The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-05-11

ODDS. l DEFY contradiction. Read FOR
yourselves the war records now being
honestly published by our Govern
ment.
My young fellow cOuntrymen, young
gentlemen, young ladies, listen to me.
You who have lived since the war and
have only heard Of it from, Others.
Learn now what this monument, the
OF which is now to be
laid, is intended to commemorate.
Look at these gray-haired vete rams.
Who are they? Twill tell you. They
are some Of the survivors of an army
OF GOO, 900 men, who fought and kept |
back from our Southern soil an in
vading army Of 1854, 272 men, mot in
Guiding three and six months volun-
teers,) or with the odds Of 2,264,272
men more than they had to confront
them. To this great odds must be
added 500 vessels Of war blOckading
our coasts and occupying our rivers,
manned by 5000 sailors, preventing
our getting supplies OF arms, prOvis-
ions, clothing, medicines and neccssa-
ries Of all kinds. In this unequal
contest, the Confederate army did not
lay down its arms until it was com.
plctely overpowered, and it had only
100000 effective fighting men for duty
In the field OF that army OF 100000
men, while the Federals had over
! 900, 900 men for duty, or ten men for
every Confederate soldier, and all our
arsenals, munitions Of war and sup
plies were exhausted or captured.
Before the end of the conflict, the
Confederate army had lost over one
half of the 500, 900 men, or 325, 600 men
on the death roll. 1t had fought over
our beloved Southland almost foot by
foot on nearly 1000 battle fields. 1t had
inflicted a death roll on the enemy Of
359,52s men, $1,000 Of whom lie buried
beneath our Southern soil. Comrades
Of the gray, we made record unsur-
passed in the annals Of warOr history.
Let US 60 a little more into details.
In the bloodicst OF European wars,
statistics show that the number killed
or mortally wounded on the battle
field, has not exceeded three per cent.
Of the soldiers actually engaged, while
In the great American war between
the States, the Federals lost five per
cent, and the Confederates ten per
cent. We sec that the American sol
dier stands ahead of the European
soldier, and that in heroic aspect, so
long as the Confederate banner flOated
to the breeze, the Confederate soldier
stands at the head in the history o1
the world. The more the facts con
nected with the war are brought Out
the more honor is reflected on tht
yalor, endurance of hardship and for
tltude of the soldiers OF the Confeder
|acy.
Tell me we did not believe our cause
was II just one! Nopeople could have
made such fight, could have stoot
up SO long against such odds, had the!
not been actuated by a firm and un
wavering adherence to the principles
of sclf-g0vernment, and determine
tion to maintain inalienable rights
which they had inherited from thci
fOrefathcrs.
This is said in no boastful spirit
but tn show what gallant resistance
was made BY the South, actuated by ;
lofty patriotism, before her flag was
furled forever. We who participated
can hardly believe the incredible fig
ures. Our own children, when they
comprehend them, will stare in won
der and say, impossible! lion ever!
monument we have erected in tht
South, only these figures are put, TIN
numbers composing the Federal army
and the few Confederates who opposed
them, it would need nothing else, bu
: every Con nfederate accepted the result
Of the war as final, ,iand in good raitll
and we rejoice that the men wh'
fought 50 we'll on both sides, believing
that they were right, are again re
united under the flag of our fore
fathers, which covers our common
country.
: NV comrades When we see des0la
tion everywhere when VIC feel dis
mayed at our broken fortunes and dis
appointed hopes: when we know llf
means for us only toll, poverty ant
privations until the end, 20 and rea'
i, that record. Yon will rejoice tina
there is a country where honor Is frs
and not wealth, where patriotic en-
deavor and duty are everything, richie
r only a secondary consideration
r Thank God there are such men thos
who have been and those who are nov
!. l uncover my head with reverenc
n In honor of our comrades, living an
!. dead, who bore the proud title Of
/. Confederate Soldier" IrejOice tina
' VIC rase this monument to the men
q ory OF such heroes. 1t is an irresist'
! bic impulse OF homage to their volui
!. tary lmmolation on the altar OF the
:. country. It y to pcrpetuate the
/ stainless nameand untarnished homo
= TITS that our children may thri
!. with the thought that they are d
= scendcd from such race.
It As we lay this cornerstone az
> have others to finish our work, so m;