The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-07-16
HENDERSON, n. c., THURSDAY, JULY l6, 1896.

American history; and will show what
the Anglo-Saxon race can and will do,
under Republican form of Govern
ment in defence of constitutional prin-
ciple.
As President Mr.. Davis may have
made mistakes. He was consttu-
tional ruler, not revolutionary chief.
He could not work miracles. He sum
mouej TO his council the genius Of
Benjamin, the profundity of Hunter,
the intellect Of Tooms. He placed at
the head of his troops Lee, Jackson,
Albert Sydney Johnston, Beauregard,
Joseph f. Johnston and other leaders.
not surpassed in any. army. since the
marshals of the empire. And when
the night of defeat was darkeniug aud
the dismantled ship of the Confederacy
was sinking beneath the waters. he
stood at the helm to the last. There
is something indescribably pathetic in
the sight, when brave and gallant
people stake everything upon the cast
of ba tile. fight their armies to exhaust
ton and almost to annihilation, i'll de-
Tending their homes and tiresides
against invading enemies, and at last
are overpowered and overwhelmed,
aud behold everything that they love
go down. The people Of the South
were proud and sensitive race and
the world will never know the agonies
they suffered in those desperate days.
But none had so much TO bear, and
bore it so bravely as their indomtable
leader. He carried on his great heart
the sufferings of his people, he shared
their sorrow and partook of their
grief.
VETERANS PASSING AWAY.
l behold before me here to-day the
white heads of Confederate veterans,
who thirty-one years ago lost all save
honor. They are falling now swifter
than ever their comrades fell on the
field of battle; they have lived, thank
God, to restore their country to free
dom and prosperity again-dear land!
for which they fought and sacrificed
and suffered and lost! They who are
about to die, salute you.
There are those who confidently eX
pect the time to come when Confederate
graves will no longer be decorated
with howers-when monuments will
cease to commemorate the splendid
hsroism of the devoted sacrifices of
those who fell for their State. For
one, believe that the time will never
come when the South will cease to
love the Confederate soldier. He would
have been dear to her ifhe had returned
home amid the booming of cannon and
the plaudits of victory. Mothers
would have lifted their little children
in THAR arms to behold the heroes face.
Church bells would have rung ma
tons Joy, and grateful people would
have showered honors upon his head.
God did not will it so.
Tho soldier came ragged, bleeding.
pennless to his desolate home; with
sad heart, but dauntless courage to re-
store the land he loved. He gave all
for his country, and she. unhappy
Mother, had nothing left to give him
but her love. Dearer, a thousand
times dearer, to the South, are her
ragged heroes of 1865, than all the
victorious sons Of other years.
She will never believe that the men
who drew the sword in defence of her
hearth stones in 1861 are worthy of
reproach Shame upon the Southern
people if they shall ever defile the one
page of their history which is glorious
beyond compare-by writing over the
records of immortal heroism, of love
that counted not the cost. and patriot
ism that was faithful unit" death, such
words as these. ''They were all wrong;
it was all mistake.'' Rather let
their story be hl..'led out altogether,
for their children will no longer be
worthy to r., J or emulate their
achievements, Until that hour, every
nameless grace, every tattered flag
every worn jacket Of gray, shall find
hearts to love and hands to cherish
them.
The people of the South would not
exchange the story of the Confederacy
for the wealth of the world. At the il
mothers knees, the coming genera
tions shall learn from that story what
deeds make men great and nations glo-
rious.
The people who do not cherish their
past will never have future worth
recording The time is even now hat
the whole people of the United st ates
is proud of the unsurpassed herolsm
| sacrifice, and faithfulness of the SOL
diers and people of the Confederacy
1.-The terrible pas
Must be ours while life shall last.
| Ours with its memories; ours with its
| pain;
Ours with its best blood shed like rain,
The sacrifices all made in vain.
Forget? Never
DAVIS AFTER THE WAR.
Singularly enough however, it was
after the war was over that the events
occurred which endeared Mr.. Davi.
most to the Southern people, Iallude
first of all to his long Imprisonment a
Fortress Monroe-the clumsy cruelty
of putting the distinguished captiv,
in irons, thrilled the South like al
electric shock. 1t would be painful
now, and hutniliatfng, venture to say
to Americans everywhere TO dive,
upon the unhappy details of his con
linement. Suffice it to say that th'
result of it all was the very last thin:
that his jailers would have intended
to make Jefferson Davis the most be
loved man Of his time. The men o
the South recognized that he was sut
fering for an Otfeuse which thew eUuall'
shared with him, and suffering in N
figaratIve sense in their place. On
OF the most exquisite scenes in the Iii
OF this most remarkable man occurre
while he was prisoner in the for
when DR.. Minnegerode partook wit
him of the Holy Communion in th
stiffness of the night. The motionles
figure Of the Federal commander Of tn
fortress, and the sentinels standin
guard over him, regarding the strang
spectacle and wondering, perhaps, ho'
| tI,n. 4 I. e.