The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-05-12


arms. Here again both were sincere.
Both armies appealed TO the same
| God to vi1ldictate the justice OF their
cause
Just here we begin to follow the
fitful fortunes OF southern arms. We
arc concerned not so much with why
they seeded. as how thy fought. We
commemorate. not so much the logic OF
| Calhoun. clear and unanswerabie
though it was. as the blood OF Stone
wall Jackson. poured ont like water.
"Ah. never can the land forget how
gushed the lie blood OF the brave,
gushed warm with hope and courage
vet upon the land they fought to
save"
Upon this basis. all men may JOIN us
in this annual tribute to our heroes; for
upon this point all men must agree.
that no other age or land ever wit
messed armies whose daring. disci-
pline. courage. and devotion surpass-
ed the hosts that followed Lee. On
this occasion. we do not seek to revive
the now we'll nigh dead embers OF
sectional hatred Today we might
rningle our voices with the gathering
hosts. all over this g7eat nation. in one
common chorus:
Under the sod and under the dew,
waiting the judgment day;
Tears and love for the blue. love and
tears for the gray"
The reason they fought and died
the heroes they were. is not far to
seek. Remember. they were no mer-
cenary hirelings, goaded on by greed
for gold. Always poorly fed. halt
sheltered and clothed and never paid.
they waged a war for pure principle,
that lifted them out OF the low grow
cling things OF gain, into the realms
where martyrs bless the flames that
proclaim their constancy to a convic-
ton OF truth.
Again. the Confederate a-:'ies
waged no war for conquest. 1ncy
went not forth to lay the heavy hand
OF usurpation upon subject people.
Unlike Alexander in Asia. unlike
Caeser in Gaul. unlike William in Eng
land, unlike Napoleon in Germany,
unlike CORVALLIS in America, the
compeers OF Robert E. Lee fought
upon their own soil to beat back the
invading bands of hostile section.
Unlike these martial examples Of
blood and terror, striving to subju-
gate other people to their despotic
will, our fathers-you, good gray
heads, whose lives heaven has length
ened out to this glad day-you were
content to enjoy in peace the God
given right of self government. Yet
when a hostile foot was planted on
your soil, you dared to repel with
patriots wrath the rash intrusion OF
a bigoted and misguided section. This
sentiment stirred the hearts, steadieo
the nerves. and steeled the arms OF
the men who achieved the victories,
underwent the hardships and endured
the agonieS that gave them undying
glory. Along the lines when forth
to the fray they rushed with the fury
OF friends, from breast to breast there
passed the Silent. yet determined eN-
hortation:
Strike till the last armed foe expires.
Strike for your homes and your fires,
Strike ior the green graves OF your
sires.
God and Your native land
! The world marvels at the dash. the
daring. and the desperation OF the
thousand mad charges made by the
men whom we have come TO honor.
The reason is simple: our fathers did
not fight by proxy Each man, regard
less of wealth or station. Shouldered
his own musket and when duty called.
there was he. When on Gettysburg 5
ensannuished plain, charge after charge