The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-05-22

Rome, or the lilies Of France; our Con.
federate brother; he who was first at
Bethel; he who was nearest the foe at
Gettysburg; he whose rifle gave the last
salute to the flag which was folded with
immortal honor.
We have waited long enough to conse-
crate this stone. History approves and
demands it. They who were our foes,
but who are 0 our friends, ask that it
be done. The passing years nave laid
their hands, in blessing, upon the head
Of our comrade, and deepened the halo
about his name. If the courage Of the
soldier, untainted by evil purpose, is the
noblest gift Of time; if the memory of
Grant is sacred if the name of Lee is
our priceless heritage then, have we
waited long enough to dedicate this stone
to the memory of the North Carolina
Confederate soldier.
What moved him to leave his pillow in
the furrow that he might struggle, unto
death, with his brother of the North?
Was he not happy at home? Did he not
love his wife and children? Had he not
hewn from the forests his fruitful fields
Were not his barns filled with rich har-
vests? Had he not affairs at which to
worship? Had he no name or history to
love and cherish? Was he not taught to
reverence the Constitution next to his
Bible? Was he a disturber Of the peace;
a hater of his fellow-man? Did not ali
the graces of a generous host adorp-his
freside? Did the sun, in his course
shine upon a fairer land than his? What
moved him to leave his hearth-stone and
go forth, with darkened brow and COM
pressed lips, TO struggle and die? We
know that no lust of powers no worldly
gain no pride of life moved him. He
was never an aggressor. His keen sense
of what was due to himself, made him
careful of the rights Of others. So care
full was he; so regardful of his acts so
cautious ia moving forward so con-
tented with the portion which God and
his own right arm had given him, that
his n%eighbors bantered him for his home
ly virtues, and likened him to the good
natured dutchman who was said 20 have
- fallen into such a peaceful repose that be
slept until the stock of his f~OWling-piece
crumbled with decay at his side. AND
} yet u good-natured sleeping c0mrade
suddenly awoke to such deeds of vaioul
- that "the world wondered" and declared
that he must take his place with heroes
while his n%eighbors were happy to share
the glory Of his deeds.
What moved this peace loving, God
fearing, contented man, happy within
the shadow of the vine that climbed abou
his cottage door, to go forth agaisnt hi
brother of the North? Let a true an
swer be given. Let it not be said tina
in a ONE of unreasoning haste, he tor
asunder the ties of home and kindred
and rushed, like a mailman, upon tn
- sword of his adversary. His four year
- of hard endurance gives higher meaning
. to his courage. Rather, let it be said o
him that he loved the union of thes
States. The blood which flowed in III
=. veins, unmiXed with alloy, had warme
- the hearts of the men who struck tn
- first blow for independence. In tn
+ county of Alamance, hard by the oil
stage road that leads from HillsborO I
Salisbury, a Stone has been planted an
on it are engraved these words: "Firs
y, battle of the Revolution. Here wf
fought the battle of Alamance the 10th
i Nav, iii. between the British and tt
Regulators" Here by this tone WI
hi poured out the first libation to America
st. Independence. Four years thereatte
lly on the Goth of May, 1775, the listenir
its ear of North Carolina heard the cry tn
I'll. the men of Massachusetts had been sla
ear at Lexington. And no more, save fro
M hostile camps, did the ensign Of Brlta
ell. wave over her soil. Then, it was enou!
for her TO know that the invaders TO
are was upon the soil Of a sister State. Z
aid the sons of Massachusetts ever fore
be how the battle cry Of Lexington was a
it's swered? Can they ever forget how tn
ces and the sons of North Carolina lock
their shields until King George, on
:" Goth day of January, 1888, calling ca
of one by name, treating with each one