The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-06-26

direction OF LlHcOlI, WHO, "ltuouL
his knowledge, was at that time the
South's most powerful friend. Our
treatment would have been not less
liberal than that we have ust seen
accorded by the British to the Beers.
"By the fslonious act of an assass-
| in in moment this fair vision was
shattered, and in it's place, and with
out fault upon her part. there was in
voked against the PROSTATE South
whirlwind of rage and resentment.
| Indeed it is due to the restraint put
| upon the political leaders of the
North by General Grant that the
| death of Lincoln did not mark for the
South the beginning OF greater woes
than those of the war itself. There
resulted many years of bitterness
and enlargement between the sec
tions, retarding the growth of the
National spirit and yielding but
slowly to the.great dali y object lesson
of the development of our country.
But there is still one thing more
to be said. Was all our blood shed
in vain? Was all the agony endured
for the Lost Cause but as water split
|
times, No. We have set the world
record for devotion to a cause. We
have given to our children proud
memories and to history new names
to be theme and an inspiration for
unborn generations. The heroes Of
future wars will emulate our Lees
and Jacksons. We have taught the
armies of the world the casualties to
be endured in battle.
The qualities OF heart and soul
developed both in our women and
men, in the stress and strain of our
poverty and in the furnace Of our af-
Fiction, have made a worthier race
and have already borne rich reward
in the building up of our country.
But above and beyond all. the
firm bonds which today hold together
this great nation could never have
been wrought by debates in Congress.
Human evolution has not yet pro-
crossed so far. Such bonds must be
forced welded and proved in the
heat of battle and must be cemented
in blood. Peace congresses and ar
bitration have never yet given birth
| to nation, anu lniS OHc uau " NC
born in natures way.
But bear with me little, for
cannot leave the thoughts and mem
cries evoked by my theme without
some reference to a few among the
great figures who moved amid these
= scenes, lest my story should seem to
, as one of Hamlet with Hamlet left
out.
And love where death has set its seal,
Nor age can chill, nor rival steal
Nor falsehOOd disavOw.
shall | name to you Confederate
D hero who deserves the highest pedes
e tai who bore the greatest privatior
t and contributed most freely OF hi:
5 blood to win every victory and resis
: every defeat? l name the private
e soldier. Practically without pay
a and on half rations, he enlisted fol
: life or death and served out his con
/, tract. He did not look the fighting
e man he was. He was lean, sunburn
S and bearded, often barefoot an
S ragged. He had neither training no
n discipline, except what he acquired IL
J. the field. He had only antiquate'
o and inferior arms until he capture
= better ones in battle. He had nc
o even military ambition; but he ha
one incentive which was lacking i
E. his opponents, brave and loyal a
It they were He was fighting for hi
y home. From the time OF Greece
1, that OF South Africa all history attes,
r the stimulus o. the thoughts
h home to the soldier lighting for i
I'd And if some young military scientl:
I'd among you bright boys can formula'
IS an equation to express tn" bait
st power of an army l am sure he wi
at find the thought of home to be ia
IN tor in it with highest opponents.
O. there was nothing anamolous abo'
as the fighting of our army. We fougl
en for our homes under men that
ok loved and trusted. This brought Of
or the best in every individual, wheth
be private or general
n Upon our President, Jeffers'
se Davis, there fell from the necessi
DIS of his prominent position not on
re defeat. but obloquy and woes t
te- many to enumerate. History, ho
ue ever, will do him Justice as havi1
been most worthy to represent
nv whether as a man, statesman or
NO soldier; and as any compromise OF t
les issues at stake would have only CT
,ss ried with it the seeds of another W;
N the Nation is to be congratulated tt
ii, to his high courage and devotion
ate his cause no compromise was Posslo
lg- And how now shall | speak
LA YOU of the great Lee, whom it was
cen education to know? Never ela'
es, and never depressed, but always ca
ted and audacious in reliance upon hi
ned self and his troops, who in their u
ira relied upon him and loved him III
OF death.
..Of grave and stern StonsN
the jackson. trusting only in the God
her Battles and the righteousness of
me cause, but winning by the tie
low courage his personality inspired,
the OH. f. Johnston, master of st1
mt, egv in the great game OF war, VIII
vic brain was reasons self encased
,nal bone
'aly ..Of Beauregard, who won Bull /
der bv his personal tsnacity and
and such science and skill defended 81
ses, ter and Petersburg.
gov "Of Longstreet, whom Lee ca
his old war horse doing heavy W
fol- on every field from Bull Run to
rmy pomattox. OF A. P. Hill. whose ns
'ter. was last upon the lips of Lee II
end his death bed and of Jackson whe1
with crossed over the river to rest in
rmy shade OF the trees. OK genial, DIS
sur ing Stuart, always ready for any '
re- ture and sanguine of success,
3 OF took up the battle left unfinished
it is Jackson's fall and carried it to
arly brilliant end.
and .Of gifted Hampton, our chevs
Bavard, with his saber-scarred I
AIRED who served his State as effectivel
for $1,000 &C Ia bod anna In Uar and