The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-31
REV ERE THE
OLD GRAY HEROES
All Extract from The Southern
Cross" Lecture Of Rev. Sam. W.
Small, Editor Of The Pil1t.'


broadening cemetery-nOt, however.
without symbols Of victory and en-
bcmS Of eternal hope. Past ages are
speechles-. Firner foundations are
laid oyer the .epulchres Of defeats, and
drawer deeds arc wrought amid the
ashes OF heart breaking failures. The
God who loved the wayward world, who
redeemed it with His own sufferlngs
and blood and who works in it with
eternal and beneficent purpose, teaches
u that His wisdOm-and His methods
are not vain. He who dignified Cal
vary, gloriied the cross and made CRU
cifxIOn a sublime conquest, continually
wills to lift our hearts above the dark
ness OF despair. the mists Of doubt, into
the fadeless light OF faith and truth.
In the realm OF this eternal day
spring Of love and trust there is no lost
cause" no fruitless deed Of Offenseless
conscience. no unreWarded sacrifice fol
Righteousness sake
Looking back from this vantage to
the days and deeds of the valorou-
spirits whose memories we revere, the
oracles divine impel the apostrophe
Because YOU passed, and now are not :
Because in some remOter day
Your sacred dust IN doubtful spot
BE blown by later airs away
Because so YOU perished-must men say
Your deeds were naught and 50 pro
fame
Your lives with that cold burden? Nay,
The deeds you wrought were not III
vain
NO. for while vet in tower or cot
Your story stirs the pulses play;
And men forget their sOrdld lot
Their sordd cares, their gllded prey
While yet they grow for homeler fray
More strong from you, as reading
plain
The deeds YOU wrought are not in vain.
Why they died will be precious and
immortal memory to their posterity
How they died will be a story that the
pen of poesv and the echoing halls q
history will never suffer to be slenced
The great principle which inspired
them, the unleaven patriotism which
commanded them and the self-sacrifice
which has consecrated them have made
their fame secure. 1t is exalted above
the insult Of defense and needs not the
frequent FURNISH Of evanescent eulOgN
That freedom for which they fought
realized her atOnement. through then
blood. She Is coming, not by the way
tllcN tiiotSnt. bttt DN tlit way NIO1 lldli
wrought. with daily access Of power anC
glory to her conquest and her universe
throne The purblind soul that hatl
never vet seen this gracious result flow
ing from their divlnelv disposed en-
deavor is to he pitied To make of it
sectional boast and partisan cry is tC
grossly miSinterpret perfectlng provi
dence OF Coda providence evidently
designed to intensity the national uni
ties of the present generation and t
greatly enlarge the opportunities anC
glOries of those that are to follow aftel
us. When this people shall have wash
ed their eyes vet clearer in the waters
of peace the glOries of this truth vii
shine with increasing spendor before
their understanding Toward tha
coming day of revelation and righteous
recording we may confidently turn
tonight AID issue tie challenge:
speak, History who are LIES victors
Inroll thy long annals and say
Are they those whom the world called
the victors, who Won the success
OF day?
The Martvs, or Nero? The Spartan
who fell at Thermoylaes tryst,
OR the PersanS and \erxes? His Judge.
or Socrates Plate or Christi"
Tier arguments for methods endet
in q euroclylon OF the blood and tear
and ashes The demonstration of thei
patriot sincerity has been made con,
plete by their surviving cOmrade
through patient industry and the bray
and peaceful recovery of their falleI
fortunes. The full realization of tn
ideal which drew them on in thei
stupendous effort is reserved for tn
eyes and hearts OF their chiIdren's chi
dren, through the processes of unity
fraternity and harmonious enterpri,
uDCn the fresher fields Of natriotiSr