The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-05-18
was ever called upon to suffer?

AT the WOfQ OF COHluduu 1AOu eAOoO
loved leaders they had often followed
the tattereo flag to infinite and deadly
danger, had often lead forlorn hope
with cheerful spirit; now from the
leaders comes the word Of command
that was hardest to obey, they must
Law down their arms, they must fur!
their banner. Their comrades RAD
given their lives, these who were icft
must give their happiness.
Their hopes crushed, their fair Wis
ion forever faded, they must go back
to their ruined homes, and amid
strange conditions build up for the
South q new civilization. Theirs was
harder heroism, but manfully they
showed it, and through their efforts
the South once more today is ready to
take her place of leadership in the
manifold activities of the nation?
Those men who thus added the Wis
dom Of counsel to the bravery Of bat
tie, who added the service of upbuild-
inc to the service of defence have
many of them obeyed now the COM
mand of jackson, and have passed over
the river to join their immortal COM
rades.
Not many months have passed since
one of the ablest Of them was lalo 20
rest amid the tears OF this people IN
| yonder cemetery. Throughout the
| war Gen. E. W. Noise fought gallant
| " for the cause which he had espous-
ed, and when fighting was over ne
came back to his prostrate land, as
so many Others came back-not to
sit down and weep, like Marius over
the ruins of Carthage-bns TO give OF
| his best effort, his great culture and
wisdom, his burning eloquence, his
large knowledge for the binding up
of the wounds of his broken and bleed
ing Southland, that it might rise
Phoenix-like from the ashes of ruin
and devastation, and become once
| more the fairest and noblest section
of our common country.
Yes. one by one she survivors OF
that awful struggle have gone to join
their leaders and their comrades who
have pitched their tents IN che valley
of peace, and rest, ION James etern-
al camping ground. :"
Each reunion of veterans is smaller
and smaller. Those grow fewer and
fewer who are left to tell US by word
of mouth of gallant charges, of patient
seiges, Of stubborn stands against the
enemy, of Manassas and Missionary
Ridge and Gettysburg and the Wilder
LESS.
Shall we then forget them? Forget
that noblest if that saddest page IN
all our history? Never! And SO we,
5he sons and daughters Of the Con-
| federacy have banded together to
keep alive, not in bitterness, not in
hostility, but in spirit Of reverence,
the memories of our fathers gallant
deeds and wonderful devotion to
cause and country.
So in each May, that month IN
which Stonewall jackson gave his last
command, and his departing spirit led
his hosts of followers over the river,
we come to scatter blossoms upon all
that is mortal of them, and to think
and speak of their Immortality.
We decorate their graves, one thinks
of them without distinction. 1t mat
ters not Of what religion, or nation
atty or descent they were, they gave
their lives in common cause, they
| followed one flag; one aim, one pur-
! pose actuated and inspired their deeds
of daring and endurance.
It matters not of what rank they
| were in the service, whether their
collars were decorated with the stars
of generalship, or whether theirs was
the torn and tattered uuifc-m OF the
private, they were alike faithful to
duty. Death has levelled all ranks,
the generals sword beside the mus
kes, and we think no more lovingly
today of our South Carolina General
who fell at the first battle Of Manas-
sas, Barnard E. Bee, that we think Of
the humblest soldier who was killed
on picket duty.
It matters not what we're their
graces of character. They were not
all alike, good and faultless, it would
be idle to contend that they were. AS
KipI,ng says "Men in barracks don't
grow into plaster saints" But what
ever their faults and failings, We
think not of them, for their one great
virtue overshadowed all, their love for
their counry; and their one great sac
riice purified all, their sacrifice of
life. And greater love hath no man
than this, that man lay down his
life for his land.
History will see not again such a
bloody war as that of which these men
were the heroes. The appeal to arms to
settle the righteousness of a cause
will grow fainter and fainter. and
the world is entered upon an era OF
peaceful settlement of difficulties, OF
combination of nations to restrain
the grasping, of treaties respected,
and international courts OF arbitra-
tion.
Yes, in spite of wars and rumors of
wars. in spite of immense standing
armies and mammoth navies, or per-
haps because of these perfected ar
rangements, the reign of universal
peace is coming nearer and nearer.
Only few weeks ago, with the battle
cries of the Eastern combatants sound
ing in their ears, representatives Of
two ancient foes, England and
France, canle to a peaceful settlement
ot delicate questions of sovereignty.
| believe that there will ne not