Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-06-27

DrltlSu W uuo DOClo'
ssBy the felonious act of an assassin
in moment this fair vision was shaG-
tered and IN it's place, and without
fault upon her part, there was INVOKED
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 Gen. Grant that the death OF Lin
coin did not mark for the South the
beginning of greater woes than those
of the war itself. There resulted many
wears of bitterness and estrangement
between the sections, retarding the
growth of the national spirit and Yield
ing but slowly even to the great 6allY
object lesson of the development OF
our country.
NOT FOUGHT IN VAIN.
but there is still one thing more TO
be said, Was all our blood shed Id
vain? Was all the agony endured 1or
the Lost Cause but as water split upon
the sand No! thousand. times, NO
We have set the world record Tor de-
yotion to a cause. We have given TO
our children proud memories, and TO
history new names to be a theme ana
an inspiration for unborn generaIlons'
The heroes of future wars will emuiate
our Lees and Jacksons. we nave
taught the armies of the world the
casualties to be endured in battle.
"The qualities of heart and soul de-
veloped both in our women and men,
in the stress and strain of our poverty
and in the furnace of our aff1lctlon,
have made worthier race and have
already borne rich reward in the build
ing up Of our country.
"But, above and beyond all, the hrm
bonds which today hold together this
great nation could never have been
wrought by debates in Congress. Hu-
man evolution has not yet progressed
80 far. Such bonds must be forged,
welded and proved in the heat OF bat
tie and must be cemented in blood.
Peace congresses and arbitration have
never vet given birth to nation, ana
this one had to be born in natures way
'sBut bear with me yet little, for 1
cannot leave the thoughts and men,
ories evoked by my theme without
some reference to few among the
great figures who moved amid those
scenes, lest my story should seem to
YOU 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.
THE CONFEDERATE PRIVATE HERO.
| ''Shall name to you Confederate
hero who deserves the highest pedestal
who bore the greatest privation and
contributed most freely of his blood to
win every victory and resist every de-
! feat? l name the private soldier
Practically without pay and on hall
rations, he enlisted for life or death
and served out his contract. He die
not look the fighting man he was. tie
was lean, sunburnt and bearded, often
barefoot and ragged. lie had neither
training nor discipline, except what h'
, AGO uired in the field. He had only an
, tiuuated and inferior arms until be cap
d tured better ones i'll battle. lie ha(
! not even military ambition; but hs
4 had one incentive which were lacking
@ to his opponents, brave and loyal a
h they we're. He was fighting for nj
O home. From the time of Greece t
, that of South Africa all history attest
the stimulus of the thoughts OF home
!. to the soldiers fighting for it. And
, some young military scientist anon
your bright boys can formulate a
O EQUATION to express the battle powe
4 of an army. I am sure he will find tn
a thought Of home to be factor in
10 with highest exponents. So there WI
Ia nothing anomalous about the fghtlr
20 of our army. We fought for our home
under men that we loved and trusted
ID This brought out the best in every i
diyidual, whether private or general.
y Upon our President Jeffersc
of Davis, there fell from the necessity
os his prominent position not only defea
nt but obloquy and woes too many
n. enumerate. History, however, will
or him Justice as having been most wort
,e to represent us, whether as man,
od stateman or a soldier; and as any COZ
on promise of the issues at stake WOt
,;s have only carried with it the seeds
an another war, the nation is to be &C
alv graduated that to his high coura
.ba and devotion to his cause no cOmpro
,er ise was possible.
GREAT LEADER OF THE SOUTH.
"And how now shall speak to y
;he of the great Lee, whom it was an
her ucation to know? Never elated a
SO never depressed, but always calm a
ted audacious in reliance upon himself
of bis troops, who in their turn relied
zen on him and loved him unto death.
my "Of grave and stern Stonewall Ja'
- son, trusting only in the God OF L
use ties and in the righteousness Of
SSH cause, but winning by the fierce co
lem age his personality inspired.
the "Of J. E. Johnston, master OF str
egy In the great game of war, wh
fol- brain was reasons self encased
,wn home
ails "Of Beauregard, who Won Bull /
,ur- by his personal tenaclty and with 81
the science and skilled defended Sun
led. and Petersburg.
lii. "Of Longstreet, whom Lee called
1ere .old war horse,' doing heavy work
ion. every field from Bull hun 10 Appon