Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-31
OUR DUTY IN PEACE.

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In our country "the war-drum throbs
no longer and the battle-hags are furled."
The quiet stars that thirty years ago
looked down on sentineled camps OF
armed men, resting FOR the morrow's
conflict
So midst fame and smoke,
And shout and grOdn ana sdbre-strORe.
And death-shOts falling thick and FAST"
now look down night after night on quiet
homes where the sleepers, disturbed by
no call 10 arms, peacefully slumber until
singing birds wake them 10 the blood
less labors Of newborn day. Fields
that thirty years ago were Clouded by the
smoke OF battle and trampled by charging
thousands, and torn by the hoOf-beats Of
the war-horse, and plOughed by the shot
OF cannon, and dUenched with the blood
OF dead and mangled men, are now en-
riched by tillage and contributing their
fruits 70 sustain the life and increase the
prosperity Of the people. Peace folds her
wings DER hill and valley" But peace,
as well as war, demands Of us high de-
yOtion and answering loyalty. II, with
peace, We have decay Of patriotism and
loss Of virtue, and the triumph OF pri-
vate over public interests, and the sacri-
flee of law and justice to secure partisan
ends-if, with peace, we have the accumu-
lation of wealth at the cost OF the coun-
tTys welfare and the honest manhood
OF it's citizens, our peace must prove but
the downward path to the ruin in which
50 many nations, once great and prospe-
rous, have been swallowed up. Better far
the desolations and horrors Of war than
such peace.
From such peace-peace Joined with cor
ruption and enjoyed at the expense OF
true and noble manhOOd-the soldiers and
sailors OF the Conrederacy, speaking
through this monument OF their self-sac.
rifcing and heroic devotion, shall help 10
save our land. Their spirits. glory crown
ed, hover over Us and beckon rs on in
the paths Of patriotism and honor. Their
example bids US nobly live for the princi-
pies for which they brayely fought and
died-the principles OF State sovereignty
and home rule OF which this government
was wisely founded by our fathers with
out which no vast territory Ike ours can
possibly remain democratic departure
from which is rapidly hurrying the coun-
try 10 a choice between anarchy and i'm
perialism. and return 90 which is essential
to the preservation Of the life Of the re.
public.
FELL IN LIBERTY'S CAUSE.
In the fourteenth century, when the
sturdy sons OF Switzerland confronted
! their Austrian Oppressors at Sempacn.
Arnold Won Winkelried commencing his
| family to the care OF his countrymen
| and crying, Make way for liberty. -
rushed forward with outstretched hands
and, gathering an armful OF spears into
! his own breast, made an opening in the
| seemingly lmpenetrable line OF the enemy
| through which his comrades forced thei,
way 10 victory. Thus falling In the cause
| of liberty. he won imperishabe fame
and his deed. immortalized In song, ha.
| awakened noble and generous emotion.
and uurtured the love OF freedom In thC
hearts OF millions. So shall the story OF
the men who battled for the Confederate,
go down through the ages, kndling The
| fires '; patriotism and devotion 20 IN,
| principles OF free government In the heart,
OF generations 10 come.
Thinking Of the mighty dead,
The young from slothful couch viii
start.
And VOW with lifted hands outspread.
Like them, 10 act noble part"
And So
"The graves OF the dead. with the graS
oVergrown.
May yet prove the foot-stool OF liberty
throne"