The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-11
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BETHEL.

sive and not incidental. Bethel caused
it to flame forth 1t was the touch
stone on which a nation pinned
its faith. 1t was the precedent
on which the Confederacy relied.
Every battle afterwards, with some
times its CORY thousands of corpses,
was a chain in the link of the law of
Southern valor. Defeats took rank
merelyaas departures from the rule
by the court of fate. The end, tile
principles the faith in the final decis-
ion would not die until it was strang-
led from the throat of a nation.
So on the surface, was Bethel
malign influence. Granted that it's
effects were as are pointed out above.
it solidified the precipitation of war.
1t nerved one people to desperate de-
Tense; it stung another to bull dog
determination. Where was the good
in this fateful skirmish that set
nation already by the ears to grip at
the jugular vein of a civilization?
What is the value of six hundred
thousand dead men? Where is the
use of billions of dollars poured forth
in war at the expense of the farms?
What a waste. and what a folly!
History, however, teaches grim les
sons, uses heartrending Illustrations.
Death has in it always something of
the iron of the soul. 1t runs like a
tonic through generations. 1t can
make a people as we'll as destroy a
man. Death has a dignity which is
compelling to the offspring of him
who gave his life. 1t yields its pride
like whip. 1t touches hearts with
an appeal that nowhere else could
find an equal eloquence. That man is
a brute who does not honor dead
father. The procrastination of life
may withhold honor due to the living
on the false theory of plenty of time.
The dead are dead. The grave, mute
in itself. speaks it's message in the
words of the conscience of the be-
holder Many a sire has made a sou
by dying!
Out of it's blood, taught by the far
sweeping, slow moving, certain scythe
son. Ever more abundantly is it pro-
ducing proper feed to destiny. Work
is the highest evidence of pride. The
South works. 1t grows. 1t wakes in
riches 1t sends forth men to COM
pete. 1t has lost its provincialism.
until that word can no longer apply
except to the North. 1t thrills with
new life. 1t has met necessity. 1t
has conquered defeat, as it rejoiced IN
victory
Whence came this inspiration, hold
ing nations in thrall, producing figs
from ground long given over to this
ties? Was it not the great war? Does
not memory. family pride, race (evo-
tion nerve the efforts of the new
South, until they are fixed on the can
vass of the future. as glittering cer-
tainty? Assuredly. And what made
the war more. than picnic or a dem
onstration of oonstables with war
rants? Was it not Bethel? Was it not
the regiment of North CarolinianS
crack" regiment it was called, not
as a regiment, but for it's men. states
men. lawyers, doctors. clerks and boys
from the field and from the shop.
everything except soldiers till the
opening gun! Bethel demonstrated
the lesson that every nation has to
learn. that Soldier" and man" are
pretty nearly. synonymous. You cant
educate a dog into a soldier. War is
something more than the craft of a
general staff or the dispositions OF j
tactician. 1t turks in the blood, but
it cannot flower unless it has 3
cause.
The South had the cause. In effect
it failed. Chivalry, being a human at
tribute, could tilt against everything
except hunger. The Cause lives in its
dying message to the race. The South
is no longer a butterfly. Back of the
clear vision which it has come to take
of life and of it's meaning in the world,
the grave Of Wyatt snot at Bethel, re
mains the shadow of the substance
advancing through the years.
Wyatt, his young heart on the house
in his front, died like the thousands
who followed him. a young blood in
the ranks. Personally, he made tha
toss of his life with youthful prodi-
gality in the measure of his stakes.
Practically, he represented the sacri-
fees which made a nation and marked
the birth of the one true Democracy
of merit. A rich. heritage it was he
left, a people-singular in history =
who can live in the memories of past
hopes dead and still go onward to
better day.
Yes, Bethel was significant!
TRAVELLING ON PASSES.