The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-10-25
A NEw oRDER ID rHINGs.

The address of Circuit Judge Robt.
c. jackson, delivered at the Coufed-
crate reunion in Wytheville on We'd
nesday night last, was one of the
finest ever delivered in the South.
and no true Virginian could read the
utterances of theemiuent iurist with
out feeling thankful for them.
We regret our inability. owing TO
lack of space, to publish the entire
address. but We want TO give our
readers some beautiful extracts from
the magnificent speech. Among
other things. Judge Jackson said
L know that | voice the sentiment Of
all these old soldiers. happily spared hv
a blessed Providence to behold this glad
day. young men and women. sons and
daughters of the COuiederncy. when I saw
we are proud that we are citizens of this
great republic. With generous satisfac.
ton we view its mighty achievements in
the arts OF peace and of war for more
than hundred years and we feel our
imaginations Quickened and our hearts
thrilled 10y the passing hope of it, future
growth and greater glory But deep
down IN our heart OF rearts dweils an
image like that inspired 10y some passion
ate hrst love. which Yields space and low
atty to no other love. Ii is the love We
feel for dear. dear old Virginia OF her
name we can say a. Cyrano SAYS Of RoN-
ane's in the French play.
Your name is in my heart the golden
clapper in bell and as always the heart
Is shaken ever rings your name.
With the new century begins "a new or
der OF things in our Commonwealth We
are face TO face with a new era That
system existing in the days before the
war. with it's robust vices and command
ing virtues, is gone fonever-hrokeu and
scattered as IL was like some beautiful
and costly vase. by the rude hand of
war.
The generous years have healed the
scars and repaired the devastation
wrought from Manassas 10 Appomattox
With devotion and heroism less sub
lime than that which characterized the
dark days OF war our citizen soldiers have
gone forward. and. with stout hand and
loyal heart. made the land smile with
the arts Of peace and plenty. Recon-
struction. too. with its cruel iniu-tice and
ark OF the covenant j. again in our midst.
let the hand that would profane its
wither. The past j. secure. 1.-THE future
shall be otherwise than honorable we
are without excuse. Let Us see TO il that
the trust transmitted 10 us shall in turn
lie handed down 10y Us 70 the coming
generations with added strength and .
glory To this end let us strive for the
things which make for truth. Justice hon
esty and purity. Let law go hand In .
hand with prosperity and progress. and .
the simple virtues OF the fathers adorn
the lives and bless the homes Of the PEG.
pie: Let the foundation OF social order
be laid IN the strong soil Of private mo- .
rality. and let public virtue safeguard .
the political honor Of the Common .
wealth
Standing today in the shallow of "a .
mighty past. let " hail thecoming years 4
and, profoundly grateful for the one. su- .
preneiy hopeful for the other. let us ioin .
In the sentiment embodied in Whittier's
beautifullines:
"Our fathers God From out whose
hand
The centuries fall like grains of sand
We meet today, united free
And loyal TO our land and Thee.
10 thank Thee for the era done
And trust Thee for the opening one"
go make Thou US through centuries
long,
In peace secure. in justice strong:
Around our gift OF freedom draw
The safeguards Of our righteous law.
And. cast in some diviner mold.
Let the new cycle shame the old"
What noble sentiments. How
beautifully are they expressed. The 1
chief thought of the entire address
was a due reverence for the past and .
an intense interest in the future. /
Thus it should be. Let Us never for /
get our noble dead, but, while we are
respecting their sacred memory. let
us look to the future. which is full of .
hope, and endeavor TO honor the .
dead past by making the future one
OF great achievements and eminent .
success.