The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-15
to keep alive tho traditions which have mad
the world 80 richpln honor.
A Glance Backward.

.,Eow that we approach the close of our
days we are passing the responslpiiities VI
citizenship to- younger and stronger nan 1t,.
E It Is Appropriate that on an occasion like
this we should consider briefly tho retro
spect OF our lives We need not discuss
the causes OF the great war through which
the Constitution and It's rights we tried 70
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. we lived under Conied-
>rnton Of States. or whether that con1saer-
alton was nni, S a1 tne
guments and facts. and bring out the truth,
and give due credit TO our motives. and our
patriotism. We are conscious q no dis.
cpes handed down by our Revolutionary
forefathera. We fought In defending our
homes and fresldes against Invaders.
we 50 TO .ouri graves feeling that we
were right. 1T is true, we failed N main
tanning the principles we fought for Su-
porior numbers and resources under tho
wisdom OF an overriding Providence decio,
cd against us. Yet we are sure we did
i our duty; and 1t is our duty to the end to
preserve undiininished tho treasures Of o..
and our unalterablo belief IN the sacredncss
and business sour cause one thing IS
certnin, no true Confederate soldier has
because Of his conduct. We have, through
all our lives and under every condition,
maintained our self Prospect, and In our old
uSe IlON We sec we lldNG tiS icoPSSh 49,
only Of thbse who fought against us. but
Of tho whole world.
I'VE have been tested and tried In pros
perity, in victory. In defeat. In tribulntion.
in humiliation, and now. thank God, our
lives have been spared to old, age, to see
our beloved Southland restored to prosper
ity again, and to see almost the last yes
tige Of the ravages Of war disappear.
THE response through all your lives has
under all tests been honorable and brave.
as true as a brglei note 70 every duty as
and the pure motiveS tina, inspired us; can re
call the ardor with Which We rallied around
our battle-lags: the ndornltable heroism
with which We followed them through des--
oation and danger to DEATH how We fought
(, over almost every foot OF our beloved South
land lin over stWelty-threa hundred great
battles. we cam recall the fortltude and
war when we were under the feet OF the con-
queror; how, with integraty and manhood,
We stood firm to preserve our sAngo-Saxon
and ss
elal Government wtth tho armies Of the
Union. and by Stale governments with
neep9 df norm.y Of
dustrlal conditions, we kept quiet and
bided our time with dignity. and never lost
our self-respectr ors3our+cOnndence in our
selves, that we never gave our consent to
the debauch Of government and pollution OF
society while It lasted !; and then, at appro-
pirate time. we conquered our conquerors
by peaceful revolution, and took matters In
4 our own hands. E!EsI 80
We have taught our children to honor
the flag OF our reunited country. In tho
Spanish War we sent our SONS and grand
sons to follow the nag, that our rorefat Tiers
filled with stars. and to which we now give
again our unstinted loyalty Best OF all,
we restored our beloved land as an Integral
living part to the Union OF our fathers.
With us now. all passion and bitterness has
passed away We. are holding only to all
that Is sweetest and best and tcnderest in
living. Our lives. have been prolonged TO
see our country recovered from the rnvages
and effects OF war; to see peace and good
VIII even now almost supplant the passion
and strife cngendered in those bloody days,
and what Is dearest to all OF us, to see that
We we have ths esteem and honor md love Of