The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-30
CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY.
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,pR. uAcY's GRAFTON.

We meet to day, friend aud fellow
ccuntrymen. in obedience to the in.
stinct OF nature, to pay homage to
1 those who dared for us aud who sleep
their long sleep. 1t Is fitting that we
should. in this simple way, hallowed
now by usage, show our reverence by
scattering memorial blooms over tho
graves of our bonored dead. Nature
gives the beautiful and suggestive ex
ample. Time so!tens and levels the
rude hillock where denr ones lie buried
3 to a gentle and graceful indulation, and
covers the Rarnish red claw with gar.
niture OF green and gold. The forest
are gay with leafy banners. The birds
sing in the verduous branches. The
! eweet South winds soughs and signs
through the swaying boughs. Flowers
bespangle the happy earth, and one
/ and gone. that
"sgrins, with that namees. pathos in the air,
Which dwells witc II things far.
Spring, with her golden sun and silver rain,
Is with us once again"
And with gladdened and saddened
& heart we pay our annual memorial
tributes. Pardon On old soldier, how
ever true and sincere his allegiance
loyal to our country's honor and our
country's flag, il the sight of gray
jacket, an empty sleeve, humping
stump and the starry cross uufurled
in peace and memory awakens emo
tions OF sadness, if tears bedew the
flowers and our martial bars wall in
minor chords.
"As letters some hand has invisibly traced,
lp " teal oui 10 he nj AZ
81. weary feeling aat long seemd eHsced,
The warmth oil n meeting like this brings TO
light"
Thirty years or moro have passed
since the last shot was fired in the war
between the States. A generation OF
men and women have come upon the
stage OF action to whom the deeds OF
those years of trial, heroism and glory
are but tales of the past; why, then.
these annual pilgrimages to the shrines
of the dead? Why these fading tributes
of an unfading affection, these perish.
ing testimonies to imperishable glory?
What mean thesB assemblages, these
scattered chaplets upon graves often OF
unknown men, and the public homage
60 our dead comrades? 1t means for
one thing, absolute acquiescencs in the
Issues of that great conflict. The APP.
peal Was to arms. The decision is ac-
cepted. The sword is sheathed. The
war Is over. Brave men met in dendly
strife. and such men recognize valor
and justice. They met as foes. They
now are friends. Yea, more, it means
hearty reconciliation and the era OF
trust and good feeling. 1t is because
this is eur own, our native land, and
the flag OF the Union ia our flag, be.
cause no suspicious of disloyalty affects
those who once were enemies; that we
can thus meet and look upon the ban.
ner that aforetime led us TO victory,
and speak of those days and OF
our comrades, not in whispered
accent and with bated breath, but
openly, honorably nd proudly. 1t is
because perfect confidence is restored
and unreserved fellowship that such
scene as this is possible where the
strangely commingled emotions OF
pride and sadness, love. devotion and
submission. without humiliation, bit
terness or regret, play unrestrained in
swelling bosoms. No, we trust them
and they trust us Of may cay them"
and "us"), and the old soldier who
wore the blue thinks mono the less of
him who wore the gray, nor will he
who rode with Sheridan or fought with
Grant censure MS who are proud that
ever we heard the clarion call OF
Stonewail jackson, or served under
the command of such leader as Gen.
Robert L. Lee.
1t seems for another thing, regard
for principle. This stupendous con
hict that shook the continent was not
an accident, nor the result of a fancied
Insult to some royal popiniay. 1t was
not contest for glory between rival
Kingdoms. or rival aspirants TO
throne. 1t was an appeal to the arbit-
rament of arms TO decide the structure
OF our government. | shall not discuss
the causes that led to the war. But |
affirm that our comrades who fought
Tor Dixie were actuated by motives OF
patriotism as pure,as noble and as hon
orable as those who fought on the other
side, l accord to them ell honor ami
patriotic purpose. l. claim the same
Tor ourselves. / make no comparisons.
But we are not ashamed of our record.
We have done nothing for which We
are called upon 80 apologize We
fought according TO our view of the
structure of our government for what
was right.
The Issue was decided against us
and 1T Is accepted. But our motives
were pure and patriotic. "lf that be
treason make the most of it," No less
8 person than Chief Justice Waite has
coined the phrase as statement of the
principles OF government decided by
the war that 'this is ali indissclubls
union OF indestrnctible States" And