Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-06-10
Address Of Capt. VIM. a. Gordon.


fair scenes and Christian homes. it we
Iove-to think Of its pure. courageous. self
women. if we cherish its tradi-
tons and take pride in its history. we
should do all in our power to preserve the
of those traditions and that his
tory. If we glory in the achievements
of the gallant soldiers and great leaders
of the Confederacy. we should use every
exertion to prevent the caused tor which
they gave their best efforts, from being
minimized or misrepresented.
II we permit the cause which led to the
war. and what took place during the war;
to be represented to those who come af-
ter US in other than their true colors. we
are not only not doing our duty. but are
to some extent -ecreant to the trust COM
mitted to our care. And I tell you my
friends we must be on watch and ward all
the time, else when we have passed away.
although we may not individually be for
gotten. and though the glorious deeds Of
theCohfederate soldier may shine brightly
the mist of the past. we will be
held to have been Quixotic warriors, or to
have commended for cause based upon
false theories or upon no foundation
whatever. To my mind the cause for
which we fought is so holy the blood of
those who fell in battle, or died in hos
pital or in prison, SO appeals for justice
to their memories: the unceasing self
sacrifice of our noble women places US
under such debt of gratitude that it
would be criminal in us, as true men. to
permit them to be forgotten. Whatever
else we may leave to our children, the
most priceless heritage will be the fact
that we have been Confederate soldiers,
and that the cause tor which the South
contended was founded on the rock of
the Constitution. That we were patriots
struggling to preserve our rights and not
. rebels" and TRAITORS. +"
| can join in fervent Amen to these
words of the late venerable Bishop Will
mer. of Alabama
Nor can | endure to think that my
grandsons shall be set down to read that
their ancestors were tyrants to their SER
wants, rebels against theft government,
and traitors to their country So far as in
me lies this shall never be. and shame to
every man who loves not to pluck the
nettles from the graves of his sires, and
strew them with flowers"
We should bear in mind that the
young men of the South are not only
leaders of opinion and policy in their own
sections, but are filing high positions and
becoming recognized leaders in all sec
tons of this great land.
Who were leaders in this country priol
to the war of the Revolution?
| The men of the Southern colonies.
Who during the war moulded opinion
and carried the contest to a successful
termination?
The men of the South.
Who during the crucial days from tn
close of the Revolution to the adoption
of the constitution guided the ship o
state safely through the seas of dscor'
and distrust? The men of the South.
Who marked out the policy of the gov
eminent from the adoption of the consti
tuition to the time of the war between tn
States and so built up its institutions a
10 command the admiration of the Who'll
world? The men of the South
The cause for which we fought was t
preserve lnviolate the institutions whicl
Southern men had created and fostered
| During the war the ship of state wa
swept from its moorings and drifted int
unknown seas, and civil liberty scenes
to have passed from this country. w
however fought not in vain. the princi
pals for which we contended were thos
handed down from our fathers, and on
late enemies have awakened to the fact
and as a result many of the safeguard
of personal and civil liberty have bee
reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of tn
i United States and restored to US. Gu
young men are worthy of their illustriou
ancestors. In. all parts of the countr
they have come to the front and ar
leaders in the communities in which the
live. ] am convinced that as time goe
on, the true leaders of opinion in thi
country will be the descendants of th
men who fought under Lee, Jackson
1 johnston and other Confederate leaders
for the reason that pure strain of Amer
lean blood flows in their VEINS Shal
these future leaders advocate the prioi
ciples handed down from their ancestor
or the false principles forced upon TIL
country as the result of the war If tn,
| true principles of government and tn,
correct Interpretation of the constitution
are to be preserved, those principles anc
that Interpretation should be implanted
in the hearts and minds of our children
not only in the schools which they attend
but at the parents knee and in the sacred
| precincts of the home circle.
Remember that patriosm is the mobiles
and most exalted of all civic virtues
Cherish the memory of those who went t.
battle for their country and died it its de
Tense, for so long as the graves of patriot:
| are cared for and their deeds of daring
land devotion not forgotten, so long viii
the fires of patriotism burn brightly il
the souls of our people.
When l look upon this assembly o,
happy people, and upon this beautiful
and peaceful country, it is almost inpos
sible to imagine that but short time age
twas the theatre of the most gigantic
struggle of modern times. That homes
were burned. helpless women and chill
dren fleeing from safety and shelter, and
the dire effects of bloody war visible on
avery side Tens of tho,ca,,d. ~