The Van Buren press., 1900-06-23
DECORATION EXERCIs Es.
Address Delivered by W. A. Faleoner
ut Van Buren, June 8, at the
Decoration Of the Con
federate Graves.

Ny Brothers snd Sisters
The force of heredity and the ties OF
association would be weak indeed, did |
not feel pride and qualification at this
opportunity given ms by my fair sisters,
the Daughters OF the Confederacy, to
Join with them today In doing honor to
The memory Of men who fell in defense
OF q cause which Ia hallowed to me by
the blood of my own kindred, and against
Che legality and righteousness OF which
not ous Of them, far as ! know, ever
yaised his voice or drew his sword, but
sll Of whom fought for 1t or they fought
not ut ell.
II should not, therefore, call for either
explanation or apology that my heart
should be touched with the same feeling
that animates these beautiful and true
women who reverently aud lovingly
tread these silent streets Of this city Of
the dead and who, by every rose they
drop upon hero & grave, testify TO all
the world their Hrin conviction that, rs
10 their lives these dead were not touched
by dishonor, 70 ~ their death they could
not but be exalted Aud ! earnestly
truM that this spirit Of love, honor and
reverence for their dead that fills the
souls OF these Daughters OF the Con-
federscy, and which but adds another
and iuefable charm to the character OF
Southern womanhood, may rest like u
sweet benediction over each son OF the
South, and that II may cause each one
Of them now and forever to cherish the
eunoblIug thought that the Righteousness
OF cause cannot be determined by mere
force OF numbers, and that purity Of
motive and consciousness OF right may
Iehdc IN the breast Of the man whose
brow may never have been crowned
With victorious wreaths, but who may
10 down To bis grave amid the dark
gloom Of defeat.
II IL not my desire today as | Join with
YOU iu honoring these Confederate dead
70 say anything that may jar upon the
ear or wound the sensibilities OF any, or
that may awaken one single spark Of
that bitterness and hate which once
burned like fierce and consuming dsme
In tho breasts Of brave men, North and
south, and far be II from me on the
other hand TO bid for name for libsr.
slity and observation-disclosures by conceding
that the stout hearts that marched with
Grant from Shiloh to Appomattox were
ono whit more brave, more patriotic or
moro intelligent than were those battle.
SCARED heroes that cheerfully and un.
murmuringly rushed where Stonewall
jackson led the way along emblaxoned
delds Of glory.
II 70 my deep conviction that 10 long
% Ne children Of the South are true to
the traditions Of our fathers, that bled
In that gigantic struggle-so long az our
souls arc imbued BY no baser motives
and our deeds induced by no less potent
CAUSES Just 10 long may we DO sure that
devotion to duty, love OF country and
haired OF oppression have not perished
from the earth. but that here IN the
South, Il nowhere else on Gods green
footstool, Anid the sshes Of Davis and
Stevens, and Of jackson and Lee, still
stands the impregnable fortress OF
juscios, liberty and Republican institu :
tloas,
Looking back now for more than a
generation upon that conflict In which
these brave heroes fell, what shall be
ppr verdict upon the course that they
took In that struggle which caused the
eSyth 70 resound with the armed tread
ck lts millions Of msny Does not our
vary presence here today with gsrlands
% our hands, deep sadness In our hearts
and with the tosr drops glistening In the
pys, make eloquent answer that today
we Justify their conduct and that we
bpprOvs their coursei The cause they
fought for 10 now q lost cause indeed
the right Of secession has passed like a
tale that In told, bu v~he memories left
us are like sweet smelling SAVIOUR and
shall not be taken away. What they
aid In 1891 we should do under like
circumstances, l say, or we should re
osive, a. We woula q. ,st fartly deserve,
80 uonssmpt Of mankind.
II ws could do no more today thaa e
grant 10 orr dead scientiousness OF
motive VA might still convict them Of
soolishness, and the sooner they are for.
eottsu, the bsttsr II should be for their
yame. II thoy wers not reasonable and
patriotic men, let N never return with
faslAuds In orr hands 10 call attention
q their folly, but u in thu COOL light Of
yoason ~ oAp yst ~ why they had
WUiehty oauees Tor taking the course
ohnE they did. thsp, indeed, and not un.