Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-09
This UNWILLING DAY.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.)
Dmmemorates as the Daughter of the

into contact with her charming person.
atty were glad TO recognize claim 10
the title which, In the nature or the case,
can descend 10 no other. IL was not my
privilege TO have more than such casual
acquaintance with her whom we chiefly
commemorate here to-day AZ would haru-
~ Justify any extended or particular
statement In regard TO her life ana char-
acter. The omission will, no doubt, be
supplied by others. Meantime, l want TO
say that Il Is not this personal charm,
however high, that We chiefly emphasize
or honor on this occasion. 1nroughout
the fair Southland there have been many
bright and beautiful and heroic girls,
who grew up 20 womanhood, even as she
did and who. looking back upon the past,
have learned 10 honor the memory OF
fathers and brothers who. on conspicu-
Gus and wCrld-renOwned fields. for the
inviolability of name and native land,
freely Ventured their fortunes and their
lives, and pledged their sacred honor.
THE sOUTHs NOBLE WOMEN.
These women OF the SOUTH What shall
we say OF their patience and DEVOTION
and herOism2 Would there cou.d De
some memorial suitable TO commemorate
their splendid virtues. and excite another
generation 10 emulate their justly grow
ing fame. Meantime, while we wait Tor
such fitting contamination, our apprecia-
ton of their lives may find some express
sion on an occasion Ike this. Yes, De-
chiefly n personal. but In very true and
proper sense. a representative memorial.
do you ask me why l say a represen-
tative memorial? ! answer because the
chief person represented here was not
only one Of our southern girls. but by
virtue Of her birth one we properly call
ed the Daughter OF the C.onfederacy.
THAT COnfederacy is, L grant you, q
thing OF the past, that we all distinctly
understand IL does not follow, there
fore, that we can be Indifferent TO tnat
past; It does not follow that We can IN
any wise so leave or forget that past as
10 be independent of It, No my friends,
such a thing could not be. The roots OK
life and character are too deeply planted
there. The experiences OF that past nave
so entered into our lives and determined
our development that we are to-day what
we are very largely because we have done
and suffered such things
what is a nation tor man, Tor that
natter without some history 10 be proud
Of? Call 1t obscure, II you VIII, or unim-
pOrtant; IL may seem SO TO you; put II
never can be unimpOrtant to those who
are concerned no. not unmportant II in
anywise it has helped to shape life and
to form character, II IL has brought to
the mind and heart any higher sense OF
duty, or inspired the soul with greater
thought of the true, the beautiful, and
the good.
I'VE cannot be true to ourselves and to
the duty Of the present hour, unless we
are true TO that past, which In the hey
day Of life and vigOr called out our best
power and claimed the courage OF our
convictions. / think people sometimes
fail to see just how this is true under
present conditions Why, this great
country I'm which we live and of which
we are this day loyal and faithful sub
Jects, has no need or desire to enroll
! among her citizens those who. In the
face of odds and danger would have
| proved recreant to their trusts and con-
victions more than thirty years ago.
A LEE AND WHEELER.
1T is in recognition Of this principle
that the reunited nation has rejOiced 10
place on the forefront of its far-stretched
Dattle-line Lee and a Wheeler and
others, whose claim to public confidence
to-day rests upon the secure foundation
OF their brave and loyal devotion 10 duty
In the days that are long past.
THANK God that the nation has been
brought to such mind; it IS tho guaran-
tee Of future union and growing strength
! Thank God that no one has demanded, as
the price Of present service. that the Old
! Confederate should In anywise trample
! upon or repudiate the sacred past. Ir
! could not belt were an altogether impOs-
! siDle condition We old Confederates are
| loyal 10 a reunited common country, but
We bring to its service the manhood we
! have nurtured under a leadership we shall
| ever be proud to have 70 lowed. Without
| that manhood we were nOthing-iOl we
/ can never trample upon or bolittle our
| past AS well might you expect an Eng
! llshman 10 cast contempt on the bloody
| field Of tlOdden, or a Scot 10 repudl9te
! the glOries OF Bannockburn. And yet
| to-day Brit0n and Scot are found shout
| der % shoulder In every quarter of the
world-as both North and South have
come 10 stand and II need be- fight I'M
der the same starry flag both by land
and sea. II is with such like thoughts in
mind that I say that this is not only or
even chiefly or personal, but rather a rep
rceentative memorial.
THE DAUGHTER AND FATHER.
eve cannot unvei this memorial Of the
/ daughter without thinking of the father.
and he was representative man; yes, he
was our representative. j SIX leave 10 re-
peat the words / uttered I'm this church
more than three years ago, and say that
We ail unite on occasion. 10 honor the
memory OF President Davis, not only be-
cause Of his record OF n long and honor
able career, but especially because. in his
later years, ne was our chosen represent
tative. and stood bravely at the helm TO
guide the ship OF State through stormy
I'VE honor the memory Of President
Davis because 10 was given him 10 ex-
hiDit on the highest stage OF life an ar
dent and unselhsh devotion to duty-be-
cause he showed a high purpose, a great
! resolve. and a pure intent We honor the
memory OF President Davis because he
was the chosen expression Of our pOliti-
cal faith and patriotic feeling; because
his was ever knight4y courage and
grace; because he bore himself with dig
! nifty and patience IN the days Of adversely
| as IN the plenutude of his power. and es-
| peclaiy because always and everywhere
he wore the white flower Of q stainless
/ life. ! am sure you feel that such thoughts
press for expression at an hour like this
There Il. however, another aspect OF
this memgial service, which we may not
| forget orIignOre, / have tried to show
why an 81 US who are here to-day, and
many others who are not here. must feel
a peculiar interest IN these memorials un-
yelled I'm this presence.
GREAT SYMPATHY FOR HER.
But there are those, and especially
there is one. 10 whom. in this hour. come
associations and suggestions beyond whac
can come 10 Us. and we can only offer
10 them-tO hcr-the loving tribute %
our respectful and alfectiOnate sympathy.
At this time we may not attempt TO do
more, for there is a privacy into which
we may not intrude, and we would DO
or say nothing which would tend 20 drag
a private grief into the glare OF day But
for all this. there are common ties that
bind MS an together 20 the past and By
virtue Of these common ties we venture
TO give such eXpr ssiOn 10 our thoughts
IN this place to-day. Would that q
were az tender and comforting az IL H.
honorable and sincere As this hOnored
lady. this widowed mother. who Is our
guest to-day reviews in her mind. as
She must often do, those days OF bright
infancy and happy childhood and early
wOmanhOOd, 50 full Of promise and all
too quickly past, she may take I'D her
lament In the familiar words Of the
sacred Book: Many daughters have done
WrtuOusly but thou excellest them all.
o "a LTI f4.rs