseless fires of sectional hate, or
to revive the bitter and bloody
memories Of the past, but to honor
the sleeping braves who freely and
fearlessly surrendered their fortunes
and their lives upon the affairs OF
conscience and duty. 1t is that an
opportunity may bo offered to brave
and true men everywhere, of every
creed and cline and color, to lay
the leaf OF soldiers love upon the
biers Of the brave, and to pay the
tender tribute of soldiers tear to
the memory Of the valiant veterans
Of Lee aid Jackson who battled
and bled and went down to glorious
death In defense of the cause they
cherished and the country they
loved. Oh, who that wears the i'm
age Of his God would, or could,
refuse to lay the cypress twig Of q
tender and sacred grief OH the tomb
OF departed heroism and valer Oh,
who that wears manhoods' majestic
crown but will bend with righteous
reverence above the grave OF the
sleeping warrior, nor stop to inquire
il his winding sheet we're the stars
and bars of the CoEfederacy, or the
spangled flag of the Republic: A
soldiers memory is the priceless
heritage of nations glory, and
his tomb the shrine at which patri.
otisn kneols to rekindle the fires of
her devotion to humanity, and
dedicate herself afresh and anew to
the cause Of universal freedom.
Who but bigot and dastard could
stand above soldiers sepulchrs
and assail the cause for which he
died, or press with sandalea foot
upon his martyred dust? Who but
wretch "unfit for earth, and un-
doomed for heaven" would smirch
his battle blade with the stain OF
dishonor, or tinge his marble brow
with the taint Of treason 4? The
right or wrong Of the unhappy con-
flict which desolated the homes and
drank the blood Of the Confederate
soldier is not within the province
of man to determine, and will ever
remain ono of the unsolved prob
lenls OF time. No, not until the
Archaugcl shall break the mustv
seals Of The Yolttme Of mystery.
aud time shall have been merged
into eternity, shall VIC know God s
purpose in the premises, or why
victory perched perchance upon the
standards Of the strong, rather than
upon the banners Of the brave.
Comrades, our heads are bleaching.
our ranks arc breaking. and our
steps arc tottering with the passage
Of the years. and soon we shall have
responded to the long roll call
above. Then let us be true to our
manhood--true to our cherished
convictiOus-true to the memory of
ouF sainted dead 4true TO the tradi-
tions Of our beloved but bruised
and bleeding Southland. But above
all, lot rs be true and loyal 10 our
common country from the lakes 20
the gulf, and from the icobcrQs OF
the North 20 the orange groves Of
the South. Let rs be firm and
faithful and fearless in our fealty TO
the flag Of The Republic, ard stand
ready TO defend its honor aud 10
fellow it's fortunes 70 the end. Let
us tenderly remember tho widows
aud the orphans Of the veterans Of
the Blue and tho Grey everywhere.
and seek by every means at our
command to tighten their weary
burdens, help them over tho rough
places Of life, and commend them
TO the sheltering arms Of soldiers
God. Comrades Of West Virginia.
come 20 Charleston on May 10th
and bring fair and fresh flowers
with which TO deck the graves Of
the heroic dead, for soon the eve
ming taps will sound and wo shall
all turn in TO report on tho other
shore All honor to the living. and
peace to the dead veterans Of tbe
Bluc and the Grey everywhere. .-
Hose0svood 4oHnfeiaosys