Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-13

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MEMORIAL DAY.
The memory of the Confederate soldier
is sacred, and it is still cherished in the
hearts of those for whom he offered his all.
The present generation not only reveres his
heroism in defending that which he be-
lieved to be right; but it is convinced
that he was right. Then since he defend
ed the right with courage and devotion
the like of which the world has never
seen before or since, is it surprising that
his memory should be held sacred, espe-
cially by generation that continues to
think now as he thought then?
Pursuant to the published notice, quite
large number of ladies and gentlemen
gathered at the courthouse last Monday
afternoon, and forming into procession,
marched to the cemetery. Altogether
there were probably 100. Thepreliminary
exercises were held in the grove just
without the cemetery enclosure, and were
opened with an impressive prayer by
Rev. L. A. johnson, who invoked divine
blessings on the assembled people and
their mission of duty and love to those
who had gone before He also asked for
the guidance and direction of those who
are to follow. After the conclusion OF
Mr.. Johnson's prayer, W. B. de Loach,
ESQ.,, was introduced as the first speaker.
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appropriate. The cause Of the war, ne
assigned merely to cali to duty. In a
few words, he pictured the fierce thrill of
patriotism that was aroused in the South,
and then went on to call attention to the
fact that that patriotism was of kind that
knew no weakening-a kind that braved
starvation, exhaustion and death; that
could be crushed, but never conquered.
History had not given these men justice /;
but although she has .pever known their
equals before, she will give them justice
later on. In the meantime, the noble
women of the land and their old comrades
who have hot yet gone to join Lee, jack
son and Stewart and many other leaders,
will continue to mark their graves with
the lose and lilly from field and garden
and keep their memories fresh. Just so
surely as the flowers bloom in the spring,
just so surely will these heroes never be
forgotten. Therefore, "sleep on brave,
unselfish, patriotic soldiers, sleep on.
Your memory shall never be forgottenW
Major Hart followed with statement
of why the custom of decorating the Con-
federate graves was observed on the 10th
of May, that being the anniversary Of the
death of "StonewalP' Jackson. He said
that the cause which led to 80 much sacri-
fee of life and treasure should always 1e
repeated on each memorial day, so that
the children of each generation shall be
familiar with the answer. The prime
cause came at the foundation of the gov
ernment. 1t came from the differences in
origin, religion and views of civil liberty.
The North believed in strong central
government with power and authority
overshadowing that of the States. The
South was jealous of giving too much
power to the central government, and
wanted domestic affairs, especially, to re-
main in control of the States. These
contentious developed from great earnest
ness to hot anger and involved subordi-
nate issues that aggravated the contest.
Argument failing, the North asserted a
law higher and stronger than the consti-
tuition, and war followed.
Major Hart gave a graphic description
of the marshaling of the hosts for strife IS
years ago, the tender partings, the march
to the front, and closed by reading the
beautiful epitaph found pinned to the
headstone Of General Albert Sidney john
son, the expressions of which would ap-
ply to thousands of other Confederates
who rested in named and nameless
graves. 1t is as follows:
Behind this stone is laid, for season, Albert
Sidney Johnson,
General In the army Of the Confederate
States
Who fell at Shiloh, Tennessee,
On the sixth day Of April, A. D.,
Eighteen hundred and sixty-two.
A man tried In muny high offices
And critical enterprises,
And found faithful In oil.
His life was one long sacrifice OF interest 10
conscience,
And even that life on woeful Sabbath
Did he yield as IN holocaust to his country's
need. q.
Not wholly understood ;so% was he while he
But in his death his greatness stands con-
fessed In peoples tears:
Resolute, modest, clear OF envy, yet not "aht
ing
In the firm ambition Which makes men great
and pure,
In his honor impregnable,
In his simplicity sublime,
No country Ger had q truer son, no cause
noblcr champion,
No people boldcr defender, no prlncipie
purer victim
Than the dead soldier
Who sleeps here!
The cause for which he perlshed Is lost.
The people for whom he fought nre crushed
The hopes in which he trusted are shattered
The flag he loved guides no more the charging
But his fame, consigned to the keeping Of that
time, which
Happily Is not SO much the TOMB OF virtue
as It's shrine,
Shall, in years to come, fire modest worth to
noble deeds.
In honor, now, our great Captain rests,
bercaved people mourn him,
Three comlnunwealths proudly claim him
And history shall cherish him
Among those chosen spirits who holding their
conscience unmiXed with blame
Have been, in all conjectureS, true TO them
selves, their country and their God.
Upon the conclusion of his remarks,
Major Hart announced that the decora-
ton of the graves was next in order, that
each of the graves had been marked by
the ladies with small white flags, and
then read the names Of the Confederate
dead in the two cemeteries from list
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