The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-06-16

corner STONE VI . hoHoNN w N
private soldiers OF the coniederacy,
the tribute OF the Nashville veterans
to the enlisted men, was laid with Inn
pressive ceremonies under the direc-
ton of the Masonic fraternity. The
orator OF the day was Hon. Henry
Watterson, of Louisville, KY, who
said, In part:
Mr.. wATTERsoN's ADDRESS.
We are here to-day TO lay the
foundation stone Of monument to
the confederate dead. That monu-
ment, when IL Is completed, will for
ever mark, will keep forever watch
and guard over the memory OF the
brave men who died fighting against
the national government. In the
thoughts which crowd our minds, In
the emotions which fill our hearts, in
the words which we shall utter, we
are to make no paltry admissions,
no mean confessions, no dishonoring
renunciations, but, standing uncov.
cred In the presence OF Almighty God,
proclaiming to the world the allegi-
ance OF the dead, SIGNALLING the
cause for which they died, renewing
our fidelity to the sacred compact OF
brotherhood and soldiership, we are
to reconcile this act of pious homage
with perfect loyalty to the Union, to
the flag and to those Of our country
men who successfully fought against
us.
1t will never be known-nor muse
OF history nor genius of philosophy
will ever be able to tell us-whether
the war OF sections could have been
averted. Two conflicting schools o.
thought, two antagonistic systems
OF labor, slowly but surely erected
themselves within certain defined
geographic partitions. Seventy and
one wears that which was in the be
ginning built upon compromise was
held together by compromise. The
last thirty years of the struggle be-
tween irreconcilable conditions, be-
tween opposing ideas which would
down at no mans bidding, revealed
an ever.increasing intensity OF feel
ing, an overwhelming area OF convic
ton in what had become, long before
the guns OF Beauregard opened fir
on Fort Sumter, little other than two
hostile camps. The battlefield seem
ed the only court OF last resort. In
to that dread tribunal each litigan
brought the best that was in him
All minor differences, all doubts ant
all fears we're sunk in the single issu
of "the Union" on the one side, 18th
confederacy" on the other. The Las
OF force against force alone was tt
decide. 1t did decide, and the decia
ion, which was equally complete an
final, left nothing to wish for by tn
North, nothing to hope for by tn
South.
GAVE LIVES NOT IN VAIN.
Happy issue, happy we who hav
lived to see it. Let US not wiring GU
hearts by recalling the past-th
drums and tramplings of the legion
nor the faces or the tones OF th
dead-but let us rather feel that the
died not in vain. Let us rejoice tina
out OF the wreck, the Southland on
beloved ones, Tepnessee-twin sistt
OF my own beloved Kentucky-save
both her racehood and her mai
hood. Finally, let US resolve and d
clare that II another day OF trava
should overtake the reunited Uniol
the North shall find In the South
shield and q bucklsr alike againl
the organized corruption OF Man
mon and the militant insanity
agrarianism, iorbidding q secor
''irrepressible conflict" forbidden
the threatened collision between car
tai and labor; iorbidding It In Il
name OF the constitution which a
sures us uniformity Of laws; in Il
name Of the government, whic
whilst enforcing those laws, will me
outexact justice and compelequali'
Of opportunity.