Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-05-21
Daniel At Oakwood.
Our Dead Heroes Hon
ored. Beautiful Tribute.


iel in Richmond, before the Oakwood
Memorial Association
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle,
men, Mrs. President and Ladies of
the Oakwood Memorial Association,
Comrades-Today an army of living
has come forth to pay it's homage to
an army Of the dead Sixteen thous
and soldiers of the Confederate
States representing thirteen States,
which composed that grand organiza-
ton of southern people, lie here be-
neat these hallowed mounds, their
warfaIe done. The citizens of Rich
mond, represented by its honorable
Mayor; the commonwealth of Virgin
III, represented by some of the chief
oflicerr of State; the people and the
mass who have poured from their
homes have come with martial music
and with banners to bow their heads
at this sacred spot. With hymn and
with prayer we have come to pray
Heaven that this people may appre
ciate the sacrifice made for them, and
tkat we may grow strong in the
grace that ouce animated the hearts
of those who now rest beneath the
sod.
"In the ancient East it is told that
in the cities of by-gone centuries,
buried beneath the sands, tho wan
dering Arab searches for treasures
hidden in the to,nbs of their mon
archs,
at is now third of n century
since war wasted this beautiful land
around us, and nation was cut off,
and these men who are buried here
said: Willingly we would have died
to save this country; now, unable to
svae it, willingly we die The treas
ures of their lives were brave and
nobleand unsellish deeds. They left
them behind to make the sons of men
wiser, no5ler, and better.
TRUTH HOLDS STEADFAST.
Eve learn from the philosophers
that in the material world nothing
can be destroyed, but even the small
lest whisper of our lips continues
and continues until it makes atremor
against the stars. The moral world
is similarity constituted to the physi-
cal, and while all things change truth
ever holds st,adfast and constant
and guards the memory of noble
words and deeds and things. The
work of those who fell by tho way
has not been loves labor lost. but
as man pursucs his destiny, the cleo
trio wires which stretch from these
graves into all the haunts of man.
kind will be the beacon lights of
high and noble inspiration.
1--WE could not render to these,
who did so much, honor as is their
due, or speak as they would if they
were present, if we did not express
gratitude, first of all, to the noble
women of the South, and to those of
Oakwood Memorial Association.
1.-The women of the South, and
none more so, deserve and receive
our most devout and grateful recog
milton. Their shining names will be
foremost on every Confederate roll
of honor. 1t was they who sustain
ell the soldiers, tended their wounds
and with ministering care made the
grass green over the graves of the
Confederate soldier, and have kept
it green. 1t was the women of the
South who inaugurated memorial
days, which have grown to be nation
al, aud not simply southern instiin
tions 1t is beautiful custom,
worthy of the women of the South.
It's inspiriting, giving to us anHaster
day of patriotism, and serves to in
dicate thiit of all the virtues that
can grace cause, there is resur.
rcclion and life.
A MONUMENT TO WOMEN.
I'm this city, once the focus of a
mighty contest ofrms, girded round
with mounds like these, as time gives
opportunity, there will rise monu
ments in public highway and on hill
top to bear to generations to come
signs and stories of the noble past.
But the circle of Confederate memo.
rials will! not be complete until some