The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-24
son. of Confederate Veterans.


| At the banquet in honor of Lees
Iniru,oay, In Washington. ID. c., Mr..
DeHJanin >. Minion, q Portsmouth boy
.ne son or q Confederate veteran. re-
sponded to the toast Sens of Confede-
rate Veterans" The address. which 10
gwen below, was heartily applauded
He said:
Inc history OF the deeds of bravery
on n hundred fields OF conflict of those
VINO, Tor four long years. fought for our
neioHea southland, comes to the sons Of
Commemorate veterans as q glorious hertz
age AND as such we shall preserve it
While we live and faithfully hand It
Gown TO those who como after us. AS
we receive it so shall we transmit.
me cause for which our fathers
lousht and died failed, yet their achieve
ments, bravery and fortitudc shall have
never die, but will live forever. And
when faction shall have been hushed
ana even justice holds the scales, Their,
records VIII be brighter than when on
the march to victory they won the ad-
miration of an astonishcd world AS
brave soldiers their deeds of valor he
long 10 America, and honor will one day
De given them by the whole people For.
SIR 1t was the bravery of the ConfeGle-
rate soldiers which brought forth the
bravery OF the Northern soldiers The
| one suggests the other, and time will
draw closer each to the other until they
are so interminGied that future gene
rations snail read them as one. and point
with pride to this page in the history Of
American valor and greatness.
but to the sons of the Confederate
veterans Eow belongs the sacred trust of
perpctuating the memory of those deeds.
AS worthy sons, sir, we receive the trust;
anc no one can or shall deny 10 us our
| right to love and honor YOU now and
hereafter.
AS American citizens we are true to
our country, loyal to her institutions
proud OF her great achievements ana
| workers for her glory. To the, Stars
anu stripes freely and loyalty do we
swear our allegiance. But as sons Of
Confederate veterans I'VE cherish the
past deeds of our fathers and will pre-
serve and perpctuate them. AS soldiers
| their deeds OF bravery ill us with no
BILE inspiration. BY their defeat thew
| looked poverty. desolation and misfor-
! tune squarely i'll the face. yet with noble
| determination and heroic fortitude have
since risen to take their places US nee
| essary and important members of this.
| our great Republic. and thus given to
| u.s. their sons. examples which we all
Wish TO emulate. To be like our fathers
both In war and in peace is. sir. the
heighth to which every worthy son
| aSpires.
ITO profit by the errors of our athers.
MT. Chairman. is to us impossible. For
when one sets up an idol 10 worship it
| Is without blemish. n fault or an error.
! III there were errors surrounding the
cause for which our fathers fought we
| are blinded to them by the halo of
glory which now surrounds that con-
ilict, and through which we can seek
the record only of bravery and valor.
| We wish not TO look beyond, and who
could wish or dare disturb this faith
which in ours? And the heart of every
worthy son of n Confederate soldier will
paipitate with pride when he reads that
| record.
| 1--WE submit to the decision of that con
] test. MIR. Chairman. and acknow edge
but one flag and one and an united
| people. yet while submitting we bow
| with reverence to your unperishable
| monument of immortal greatness
The secret of the bravery of the
; Confederate soldier consisted in this. sir.
| that he did his whole duty at all times
| and in all places. Is there q grandor
word in the English or n nOblcr char
acteristic of mankind? And when the
impartial historian shall recall! those
ha.f-clad and half-fcl Confederate SOL
d!ers during the closing years of the
| war. and then follow them from Ap-
pomatoX to the plantations. in the count
nS rooms and through public places to
| the grave, he will be forced 10 inscrlbc
unon their tombstones that simple
| cpitaph:
| I'VE wish no better pattern Of man.
and 10 emulate your virtues is our
highest ambition.
| To preserve and perpetuate the deeds
| of bravery and fort!tude on hun
| dred fields of conflict OF The Confederate
| soldiers, 10 love and honor our fathers
and Ia aid and tendcrly care for the
disabled ana unfortunate Confederate
veterans when time has cnfechled him.
| FOR nothing else can. Mr.. Chairman. is
| the glorious heritage and sacred trust
| and duty of every son.
And every son of Il Conf-derat" SOL
der is a worthy son. sir. who IS true
10 this trust and every son 4 coward
who betrays il.