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


OF 'taNNtif .Afi'A "''f A.N''
Mr.. Chairman. Members of the r D.. C.
other Ladies and Gentlemen.
want to thank Judge Brane for his
courteous words Of Introduction, and
assure him l appreciate fully his
thoughtfulness in making an eXp.ana
ton both Just and appropriate,
Whatever this occasion may lack Of
measuring up to former ones, or to any
standard you may have erected in your
minds. because Of my participation in
it, am sure the organization, under
whose auspices we come, vii, share
with me the responsibility. / am before
You today simply because 1 have never
learned to say mo to any request
made of me by committee Of lalies
where my compliance with that ytQ1et
would seem, in any way, to favor or
obhge them, but in making up your
decision, / ask you not to be severe in
your criticism or rigid in your judg-
ment, for l am sure they would have
done better for You if they could. But,
as General Gordon said a few weeks
ago in meeting an occasion on Shiloh 5
historic field, "sueh as there is within
me freely give unto you,
In coming here to-day my friends,
under the auspices of this honorable
organization, THE United Daughters
Of the CoufedsrscY, - to pay our an
nual tribute Of respect and love to the
memory of the silent heroes OF the
Lost Cause, we hope to subserye a
twofold purpose. We would give eI.
preston to the sense Of profound graft
tude and appreciation we feel for the
brave and chiyalrous men who so nobly
surrendered their lives for their country
and tor the Yindlcation Of principles
which they not only believed were right,
but which i organized into institutions
they felt would be to the best interest Of
the section in which they lived and
which they So fondly loved We would
perpetuate the memory of those noble
sons Of southern soil; that their spirit
Of patriotism, their unhinching courage,
their loyal devotion to heaven born
principles, may be not only a rich herit
age Of glory and of honor, but an ex
ample as well to succeeding generations,
that the sons Of these honorable sires
may be inspired to the same deeds Of
valor, the same love Of country. the
same courage to face foe, and the
same loyal devotion to principle aud
honor In saying this we do not mean
that we would perpetuate war or the
spirit that usually breeds and fosters it,
but it 10 fact none will deny, that ne
who is true to home, native land and to
God, amidst the trying scenes Of war,
will be equally true to honor, to duty
and to right in time Of peace.
We come not to resurrect the mould
ering corpse Of the Lost Cause " we
have no disposition to hold up this sac
red and wasted body to incite passions,
arouse animostes and disturb amicable
relations. We would not argue the
co1stitutionality of the questions which
the war involved, or even the justice Of
the principles for which our fathers
fought, bled and died, not because these
grand questions are not we'll worthy of
the highest consideration even in our
day, but because they have long since
been settled, Even the north, through
her conservative and unprecedented
spirits, conceded our constitutional
right before the bloody struggle began
| The north waged war upon the south,
not in defense OF the constitution, but
as they claimed, for the protection and
perpetuation of the Union, and the only
| justification offered by their wisest and
strongest leaders was that THE end
justified the means, - Were they
right Did the result attained Justify
the carnage, the devastation, the loss
of property, the sacrifice Of human life
which the north's position and course
occasiouel? Let the history Of the las
forty years, the political, social and in
dustrial conditions that confront us to.
day make answer.
We are more than willing that tn,
cause leading up to the bloody struggle
the principles involved in it and thu
character and conduct Of those who fig
ured in its management and upon tn
fields OF action be submitted to tn
| judgment Of the prudent and unpreiu
diced minds Of future generationsi w
only ask that history be FAIRLY writer
and FACTS clearly stated. But we ar
here to day to pay tribute TO our illus
tri0us dead. Some one has truly said
IA long life of loving service may prov
the love that inspires it, and a lon
career of patriotic service may prov
ones patriotism, but we are all NOR
Immediately impressed by a patriot
death, or a death of devoted self sacri
fee. No higher evidence can one Civ
than to die, and while all our soldier
were men of like passions with our
selves, those who died for the caus
gave proof Of noble patriotism whic
rises above criticism. The gentle un
seifshness of the brave is a we'll know
trait, and suggests sacred depths c
character which we may well revere. ,
When war dread alarm was sounde
in our fair land more than forty year
ago, then was witnessed the grandes
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