Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-21
THE EX.CONFEDERATE

The seventh annual banquet of tie
Confederate Veteran Camp of New
York. was held last night at the ST..
Denis Hotel.
Marion j. Verdery responded to the
toast of "The Ex-Confederate" He
said:
Il we're called upon to epitomize my
tribute to the Confederate soldier,
would borrow one sentence from my
friend, Victor Smith, aud say as he did
in writing to me recently on the sub
sc:: The ex Confederate soldier,
faithful to the lost cause, yet true to the
cause that lost it," (Hearty applause }
Lacking years deprive me of the privi-
iege of speaking to the toast out Of
personal experience, but the fact that 1
was not born earlier than / was is not
my fault, but my fate / am not Con-
federate Veteran, but only Confeder-
ate survivor; not 'the survival of the
fttest," out the survival OF him who fit
not (Laughter) But l am licensed to
speak to the toast through the blood
of my brothers, and my whole heart is
in the subject. l count myself happy
to pay tribute to that disbanded legion
of honor, whose every conflict was
battle forconscience sake, whose every
victory was the triumph Of an honest
cause, and whose fual defeat devel-
oped heroism and fortitude without
parallel in the history of conquered
peoples. Great applause.)
The ex-Contederate soldier should be
proud Of his past, satitf I'd with his
present and hopeful of his future. He
has proven himself a hero in war, q
nobleman in peace and an honor at all
times to the land of his birth. His
record during the war was that of su.
preme courage, and his record since
then has been that Of heroic patience.
Laying down his shield and buckler at
Appomattox, he buttoned his parole
beneath his faded jacket next to his
heart, and returned home to begin life
anew The battles he had fought
during the four long years of blood
struggle were not half so hard
rs the one which now confronted
MIN, and how he has fought
that hardest fight is set forth in the re.
hablitation of his land and the re-estab-
lishment of his people. He turned bis
face homeward after the surrender with
the brave spirit and manly resolution
which filled the heart Of that represen-
tative member OF Georgia regiment,
who said to his comrades when he got
his parole 81 am going back to Dixie.
kiss my wife and children, plough up
my new ground field and make crop,
aud if the Yankees bother me any more
| will whip 'em again." daughter and
applause)
The Confederate, standing to-day
in unimpeachable loyalty to our indis
soluble Union and vieing worthily vii:
all others in upbuilding the streI..;i.
aud glory Of our republic, is also til;
hero of past for which he has neither
shame nor regret, but which he holds as
nallowed memory, more precious than
his birthright and as sacred as his
honor. That past recalls to him q
mighty struggle; recalls sorrows and
sutlerngs so widespread and intense
that his whole land seemed then one
vast altar on which ali the treasures
and traditions OF a people were laid in
sacrifice for the faith that was in them.
As soldier the ex-Confederate needs
no eulogy. His patience through priva-
tion outlasted the war itself, and his
behavior in battle gave him the glory
of renown and an indisputsble title TO
knighthood. Applause.
Since the war he has acquitted him
self as citizen which all credit