The Van Buren press., 1895-05-18
Glowing Tribute to the Memory Of the
Confederate Dead.


Confederate Dead.
Over three thousand people
were present at the decoration
of the graves of the Confederate
dead at Little Rock Tuesday.
Hon. j. Fl. Berry was one of the
orators of the day and is reported
in the Democrat as saying:
When Napoleons remains were
transferred from st. Helena all
France rose up to honor his
memory, Notwithstanding it had
been charged that he waged war
for his own glory and fame.
France stood with bowed and
uncovered heads to receive her
departed hero. If France acted
SO, how much more we of the
South should honor the memory
of Robert E. Lee. The men of the
South fought in defense of their
native land and for the constitu-
ton handed down to us by our
forefathers. Some Northern his
torians have charged that the war
had it's origin in the desire of the
Southern people to perpetuate
African slavery and to aggrandize
Southern leaders. Senator Berry
refuted such charges, and paid a
cordial tribute to the self.sacrifice
and devotion to duty shown by
Southern soldiers. The cause of
the war was traced back to the
settlement of New England. The
South had contended for the God
given right to control Its own
affairs in its own way. With a
wide diversity of opinions it was
only a question of time until the
conflict would come. Senator
Berry said he believed both sides
had been actuated by the highest
patriotism. Four years of war
never settled who was right or
who was wrong, and we entertain
the same views today we did then.
Applause] Time could not
change the deep-settled conviction
in the Southern heart that the
men who died fighting for the
Southern cause gave up their
lives in a righteous and just cause.
In our own State majority in the
convention were against seces-
sion, but when war actually came,
then every patriotic son said:
Slight or wrong, we live or die
with our State.n 1t was battle
for freedom and the fatherland,
and the Southern soldiers made a
record for daring in the field,
devotion to duty and patience
under great difficulties that is
honored by all men. The North
has the prestige of success and
power, but the glory of the con-
flict remains with the Southern
soldiers. Their record was never
surpassed nor equalled. He
would not exchange it today for
the thousands of millions paid
out for federal pensions. The
Southern soldier was full of love
for the leader. When Jefferson
Davis was thrown into prison
every Southerner said "If be
be guilty of treason, so am l."
Senator Berry then eulogized
all the great Southern leaders,
including Lee, Jackson. Johnston,
the Hills, Stuart, Leonidas G.
Polk, and did not forget Patrick
Cleburne, reference to whom
elected cheers. The South has a
right to honor these men. 1t had
been said that if the South would
eschew sentiment it would get
along better. If they mean that
we should be ashamed ofthe past,
or that we owe somebody some.
how some sort of an apology, then
they are mistaken, and he was
here to say the South would never
apologize.
Senator Berry paid a tribute to
the women of the South who
exhibited true heroism throughout
the struggle. He pictured them
full of anxieties, listening, hoping
and waiting for the returning
footsteps of those that never
came. When the end came it was
they who bade us take up the
burden again. To them we are
indebted for this cemetery, and to
them we look to keep green the
memories Of the past. He
described the dcsolatiOn and
despair confronting the Confeder.
ate soldier at the close of the war.
What We have done since then
has been done without govern.
mental aid. There is duty
devolving upon us now. We must
stretch out helping hand to oul
stricken comrades and render less
rugged their paths.
Senator Berry said he hoped nc
man would misconstrue anything
he had spoken. He yielded to
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