The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-06-16


not fight in such cause.
We go 70 our graves feeling that We
were right. 1t is true, We failed in
maintaining the principles we fought !
for. Superior numbers and resources
under the wisdom of an over-rulinS /
Providence decided against us. Yet wel
are sure we did our duty; "and it is our
duty To the end TO preserve undiIr!n- |!
ished the treasures Of our devoted pa!
triotism, our unshaken faith and our i
unalterable belief III the sacredness and
business of our cause" One thing is
certain, no true Confederate soldier
has ever hung his mead before any hu-
man being because of his conduct. We
have through all our lives and under
every condition, maintained our Self
respect, and in orr old age now, we see
we have the respect not only OF those
who fought against us, but of the
whole world.
We were tried in prosperity before
| the great conflict We were tested in
the great clash of arms Some of us
were at ChicamaugaShiloh, Murfrees-
boro-the three bioodiest battles OF the
war, % per cent, "A per cent, and 70
per cent, respectively, of all engaged
on DOLH SUES WClc hlllCu VI "ouUoSA.
Some of us were at Gettysburg, where
i43,449 men we're killed, wounded and
missing. Some of us were at bloody
ISharpsburg-in the seven days battle
around Richmond, at Cold Harbor; at
Vicksburg; in the battles in the trans
Mississippi department We fought u,i-
It'll about half Of our enlisted strength
Twas under the sod. There has never
L. o,~1 in, 0tE EGr
great war. We have been tested and
tried in prosperity, in victory, in defeat,
lin tribulation, IN humiliation and
now-thank God, our lives have been
spared to old age, to see our beloved
/ Southland restored to prosperity again,
and to see almost the last vestige CT
i the rayages of war disappear.
The response through all your lives
has under all tests been honorable and
brave, as true as bugle note to every
duty as you saw it. We can recall our
patriotism and the pure motives thas
inspired us; can recall the ardor with
which we rallied around our battle
: flags: the indomitable heroism with
which we followed them through desc
:, lation and danger to death; how we
:, fought over almost every foot of our
beloved Southland in over twenty-th.ee
hundred great battles;> we can recall
| the fortitude and patriotic endurance
, and suffering after the war when WI
, were under feet CT the conQueror; nov
with integrity and manhood we stoct
firm to preserve Cur Anglo-Saxon CIVIL
Iization against the negro, carpetDa2
!, and the scalawag rule, supported o!
- the federal government with the az
, mics of the union, and by state govern
= ments with negro troops; how unao
y enormity of provocation in reversal
. our social and industrial conditions
y we kept quiet and bided our time witt
+ dignity, and never gave our consent u
, the debauch of government and pollu
, ton of society while it lasted; and then
4 at appropriate time, we conquered ou
tconouerors by peaceful revolution, ian'
y took matters in our own hands
= We have taught our children to non
q or the flag of our reunited country. Il
~ the Spanish war, we sent our sons IN
!. grandsons to follow the flag, that ou
~ forefathers filled with stars, and L
- which we now give again our unstint
- cd LOYALTY. Best Of all we restored ou
beloved land as an integral living par
= to the union of our fathers. With
= now, all passion and bitterness Eo
:. passed away. We are holding only t
", all that is sweetest and best and ten
~ derest in living Our lives have bee
). prolonged to see our country recoVere
= from the ravages and effects of war.
49, see peace and goodwill even now
- most supplant the passion and strife en-
sendered in those bloody days, an
what is dearest to all of us, to see ths
:! we have the esteem and honor an
a. love of our descendants
s RESPONSE FOR SONS OF VET
,uu ERANS.
urI Harry B. Hawes, of st. Louis We
a introduced and on the part of Sons {
p-I Veterans, responded to the address:
lvl of welcome. He said in part:
IN with the disappearance of SLAYER
inI came a new and vigorous life for Ii
e-i south. And her young men, buildh
OIL new homes in the great states of II
p-l west who took with them the priceie.
= heritage of courage, of charity and 10
id titude given to them by southern mott
rd ers, not only have become leaders
n enterprises but beloved citizens as we
lyIfor courtesy and charity goes hand-jl
ly hand with courage.
ct LAS time goes On and wealth come
o. we will cover the Southland as we
IS. as the west with the statues OF Oh
ne generals, monun eats to the love Il.
no fortitude of our women, and nothiI
ty will be left undone that you wou
ut have us to do to commemorate va
1T iantly fought war And as you wou
1t, have us bury, so We will bury though
ed of animosities hide away the unplea
er ant and disagreeable, and teach o
to children only those bright things tn
We treat of courage, of self-sacrifice al
fortitude in defense of principle al
OF right"
re- I;ortonant w, Caleb command
,er of tbe trans-Mississippi division. y
ateI ha1n.x5 to- tho nlatform nv many willil
I'D honds ana b;s annearance was the 81