The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-14


sheathed. The war is over. Brave men
met In deadly strifc-and such men rec
ogniZed viilor and justice. They met as
foes. They now are friends. Yea, more
it means hearty reconciliation and the
| era of trust and good feeling. 1t is be-
cause
and the flag of the Union is our flag
because no suspicion OF disloyalty ar
fects those who once were enemies. that
we can thus meet and look upon the
banner that nforctime led us to victory,
and speak Of those days and OF our COM
rades. not In whispered accent and with
bated breath. but openly, honorably and
proudly. 1t is because perfect conf
| dence Is restored and unrcscrvcd fellow
snip that such Il scene rs this is posi-
Dle-whcre the strangely comminglcd
emotions of pride and sadness, love. de
Notion and submission without humilia-
ton, bitterness or rcgret-play unrc-
strained in swelling bosoms. No: we
trust them. and they trust us--if | may
say them" ana "uS"-und the old SOL
der who wore the blue thinks none the
less of him who wore the grey Nor will
he who rode with Sheridan or fought
with Grant ccnsure us who are proud
that ever we heard the clarion call
the stainless banner of General Robert
T.. Lee.
1t means for another thing regard for
principle. This stupcndous con-
flict that shook the continent was not
an accident, nor the result of fancied
insult to some royal popiniay. 1T was
not contest for glory between rival
Kingdoms or for power between rival
aSpirantS To a throne. 1t was an appeal
To the nrbitrament of arms TO decide the
structure OF our government. l shall
not discuss the causes that led to the
war; but Affirm that our comrades who
fought for Dixie were nctuated by mo-
tiHeS or patriotism as pure, as noble.
and MS honorable as those who fought
Tor the Union | accord to them all
honor and patriotic purpose. I claim
the same for ourselves. make no com
PARSONS; but we are not ashamed of our
record. We have done nothin. for
which we are called upon to apologize.
The day for apology Is past If ever It
dawned. We fought according TO our
view OF the structure OF our government
for what was right. The issue was de-
clded against MS, and II is accepted. But
our motives were pure ana patriotic.
If that he treason, make the most OF
IT."
No less u person than Chief Justice
Waite q think ii was hc) has coined
the phrase as Il statement OF the prin-
clplc or government decided by
the war that this is IAN In
dissuluble union of indestruciihlr
States. And in Il recent ia
nous decision of the Supreme Court the
phrase Is quoted by the present Chief
Justice with an emcndation AN indie
structible union of indcs;ructihla
States" And so ut least II part of the
governmental principle for which we
contended is acknowledged and pcrpct-
uatcu.
ENNOBLING MEMORIES.
II goes without saying that these me-
moran measures mean most Of all honor
To our gallant dead. They deserve il
all-all you can give them Of honor
and of love and of iiiial duty. Where
ever prtvation. hardship and toll cheer
fully borne may wakcn the chord uf
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sclf-Sacriicc, ardu-
Gus effort. and indomitablc fortitudu
may quicken the glow of admiration
where patient persistence. patriotic love
OF native land, and unconquerable cour-
age i'll action may cause the blood 10
bound and the breast To hcavc with emo
ton the memory and the deeds Of the
Confederate soldier will be cherished
and hon0rcd to the rurthcst Verge OF
time. He is AT once the illustration ana
the model Of Il courtesy gentle ard
commanding. of "a gallanlry chivalric
and tranquil, of Il valor princcly and
undyng
$50 faithful in love and so dauntlcss
in war,
There never was knight like our young
Lochinvar."
Nor is II surprising that such nm
stinted praise is due, when we remember
that these were no hcSSianS hired to
hight. no Dugald DalGcttyS taking arms
Tor the side where the most booty could
he gotten. no mcrccnarieS huuGhl with
gold-'hut they came from happy homes
in obedience to the call of their native
States. from nartS OF trade and COM
merce. from farms and country fircsides
from halls of learning ana study. from
the great professions. and from lcCisla-
tive chambers To do battle for their.
rights. Their swords were bucklcd on
by their wives and mothers with tho
spartan mothers courage and bchcst
Their sisters and their Swrcihrarts
and restrained their tears at parting
THE PRIVATE: SOLDIER.
! ask Of you to-day that which | know
YOU are ready 10 givc-thc need Of
honor to the private soldier in the ranks
The trump OF fame blaZons abroad the
names of great commanders. Lips OF
love and glory repeat their deeds their
Skill and courage and victory Bul if
ever heroism demanded recognition
the hcrnism Of the private soldier in the
often even in those days. much more
now, ii is true
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