The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-05-18
lCharlOtte Observer.1

the Dead.
Charlotte Observer
In less than eight years the nine
teenth century will have reCeded into
the milleniums of the past.
The chronologies of the century
now SO hoary are vital with revolutions
and periods of perturbation in human
governments.
In France, barring the throning
and deposing Of Bourbon, or Orleanist,
two separate Napoleonic dynasties
perished when each of two Napoleons
was bereft of throne, crown and
sceptre; while the subsequency-a
republic-lingers unsteadlly and un-
assuringly. Greece, renouncing the
authority of the Sultan of the palace
overhanging the tides of the Golden
Horn, has broken from the dominion
of the Turk and the restoration of
sovereign state is marked before the
ruins of the Parthenon and above the
sepulchers of perished art. Spain,
twisting from the throes Of revolution
to confront with anguish the menace
of anarchy, has alternated from con-
fusions of republic to travesties of
feeble, though regal rule. Hope Of
the restoration of the ancient inde
pendence of Hungary no longer thrills
the breast of the exile; and the Hun
garian arm, wlthered and helpless,
remains shackled to the robust limb of
the Austrian giant. Mexico, tossed
by upheavals of insurrecton through
mockeries Of government stretching
behind the throne of Maximilian, now
ventures a newer republic, below the
Rio Grande; while, northward, ex-
panding plains and fertile valleys,
domain of her ancient realm, are the
conquests of the greater North Ameri
can republic. Sardinia sent forth a
regnant prince, who, with soldiery
entering and occupying the Eternal
City, reared a secular power against
the sacred walls Of St. Peters; work
ing civic miracles before the porticoes
of the Vatican, despite the scorn and
protest of pope, cardinal, priest and
monk. The absorption of German
States into the federation of empire is
distinguished by the imperial triumph
of William, the elder, whose veins
transmitted, through princely son, the
blood of Germanic kings to the reign
ing scion, William, the younger.
Yet in the chronologies of rule and
rulership, during the Nineteenth Cen
tury, there is an epoch more startling
than any event or vicissitude untold OF
outlined:
At point, one decade this side the
midway line of the century, there rose:
supernally beautiful and transcendently
glorious, the whitest star of empire
the star of Confederacy. Above the
birth of government, whose Messiah
!: ship was independency and liberty
this star shone with a beauty SC
ineffable that the wise men of al
nations, with sense of admiration and
emotion of soliCitude, marked the
course of its destiny. But the orb sc
peerlessly aflush, sinking, through mist:
of ashes, from above scene Of desola-
ton, passed from the armament of q
dissolving nation and swept into sea
of blood.
When l contemplate the Southern
Confederacy the concert of its severa
Commonwealth in the scheme and
iruition of confederation the utiliza
ton of muniments the provision O.
munitions the chivalries of it:
courage; the achievement of victories
the renewed confidence following
defeats its solemn dissolution anC
pious submission, | scorn all argu
ments based on constitutional reason:
/. to prove, or disprove, the authority o
its existence among the nations of the
earth. None need question the rgh
to do, or to leave undone, since The
spoil to history is SO inestimable as thf
revelation OF Robert Lee-superbly
: the forefront of carnage-and the ex
ample of martyrdom in the pilgrimage
, of Jefferson Davis, from the dignity
| and authority of magistracy to ths
servitude of chain and the solitude o
dungeon.
Again: know enough when | an
: reminded that the cause Of the Con
federucy was the cause of N"~'h Caro-
, from where girdles of saff. n sand
5 bind against her sea to where
: monarches of her hills thrust th'
l symbols of her lofty glory befor
sanctuaries OF descending stars.
! Men who died for North Carolin;
: were sacrificed for me; and l an
r conscious of inhdelity, deep and sinful
E if revere not the memory Of one wht
e brought the priceless thing-a life-t'
;. the altar of North Carolina. But, if
4 love the memory of whose oblatiol
was life for North Carolina, and, hence
v for me, | have sentiment in my hear
:. akin to the worlds holiest religion
e and | am trenching on the borderlant
< of scenes sweeping around Cross ant
: CruCihxion.
't AT this hour, with my heart swell
a ing with such sensibilties, what hav
/. | to do with the Interpretation c
constitutions, the analyses of logicians
and the disputations of statesmen?
e To-day, commemorative service
t above the bones and ashes of ou
n Southern dead will singularly empha
S size, by tokens, graceful and tender
our reverence and love. The rite
sacrifice of sweet flowers-is not one G
y asperity toward foes but Of Tenderness
to the memory of friends. Surely tn