Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1903-05-09

LAe ICHltAH lthsN NA NeNNN
themselves for us, But braYe as were
these soldier boys, Drawer were the
wives and mothers who with breaking
hearts sent husbands and sons to tie
field to fight, perhaps to die for home
and native land, Truly has it been
said. upon them rested the heaviest
cress. -"the deep and silent anguish o.
suspense. when the message came that
dqrkeued their homes forever, they
pressed the lips more tightly together
and went forth to fight hfe's battle
alone
lis not unfit that / pay here a shsh.
tribute to the survivors Of the "Lrst
Cause Glorious as is the record q.
the sleeping southern soldier, brilrHn,
as was his achievement, imperishal'a
as his fame, inspiring his death, it Ie
manned for his sury ne comrades 10
reach the climax Of greatness and glonr.
When he with empty sleeve or rude
crutch and streaming eve, returned to
his deapidatei home, devastated lands
and dispirited people it remained for
him to be the first to hold out the
'olive branch of peace Who but
southern soldier with his great heart
his broad charity, his proud nature. his
magnificent intellect, his Christian
spirit. could ut such time have de-
liyered a eulogy on Chas Sumner-who
but the brave, the sagacious, the chiyr
alrous Lamar Yes, despite the wrou 5
read or imaginary heaped upon us by
the north the south was great enough to
exercise the God-lika quality of forgive
ness, so she INDUCES no auimosities,
cherishes no revenge harbors no NAL
ice, wishes no harm. and she challenges
the north, east and west to show a more
uusulled record Of adherance to the
constitution, a more devoted loyalty to
the flag than she has shown since her
acceptance Of the new condition In
unison with the sons Of the north she
has shown that we haYe a common
country and a common cause, and
fright nobly did we defend it, and
our prayer to day is, may the dark
clouds Of passion and the bewidering
fogs Of sectional prejudice no longer OBJ
scure the clear vision of the truth, and
l have no doubt when that hour comes
if it is not already upon us-"that
these brave spirits whose mertal dust
lie sleeping here will stand forth res.
plendent in the purity of their motives
and in the heroism of their lives. "
But while l thus speak. and I speak
sincerely, | would have it understood,
have no sympathy with that mqudlin
sentiment we hear so often expressed in
those meaningless words, mo North,
no South. There is a north and there
is solth, and l am glad the line mark
ing the division is clearly drawn, / am
equally glad it is only LINE, not a
wall. We would not have a wall over
which we could not pass and repass, we
want unrestrained and uninterrupted
liberty Of social, industrial and reli-
ious intercourse, we want the friend
liest, most brotherly relations to exist.
But pray the day viii never come
when the south as a section cannot
justly boast as she does to day of hel
high cast of citizenship, her pure Amer
icanism. her lofty ideals of woman
hood, her exalted estimate of woman.
hood, her brave and chiyalrous sons ant
her fair and favored daughters.
Early in Mr.. Gladstone's career il
the British Parliament, before be haj
reached the position of authority anC
power he afterwards attained, he wal
forced to endure defeat at the hands u
his associates, and while the majority
were exulting over their victory, tn,
strong man rose from his seat and will