The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-05-31
HENDERSON, N. G., THURSDAY 81, 1894.
brought out the flag himself.

brought out the flag himself"
! Near the town of Winchester, il
Virginia, they set apart Soldiers
Resting place, after peace had come
and when those of our sister State
who loved the memory Of the brave
had brought thi,her the soldiers of tn
Confederacy who had fallen near thei
homes, 10, the dead of North Carolin
held SO large a space, among thei
comrades of other States, that thi
silent witness moved their hearts t,
renown and they sent here for GU
beloved comrade, Vance, to come ant
speak to them of these nen who's
| noble dust gave honor TO the soil O
Virginia.
Shah we say Of the Confederat,
soldier that he died in vain? Shall
we say OF his mighty struggle that i
has no higher meaning than defeat
Shall we stand above his grave anc
declare that all was lost but honor
From the smoking altar OF his sacrifice
is there no incense TO virtue ? Doe
the world bless him only who wears a
crown of laurel Is there no beauty
on the brow that wears crown q
thorns? Were the oracles of God lost
to men when his chosen people passed
under the yoke of Rome? Were the
laws and language of Rome lost tc
the world when the Goth struck down
her Eagles? Was Cromwell lost to
Britain when the Stuart came back to
her throne?
The Confederate soldier has no,
died in vain. History will tell the
story of his death and passion, that
men may be lifted up by the example
of his devotion TO the memory of his
fathers. If they did not die in vain
who fell at Moore's Creek Bridge, at
Kings Mountain, at Guildtord, at
Germanton, at Brandywine, at Prince
ton then their sons did not die in
vain who fell at Bethel, at Manassas,
at Richmond, at Sharpsburg, at
Fredericksburg, at Charlottesville, at
Gettysburg, and on every ield, where
they sealed with their blood, the
covenant made with their fathers, that
this should be a Union OF Sovereign
States, with Government of expressed
powers limited by the letter of the
written compact. For this covenant
they died. That no sinful hand might
be laid upon it, they took up arms.
That no jot or title of it might fail,
they drew the sword. The cause, for
which they died is not the lost cause
of dead Confederacy; but it is the
vital cause OF living Union, its soul
and strength its only hope of future
life and without which, it will dissolve
and pass away like the smile of a
dream upon the wrinkled face of
time.
The Confederate soldier has not
died in vain. The lesson he has lett
US is the only counsel that can save the
life of our Union, When history shall
call the names of those who have been
truest to their trust, in the ranks of
war, the men OF the Gray-Union will
uncover to their names and take their
places in the worlds Legion of Honor.
My brothers, the memory CT your
comrade will not fade. In the twilight
of the years to come, it will be as the
luminous star which led the Eastern
worshipers, where new life had come
to abide among men, long enough to
teach them how to live like heroes and
die like martyrs. The daughters of
North Carolina will point our children
and our children's children to that
star. They will never turn their faces
from the Confederate soldier. They
gave you your battle flags wet with
the dew OF their tears, and in that
sign and with their prayers, you made
the name of North Carolina noble.
With each returning spring time, the
grave of your comrade blooms out
afresh as they lay their hands upon it.
To-day, they have embalmed his
memory in stone. They have given
you this token of their love that shall
not fail. Let US lift up this token OF
their love, my brothers! The light OF
the morning will bless it; the glory OF
the evening will hallow it; the patient
stars will watch over it and the calm
face of our comrade will teach us
courage for the day and hope for the
morrow.
Ye men, who wore the Gray, you
have been brave in peace as you were
strong in war. You have lifted North
Carolina up in your arms, and made
her as true to our Union'as the bride
is true to her marriage VOWS. By your
patience, peace and order and hope
are ours. Elsewhere, in Our Union,
there is trouble, Social disorder vexes
the son Of the patriot, and the cry o.
distress pains the heart of him who
loves his fellowman. Teach other:
the lesson of your patience. Teach
them to right the wrong, as you have
done, by the wisdom of the law ano
the purity of its administration. Teach
them to be true, each to his sovereign
State, as you are to North Carolina
And, by this shrine which her daughter
have ConseCrated with their love, let u
to-day renew our vows to our Sovereign
Queen, the brightest jewel in who's
crown is the memory of her soldier
whom she gave to the Confederacy.
An old citizen in a country village
heino asEe6 for SuhscY,ntion fowa RI