The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-09
APRIL THE NINTH. 1865.

for four years excessively performing
deed after deed that had astounded the
people Of the period, and that must ever
remain models upon which soldiers VIII
frame their conduct throughout all umc.
When this peerless leader OF soldiers re-
solved upon this last and mournful step,
no Inspiration thereto had its source In
apprehension that his faithful battalions
would shrink If he still required them
to face their old foe in mortal encounter.
Weary, hungry. footsore and exhausted.
the flame OF their heroic spirit burned
as fiercely as on the days OF their proud
est triumphs, and though they knew That
any further contest would be as one TO
twenty, they were yet just as ready
and willing to obey their commanders
order to engage the enemy as though
they had known the engagement would
be upon equal terms. Not from FEAR
therefore that any further fray would
be lacking IN an element Of desperate
and disciplined courage and resolution
was 81 that General Lee resolved 10 lay
down his arms. His determination was
taken simply and solely because he saw
that his country was exhausted. that
her resources were consumed, and that
further resistance was useless sacri-
- OF the lives Of brave men, He sur
rendered, therefore, an unconquered and
unconquerable army that might be ex-
terminated, but could not be subdued.
When the eye of future generations
scans the pages upon which the astound-
ing deeds OF these men are recorded, it
will fail i'm justice to mankind and
civilization If 1t omits to connect with
the wonderful performances of their dis
cipline and courage the motive that in
spired them and held them steadfast in
suffering and distress that would send
ordinary men home I'm one day. These
men were offering their lives for their
homes. their firesides, and their country.
Seventy-fve years before. their grand
fathers had entered into a compact from
which they had reserved right 10 with
draw upon cause. and these. their grand
ancestors had solemniy stipulated they
should have. The tyrannical partners
with whom they had dissolved had in
vaded their territory. and had declared
their purpose to coerce them into aban-
doning their plain and sacred right. and
had proclaimed TO them that the order
Of their lives should be what they might
dictate TO them instead OF what their
own preferences might suggest as the
best 1t was this demand upon them
which they resisted with patience, a
daring and a fortitude that must stand
forever as the model Of patriots con-
duct. Life was sweet TO them; death
had all it's terrors for them, but life
had no joys and death had 10 pangs
when their alternative was resistance or
craven submission 10 what would dis
honor them in their own eyes. or In
those of honorable men in the world at
large. This must be ever remembered
when the record of what these men did
is scanned. 1t must be always borne
In mind that they were animated and
inspired by the highest and noblest pur-
pose that can move the mind Of man
a firm resolve to die rather than sur
render that God-given liberty Of thought
and action which they had inherited from
their ancestors, and which they intended
TO hand down unsullied and unabridged
to their descendants.
The poet has lamented the rarity OF
human charity" He has done injustice
TO hts kind In giving utterance to the
sentiment There is an all-perVading
charity In the human heart which
moves mankind in the mass TO tender
and sympathetic interest in the misfor-
tunes OF brave men. and TO enthusiastic
edmiration OF courageous deeds perform
ed by those who fight TO the death be-
fore they will be dishonored. The rag
ged and harefooted veterans whom Lee
surrendered at Appomattox are beginning
to receive the reward when that universal
charity OF the human heart sends out 10
brave men In their misfortunes when-
ever the facts OF the case become known.
The world was misled about us for a
long time. but 1t is beginning to ma
out the manner OF men that We were
and what we did. And as this knowl-
edge spreads. the world Is beginning to
concede that between 1861 and 1866.
newborn and small nation exhibited In
this hemisphere the elements OF a ma
iional life that gave promise of greater
things in the future than this world has
ever yet seen.
Our heroic struggle and hard fate are
slowly but surely drawing TO us the
sympathy and the admiration OF man.
kind, and the day is not far distant when
the record OF honorable service In the
Confederate army will be a patent OF
nobility In the world at large. Chill
dren, for countless generations. will lisp
the honor OF Lee and Stonewall Jackson
when many on the successful side have
been forgotten. and the future will do
that justice to the immortal Confederate
soldier which cruel fortune denied them
An their lives.