The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-09-23
CAPT. SHAW'S SPEECH.
DELIVERED AT THE PICNIC AND REIN
ION OF OLD SOLDIERS.
Subject: 1.-The Lessons to be Learned
From the War by Reviewing and
Studying the Bravery of Our Sol
diers and HerOism of Our Women"
Full Text of His Remarks.

'"S eiiS LII avery Vi Our SOl=
diers and Heroism of Our Women"
Full Text of His Remarks.
Following is the speech of Capt.
w. b. Shaw delivered at the picnic
and reunion Of Confederate veter
ans in Henderson, on Saturday, Sept.
nth:
Confederate Veterans, Laa9es anu
Gentlemen:
The invitation OF your committee
filled my mind with grave apprehen-
slons lest l shall be unequal to the
task assigned me; but my love for the
cause you loved and my great admi-
ration for your valor and daring, |
trust will inspire me to say something
BETTING the occasion.
We are told that when La Tour d.
Auvergne, the first Grenadier Of
France, fell in mortal conflict, his in
spring heroism prompted the Empe-
ror Napoleon to order that his name
be called at every daily parade of his
Corps, and at the call, the Sergeant Of
his original company would always
step to the front, and proclaim,
"Dead on tile NeH Of Honoy!"
These were then thrilling words,
and inspired his living comrades to
daring and noble deeds. We today
would do honor to those who were he
roes for the sake of Right; to those who
bore witness to their faith, by dying
for it; who went forth in the full COM
prehension and communion of the
truth, and staked their lives on its
vlndicaton. They died in just
cause, and attested their faith in it,
because they loved their country, and
indeed "Dled on tile HeM Of Honor"
Yet they are not dead, they live rath-
er with the martyrs and heroes Of the
past, and in the memory, gratitude
and bene LECTION of the future. The
daring deeds Of the Confederate SOL
der, who fell on the field of honor,
will live SO long as time, and the prn-
ciples Of Liberty shall last, and will be
an inspiration to true patriotism, and
beget that love of country which will
maintain the free institutions that up
lift humanity and bring blessings and
happiness to the people.
The glory of our dead is an hertz
age to the living; the need of praise
that can be sung in their memory, is
but just tribute to you, the immor-
tai few, who in Gods providence sur
vived the most terrible struggle in
which man ever engaged; and your
deeds of valor have made the brightest
pages written in ancient or modern
history.
As stand here before this assembly
of worn and scared veterans of over
two thousand bloody conflicts, al
though it is day of JOY to you, to
meet again after thirty years have roll
ed by, since the smoke of the last bat
tie has cleared away, and recount the
scenes of strife, laugh over the Incl
dents of camp life, and strike hands in
that undying love and friendship that
is born only on the crimson field, my
pleasure is not unmixed with sadness
and grave apprehensions.
| In spite of the inspiring influences
of the occasion, my mind runs back
to the day when the iron tongue OF
that old bell in Liberty Hall tolled a
death knell to tyranny, and its brazen
metal chimed forth the sweet notes OF
liberty, and freemen North, South,
East and West caught up the glad
strain, and shouted their loud huzzas
to freeman's cause.
A magnificent superstructure was
builded upon the foundations laid in
blood by our patriot grandfathe rs
pace, plenty and prosperity pervaded
every nook and corner of our beauti
full land, the morning air was laden
with the happy sorg of a contented
populaCe, and the twilight, hour wa:
made serene, and sweetene ! with the
prayers of gratitude asce ling from a
happy people.
As my budding soul looked on
over the boundless grandeur of my
country, | blessed God, that | wa
born in land of freedom, and like
the Roman statesman gazing upon TIT
splendor of the "Seven Hiiied City,
too could exclaim, "There is moth
ing in which human nature more near
, ly approaches the dignity of the gods
, than in building states, or preserving
: them when founded" and gloried il
the thought, that the sterling patriotism
of the American citizen was guar
antee for the preservation Of these in
situations. But alas, alas. that brigh
thought seems to have been all vanity
: of vanltleS.
/ Revolution has ever been the orde
of the world. Liberty and Despotism
f have been the two great contendln!
d forces which have convulsed tn
globe. To contend for supremac,
: and grasp at power is mate in tn
heart Of man; the rich fruits Of crea
ton have been insufficient to fill tn
measure Of his imperial desires.
Athens, that time honored city
the birth place of letters and art
where Orpheus first touched the tune
full Tyre, and the Muses. gave an inspl
ration to a Homer, and noble Sparta
, immortal for the valor Of her sons
were in turn, torn by the struggles be
Is tween Arlstocracy on the one hand
and Democracy On the other. So ais
Rome, the proud mistress of the world
was not free from these contentious, tn
7. expiring agonles Of her liberties wen
out in the crimson stream that f1owe,
down the base of Pompey's statue
She needed not the experience offere,