The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-25
OUR CONFEDERATE DEAD
Memorial Exercises in Honor Of
Those Who Wore the Cry.
A Magnificent Grafton. The Out
pouring of the People the Best
Evidence That the Confederate
Soldier Has Warm Place
in Their Hearts.

EepetltlOn OF tno DRSt lew uhyS Ia rain,
but as the day advanced old Sol came
out. and the day was all that could be
desired. Mothers, daughters aud sons
wounded their way to the city of the
dead, and there planted flowers upon
che graves of those who had passed
over the river to that land from whence
NO traveller ever returns. The Ladies
Memorial Association went ont to Cedar
Grove Cemetery and deposited flowers
on the grave OF every one where flag
could be seen.
Notwithstanding the cold and rainy
spell the display OF flowers in the GENE.
series was greater than has over been
seen before. Not only were the graves
OF the soldiers decorated, but the will
lng hands of lovely women could be
seen, for everywhere you looked orr
eyes fell upon flowers that had been
placed upon the graves of those who.
though absent, were not forgotten, and
our fair Southern ladies felt that they
had done their duty in honoring those
who died for the Cause they loved
60 well.
At ( o'clock the procession began to
form ON Court street, with right rest.
ing on High street, and marched to
the courthouse. where u staud had been
erected for the occasion. In the yard
seats had been placed TO accomm odate
The ladies. Hundreds of people gath
cred there to hear the eloquent address
from one of Portsmouth's we'll known
divines. Upon the stage sat the clergy
of the city and number of distn
guished guests.
The band played solemn dirge,
after which Commander j.. p. Slater
called the assemblage to order and re-
Guested the chaplain, MIR. Allison, to
deliver prayer to the throne of
grace. Mr.. Powell arose and offered
most solemn and earnest prayer for
those whose loved ones had died In the
Lost Cause and for the assem- blnge
present. AT the conclusion the Com
mander introduced Rev. j b. Funston,
the orator OF the day, who spoke as
aollows:
Once more we are gathered around
this beautiful monument, erected by
your love, that we may recall the Clio.
rious deeds of the soldiers and sailors
OF this city who in the great civil war
died in defence of the cause they loved
30 well.
More thnn thirty years years have
passed away since tho last gun was fired
at Appomattox. 70 n new generation
that has arisen to manhood and woman
hood since then, the war seems like q
dream or romance. The marvellous
material development of our country
has in its splendid progress swept
away many of the marks and scars
of the mighty struggle that took
place. The days that immediately
preceded our late war seem as re
mote from the thoughts and ideas,
social, economical and political
Of the present time, as the years OF
N lnn
swept away thousands of lives and mil.
slons of dollars worth of property, but
1t marked great epoch; II introduced
new developments in laval and mill
sary affairs; it sounded the death knell
10 the old leaders whose gigantic forms
appear dimly through the smoke OF
battle. and Of the old IN hods, and it
opened new chapter in the history OF
she progress of mankind. Pascal has
said ''Ihe human race is as man who
never dice, but Is ever advancing to
terfection." Certain 1t is that the
progress Of mankind has ever been
through struggle, war and blood. Ma.
lions aud individuals have always had
10 pass through much tribulation iuto
larger and more potential existence.
War IL the last court of appeal for
man In his struggle for his rights, aud
NhS'6A hhC ~ aShlbst
him, the eternal God will see that all
that is noble and true i'll the principles
which he represents will in the end
prevail. Thus it often happens that
the conquered are the conquerors, and
that the heroes OF n lost cause become
she typical heroes OF the world.
The history of the past shows us
That no people who. after exhausting
every reasonable eDdeayor for peace,
go forth to battle for what they believe
10 be the right ever utterly fail-if
they gain no other result they ut leust
establish their right to the honor and
love of those who realize TINT the sue
cess of cause i'll battle does not al
ways mean that it was righteous,
Their failure is an apparent one.
Their deeds OF glory and sacrifice will
live forever i'll song and story. Pos
terlty will look back TO them for insui
ration their principles Of right are as
denthless as the stars, and their names
will be forever written upon the pillars
of fame.
Wallace and Bruce, of Scotland, were
the representatives OF lost cnuso and
the brave men who fought under them
had to suffer the humiliation OF defeat.
but the English nation to-day, yea, the
descendants Of the very men that over.
came these heroes Of old Scotland
count them among those whose mem