The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1903-10-16
owed ones and our beautiful South

to thy sepulcEre, oh Lazarus of youth,
and let the dial of time again be
turned-the reality of the present
dawn upon US and see the few that
gather to-day. Where are the many9
In a few more years we will be de-
prived Of the privilege which we so
much enjoy to-day-that of taking you
by the hand and say ing welcome-wel
come-thrice welcome to our village,
our homes, and to share with you our
hospitality which you so much deserve.
FOUNDATION OF PRINCIPLES.
But the sons and daughters of the
Confederacy, by an answering deyo-
tion will defend your record and hold
in commemoration acts and institu-
tiOns which you have adopted. We
will be the heritage that will cling to
and defend you until time in his on
ward march shall roll the heart OF this
great nation beyond sectional strife
and individual prejudice. Then the
historian will sit down upon your
graves and write a true record of the
/ justice of your cause, and the great
ness of an army whose deeds of BRAY
cry and devotion stand unequaled.
1t will never be forgotten that the
principles for which you fought are
the only foundation upon which free
and independent government can
stand, and if ever totally, abandoned
by this people this proud nation may
chant the dirge Of liberty and prepare
for the dissolution which will speedily
follow.
The maintenance of liberty in all
ages and in all countries. where it has
existed, has required not only con-
stant vigilance and care, but has
often required the greatest priyations,
suffering and sacrifice, through such
an ordeal you passed struggling for in
herited rights and guaranteed privi-
leges set forth in that constitution
which you in your State sovereignty
set up, and by which you agree to
abide upon the conditions that all
should obey its behest so far as it's del
egated power held Jurisdiction, but
when violated and disregarded by a
part of those forming the compact, you
asserted your reserved right and !
old Tennessee in her sovereign capaci- |
ty severed her connection with the |
United States and cast her lot with |
sister Southern States. We are proud |
of your record. We love the cause for |
which you fought and the old tattered |
flag, though furled forever, we love it |
still.
HEROISM IN PEACE.
We thank God to-day that our fa-
thers were men. You submitted to
the inevitable laid down your arms,
pledged your allegiance to the new
form of government, returned to your
desolated homes and began to rebuild
your lost fortunes. For number of
years you had many things 10 discour
age you, but fully realizing the fact
that it is not helps but obstacles, not
facilities but difficulties that make
men, you pursued your labors, and
now the land of desolation and of
death, of monuments and of memories,
has reached the spriugtime of a grand
er destiny. The sun shines bright
upon the towers of new cities built
upon the old, and the cotton fields
wave their white banners of peace and
the wheat fields wave back their ban
ners of gold. Many to-day are looking
to the government to reform society,
to improve educational institutions,
to clothe, to feed and to do anything
and everything to make life's journey
easy. All that you have ever asked of
this government is laws wisely ad-
which will secure to you
the fruits of your own industry. Peril
is the very element in which power is
developed and your greatness and that
of your children will outstrip those
who are the recipients Of the unpre-
cedented help bestowed by the United
States government.
The pensions bestowed upon the
strong and the weak alike in the North I
IS the Upas tree that is paralyzing and
to the last gasp the energy {
and moral integrity Of every man who ,
inhales its poison atmosphere. While
your children, rocked in the cradle of
and following the examples
given them by their fathers, are fore 9
ing their way to the front and will, S
as sure as cause produces effect, some r
day be the recognized power to sustain
and perpetuate and guarantee liberty
and freedom to every individual of
this great country of ours.
FOUGHT NOT in VAIN. f
So do not feel that you fought in 3
vain; it rendered conditions out of r
which will spring the greatest man
hood and womanhood of which the
world has ever been possessed, from