The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-12
A MODEL MEMORIAL GRAFTON.

There have been many mcmoriai du-
dresses delivered in the South since the
war. There may have been more elo-
ouent ones than that delivered in Char
lotte Monday by Hon. Armistead Bur
well. of Charlotte. II so, we have not
seen it. 1t is n gem of purest ray
serene" elegant, eloquent, perfect. 1t
is us brief as it is admirable. He said
in full:
almost third of century has pass
ed since the host that followed Lee and
Johnson laid down its arms before that
which followed Grant and sherman
the one returning TO homes made desolatc
hv defeat. the other TO Il land made
joyful by victory.
THE years that have flown by have
brought wisdom to all those, whether
victors or vanquished. who have had
attening ears to hear their teachings,
and those years have borne to the brave
hearts that were once estranged the
sweet charity that is ever kind.
+" Time has touched with its benefcent
power the places of strife,
w
steel.
Grim suitors in the last appeal.
And they are places of restful peace.
Enchantment has fallen on the now
distant scenes. Gettysburg and ChlcE-
amauga are heautitied by nature and
by art The glory of heroic action light
ems the fields once darkened by the
of hn n,
of conflict there is heard the loud ae-
claim of wondering people.
"Some enemies of that yesterday are
our heroes of to-day. We think of
Grant. not as the stern warrior whose
mailed hand struck down our kin. but
as the mighty man of war, who, IN all
the crises of his life ruled himself, and
pleading that there might be peace be-
tween his countrymen, was more heroic
in the chamber of his death than ever
on tented field where victory perched
upon his standard. And those who
fought with Bragg at Chickamauga sa-
lutte with unfeigned respect the stead
fast Thomas who stood unmoved amidst
the direful disasters of that September
day.
Thine has clothed with new glory
our friends of that yesterday. We think
of Lee now, not as he led his often vie
torious columns to newer heights of
fame, but as the majestic man who
bore defeat with equanimity, and turn
ed away from the paths that might
have led to wealth TO that other way
that led to duty and to God.
I'VE have ceased TO mourn that Jack
son died, because he lives in the hearts
of his countrymen. and because HIM
self removed from trouble and sorrow,
his fame has grown until America pro-
claims him one of the greatest soldiers
since the world began. His body is
buried i'm peace, but his name liveth
forevermore. And this nation of States,
united now, and in its union invincible
if its cause be just, says of them all
both those that wore the blue and
those that wore the gray.
9 My sons--they have demean'd them
Like men born to renown by life or
DEATH
..With these words and with the spirit
they evince, with charity for all, with
malice toward none. we come to deck
these graves with the flowers OF spring
testifying thus again that we who sur
vive have not forgotten those who
sleep in fame We turn away for a
while the busy walks of life to this city
Of the dead, hoping that the memory of
noble lives, here and now revived, may
make us all faithful to the true and right,
as it is given MS to know it, though faith
fulness to such high purpose seem to lead
to defeat or to death. And, as is most
fitting, we invoke the blessing of Him
who rules the destinies Of nations upon
those by whose loving labor this monu-
ment was made. May it ever stand, not
less to their gracious memory than to
that of the heroic dead for love OF whom
they placed ii here.
LET us then scatter the beautiful
flowers ON these slopes where sleep the
honored dead. neglecting no grave where
a soldier rests, and, from year to year,
as the flowers come forth with their
beauty to deck this Southland that we
love, let her children perform this pious
duty as long as yalor is here reyered.