Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-05-23


Lord of our far-iung battle-line-
Reneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine
Lord God of Hoeocs be with US yet,
Lest we forgfl-lest we forgee:
1 deem it a proud privilege to be
allowed to address you on this oc-
casion, on this day set aside to the
memory of the Confederate dead !;
and I would that I had the elo-
ouence to burn into your hearts
the sublime sentiments that 1T
should awaken in the breast OF
every true Southerner. [ would
fain conjuro memory's charms, and
bring back to you the heroic deeds
sof the men in gray, and fill your
minds with abiding love and ven-
Grafton for them and their bero-
ism-a memory that should for
ever be a priceless heritage to the
Southern people.
All people but savages cherish
the memory and deeds of heroes.
In the middle ages, it was handed
down. from bard to bard to recite
tales of the bold prowess of de-
ceased Vikings, and from trouba-
dour to troubadour to sing OF Nor
maIidy's knights, brave and fair.
In our later days the pen OF poet
eand historian take up the task OF
perpetuatlng brave and noble lives
and actions, and only He, who can
measure infnity and view eternity,
$Scan know the good that has come
8 to fallen humanity from the con.
temptation Of the great and noble
. things of the past. Who can esti-
mate what the battle of Marathon
has done for Greece, or Waterloo
for England, and who can say
What the Confederate soldier. has
done for South Cardinal
I would that I could draw you a
picture of a typical Southern home
before the war. OF the plantation
with, its broad and fertile acres
surrounding the comfortable dwell
ing with its foRer gardens to the
front, rows of negro cabins to the
left, the out bull ldings and stables
in the rear, and around all an at
mosphere Of peace and plenty. In
the distant fields ne may hear the
cheerful work song of the negroes,
,sor at night their Laughter and
shuHaing feet in joyous accom-
paniment to the banjo's music. l
8 would picture 60 you the life of the
South Carolina planter at that
time. The master educated, gen.
erous. refined, g. king on his own
domain, but just and merciful
one. Proud of his ancestry, and
iealously watchful of anything
that might infringe on his honor
or the honor of his State. In his
public relations On exemplary citi-
zen, keenly interested in the public
welfare, and ever an ardent advo-
cate of that side he deemed right.
In his domestic relations a model
father and husband, and a kind
and wise master, giving to his
loved ones all of the opportunities
and pleasures within his reach,
and expecting of them a high
standard of excellence, requiring
of his slaves faithful labor. but
carefully providing for their COM
fort and happiness.
And the mistress, lovely, intelli-
gent, modest, she was indeed the
guardian angel of the home. Train
ing with devoted wisdom her chill
dren, ministering to the moral and
physical ills of her slaves and of
all around her, sharing the cares
of her husband aud directing the
household affairs and the work of
the women at their spinning
wheels, knowing. that the highest
and most useful sphere of woman's
duty is in the sacred precincts of
the home.
The sons, having Che best ad-
vantages, many of them being edu-
Gated in Europe. were chivalrcus,
frank, and manly, worthy sons of
noble sires. And the daughters,
reared in an atmosphere of love
and modesty. All, who can picture
the charms of a South Carolina
maiden!
This was a noble type of man.
hood and womanhood that can
never be reproduced because the
peculiar conditions under which
it existed have forever passed
away, and to US it can only he as
the lost chords of a once-heard
melody, a precious thing of the
memory.
It is needless to discuss here
slavery. State supremacy, the right
of q State to secede, OF any OF the
questions that brought on the
civil war. 1t is sufficient to say
that the Supreme Ruler, who in
the dispensation Of his wise provi-
dence has set up nations and blot
ted out others. saw fit to introduce
this terrible tragedy into the
worlds drama. But l do say that
the Confederate soldiers were ac-
tuated by. as pure, high, and pa
triotic motives as have ever led man
to place his property, his life, his
all upon the altar Of his country's
service.
When the happy and prosper
ous peace of the South was broken
,c1 - 4lo r,,1o olonoor of war