The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-25
PORTSMOUTHNEWS

buildings. ere we lay flowers on the
green graves we're sleep in death some
we loved well, we call heaven and
earth TO witness that we honor these,
our countrymen. and will honor them
to the ond.
The lrrepressible conflict was at
hand; the storm cloud had been gradu-
any gathering for many yours Possibly
there was time when mutual forbear-
ance might have avoided 1t, but at last
me hour came when our nation sought
to settle Its troubles in that last court
OF appeals, war. A million lives were
lost; millions worth of property de-
stroyed. All over this land new made
graves gave evidence of the intensity of
conviction that actuated eacb side: NJ en-
of the North and the South had to
sleep side by side IN the dust and from
the ferceness of earthly struggle en-.
tered into the land where there ie no
struggle.
The war was SO bravely and nobly
fought as to remove all possibility of
another war in the near future, 1t
forever settled some questions that
were source of constant irritation be .
tween the various sections of the coun.
try. 1t taught the nations of the earth
the courage, manlinees and devotion of
the American soldier. 1t laid the foun.
dation for the future development OF
thls nation in way which apparently
1t could not have attained by other
means.
Once moro we would call to mind the
memory OF the brave boys in gray that
wont out from this city thirty -four
years ago In answer to the call of old
virginia. With only 800 voters, Ports
month oh
Brave, noble young fellows they were
so hopeful, so Joyous, SO full of
spirit. Some of them were men of
talent and wealth. some of them had
never before left their parental roof;
some OF them left wives, children and
parents, whom they were never again
TO see on earth-but hopefully they
went to the battles on the James river,
the Rappahannock, the York, or in
distant parts of the country.
The bodies of some OF Your comrades
are not sleeping with their kindred
dust In onr cemetery, but far away in
the wilderness, about Fredericksburg,
Ia the swamps OF the ChicahomiDy or
on the bills about Gettysburg. They
died IN the tierceness Of battle or in the
awful silence of the night that followed.
Their bed was the hard earth and the
night wind famed their ievered brows,
but in their death they thought of their
hope IN God, of their old comrades.
| and of their home and loved ones.
'iions Of the peacs and plenty that
to-day are Ours mny have cheered their
dying moments. and as they thought
OF the life they had laid down aud the
sacrifice they had made. of the
broken hearts and the vacant chair,
may they not have asked them
selves this question, shall he
be forgotten and our memories perish
when our comrades come back to old
Portsmouth and peace once more
comes to our land" Yon monument
that rises IN simple grandeur tC the
| skies, whittier their blessed souls have
| flown. is perpetual witness that the
| trials and prosperity of the days that
have passed since the days of ths war
hive not made you forget tho boys who
| once fought by your side. Their voices
still sound in your ears, their manly
faces still rise up before you after the
| lapse OF thirty years and more. And
| to day as you lay the flowers and drop
the tears on the graves OF our soldier
boys, memory will with her swift flight
| bear you to the past and recall some
who sleep not here, but answered their
icii Gull lux luc lusl tlC16 Oh BOLQe QlS.
tant battle field, and whose faces YOU
never saw again. Brave boysl you did
yonr duty. Yon suffered aud died in
he service of your native State. Your
! homes have been made desolate by
your absence; hearts have waited long
in lonely solitude for your coming and
for the sound of the familiar step and
voice. Sleep on in your quiet resting
places by the distant river, on the
mountain side, or where the great
ocean beaves it's restless waves, Sleep
on till the day breaks aud the shadows
flee away You will not be forgotten
Tor out Of the pain, suffering aud
ruin of your own lives has come forth
the beautiful aud fragrant hower of o
more exalted and unselhsh ideal of
manhood.
And what does this day suggest TO
me 70 say TO you veterans OF she late
war. How shall l sufficiently empha
size tho honor that belongs to you for
the manly way in which you accepted
that verdict of the late conflict, with no
bitterness OF spirit. accepting the new
condition OF things without murmur.
You have fought noble fight since the
war closed than ever before. The cour.
age and manhood that you developed
III camp and battle has caused you to
achieve success i'll your various callings.
silent struggle has been going on In
our land, but 1t hns not been @ battle
for distinction, but each is striving to
do lis Dnrt IN prnmntinu and narnot