The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-23

Representative government laid deep ana :,
stlons in American SOIL Such, too, IS 81 ~. Y
story of our great Civil War. ne mas -. -,
T ude OF the principles involseo, Wy n4,ar
al and State institutions, the chlva. L,ic
bearing and splendid devotion OF VIC
men. North and South, IN that slsa 1lsi
struggle, are matters when eau ~ 49,, =
Cease to excite within US feelings OF tne
iveliest interest, and call iortIl oui =,
est admiration and respect we OF VI VI
gEia and the South. can never forge. I've
cause for which the men OF the sixties
fought; still less can we forEe1 t ~
5knishuy achievements of our ieaaeEs tlie
unparalleled devotion and n1atcntess en-
..ura nee of The men who followed tneln
on many a battlefield made glorious to.-
ever by their deeds.
A CHARM INDEED.
Whatever 1t may be to others. to rs
this chapter in our country-s annals will
always possess charm irresistible. Ana
Shouldn't not be so? Reverence IS. ndeed.
a noble quality Of human nature. WIFI
out it there can be no complete approprla-.
ton by the present of the things hlEn-.
est ard best In the past. anc. therefore,
little or no growth in individual or state
or, ideals. That intense development M
this quality among some OF the ancents.
.N'l'cl. inspired worship of their dead, is
better. we are persuaded. than that spe-
cies Of dull. dead materialism. which adj
u'ires nothing and reveres nothing beyond
the passing hour. For that Is a tine, as
Well as true, saying of Macanlay S. that.
"a people who care nothing for the achieve
ments of their ancestors will never &c
coniplish anything worthy to be remem-5
bera.l by posterity.'
Let rs, therefore, cherish The sacred
memories Of the past, an5 slard, as a
Priceless heritage It's nob.e deetis and
tf.iaslts.'
,,, 2s SIN gsrzlss II e ,r sdo;3-
81 their corffsct in ,as rsce,lt Wal with
SI1a3I7. II vas encestio,l III sot!e quar-
@ss.s.s n .,5:-1l.sr tilIEes u ass, nat WI,
baeo i i,voi o n ease ne gne SOUS
proud. sensitive people. conscious OF
their loyalty. the question Invoked a
cruel. brutal Insult. The South's answer
70 T. s.at question came with our war with
Spain, The one great fact in that war
was the battle of San Juan Hill The
a!1ctoTy. achieved that day was not won
and West. Il was America, once more
tree. reunited: majestic: unconqusTa pie;
hstqra Wsigh the spanish army SGatsred
PROUD CITIZENSHIP.
I know that I voice the sentiment Of
all these Old soldiers, happily SHARED by
q blessed Providence TO behold this glad
day. young men and women. sons and
daughters Of tire Confedaracy. when say
re are l,rouG. that we arr citizens Ct tll.s
.ions,vs. view its mighty achisveme nts in
the arts OF peace and OF var OF more
than hundred years. and We ;ael our
.masinations qu!ck.ned, and oar hearts
thrilled by the passing hope Of its future
growth and greater glory. But deep down
& III our heart Of hearts dwells an IMAGE
like that inspired by some passionate first
love, which yields space and loyalty to
no other love. It is the love we feel for
dear. dear old Virginia. OF her name
we can say as CI-rano says OF Roxanes
In the French play:
Your name is in my heart the golden
ciapper in bell and as always the heart
is shaken ever rings your name.
The critics of Virginia haze played sad
terly 1nisconceived the motives OF her
most Distinguished sons. Thus misguided
these blind critics and detractors have
persstently asserted tand asserted It SO
often that they seem to believe it true)
mat Virginia went with her siA:ers South
err States Il, the var because she desired
of the whole South let it be said that re-
sponsiblitys for This institution belongs
to no particular section OF our common
country. The people OF the South are no
more called upon to justify the institu-
ton from the Standpoint Of abstract jus
tee and right than are the men of the
North ca..ct. '.pon, TO excuse. thaiS an noes,
ira Tic. Here konors are not far from
even But speaking more particularly for
Virginia; in her relation to slavery: We
upon her against the vote of her accred-
iteu representatives and the repeated pro-
tests of her people. The institution she
never defended until it had become en-
twined Wi the very warp ana woof Of
her social and political life and coall-
ton of selfishness and fanatcism at the
Nerth declared its purpo5et to destroy the
ginia Of her sovereignty It was then
that Virginia. true TO every paSe of her
history, with &, sublime indifference to
consequences. cast her fortunes and her
sacred honor with her SISTER Southern
States for the convictions Of a century
and the homes of her people.
IN 8THD RIGHT.
But whether the people OF the South
were right or wrong in this irresistible
conflict. we cannot for one moment doub:
that they believed they were right. and
SO believing. the men of the South, with
for four long years the cannons OF a
powerful adversary suffered on land and
sea. fought and died in summers heat
and winters cold. Treason! say you.
logic! Be it SO It is enough for us to
know that the civilized world calls it
heroisul, and the ages crown such con-
duct with wreaths immortal.
Terrible as our Civil War was. deep as
were the scars 1t made. fearta, as. Wers
| Tie losses it cntailed or blood and treas
are, 4 uGlleNt tiG LeSult - VI III Oh.
Certainly no cause ever gave to a Com
monwealth a pr@aser heritage of great
names than tins one, gave to Virginia.
None ever called fort'l deeds Of gentler
trust or acts OF nose heroic suffering
upon the part o. the thousands who nobiy
preferred self to tfl.ir. country: In all
!, the years to come their example shall
guide u.s. rhEir devotion ard trust shall
give to duty lIiE:her holier meaning,
| worth than it otherwise could have pos
.esssd Ana thus e on the S5eRpi riss
TO higher things; our immortal dead
shall live again in minds made better ,ti sT
minister to Individual and public life
shall be purified and strengthened
With the new century begins a new
order Of things in our Commonwealth: We
are face to face with q new era. That
system existing. in the days before the
war, with its robust vices and command;
ing virtues, is gene forever-broken and
scattered as It vas; like ,i some M beautiful
The generous Years have healed the
scars and repaired the devastation