Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-10-15
MONUMENTS.

Monuments are an evidence OF
progressive civilization, and are
silent eulogies upon brave men
and brave deeds. Whether they
mark the last resting place OF the
fallea hero, or tell of the gallant
deeds of a struggling regiment or
nation, they assert the same mute
reverence for what is noble and
self sacraficing. Art and poetry
both combine to make the monu-
ment a thing of beauty, and mel
ancholy joy, not forever, but for
a few brief, ~fleeting years. For
when touched by the finger OF
Time, the most lasting monument
invented by the ingenuity of man
cermbles into decay, and ERE
long passes into oblivion. How
ever sure material monuments
built by man may be to become
xmere atoms of rubbish, there are
other ways of showing gratitude,
reverence, and loving remem-
brance of heroic deeds, which
will endure until time shall be-
come eternity-that is, by kindly,
brotherly care of the living, who
have failed to acquire independ-
ence. Among the brayest, most
self-sacraficing men the world
of our own Lost Cause. inlet
tered and uncultured though
many of them were, in their
bosoms beat as true and faithful
hearts as ever responded to du-
tvs call. For four years they
struggled for the cause they be-
lieved right, and the majority of
them came out bereft of kindred
worldly goods, and manned and
broken in health. Years of pow
erty and ~hardships followed, and
many failed to accumulate a bare
competence before old age and
decrepitude forced them to de-
pendence. Living in a christian
land, with culture, wealth, and
prosperity widespread, it would
seem that the unanimous senti-
ment of every true son and daugh-
ter of the Confederacy would be
to tenderly cherish and care for
these worn and battered old pa
triots, yet, let it be said to our
shame, that a fewsyears ago, one
of jthe bravest men that ever
wore the gray, and his helpless
wife, died in our county aims
house! A small donation from
the prosperous veterans and their
sons and daughters, would have
placed the old soldier and his
companion in poverty, in a COM
Portable home, and a small annui-
ty would have saved them the
the shame and modification of
becoming paupers, during their
last years upon earth.
In a few more years, at best,
the last of the Confederate vete-
rams will have passed over to the
Great Beyond, and a six by four
corner in some city of the dead,
is all they will need, until the
resurrection morn. The privi-
lege of contributing to a patri-
otic, as well a a humane causel
will be a thing of the past, and
monuments in stone and marble
viii be the only means left of ex-
pressing love and reverence for
the dead heroes. With these pa
thetic facts before US, can we not
defer the qualification of our loveI
for the beautiful in art, and give
literally, generously, lovingly, to
the support of these representa-
tives of the sacred past?
No gift should be too precious,
nor loving thought wasted, when
bestowed upon our veterans.
Love, after all, is all that is be-
You'd the reach of Times Destroy
ing touch. aud loving care, not
cold, unfeeling charity, should
supplant monuments in any 9TH
er form. Let future generations
de vote time, talents and money
to monument building, but before
it is too late, let the needy, strug-
Cling veterans of the Confede-
racy receive our most generous
gifts.