The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-05-04
upon the shore to watch with weary
ayes the rising tide of wars.

crate soldier, flrst, for the sake of the
lead, out most for the sake OF the |
that in thiB busy Industrial |
age these stones to the Confederate
may stand like great interro.
marks to the soul ot each :,e.
holder. Are you also ready to die for
your coIn6fyp az your life wGiGhy 10
be remembered along with theirsP Do
you choose for yourself this greatness
Of soul?
Not In the clamor Of the crowded
street,
Not In the shouts and plaudits Of the
thrOng,
But In ourselves are triumph and de-
feat
The second thing Is this: Let us
pass the remainder of our days in such
wise, that nothing we shall do will
prlng shame and regret; that we, also,
were Confederate soldiers. AS we
shared with them the glory OF their
sufferings, tho fame of their victories,
tho tragedy OF thsir overthrow, and
that sympathy Of their countrymen
which covered the defeated as with q
mantle Of imperishable love, let us,
also, share rs best we may their sim
p1oltY OF heart, their scorn of all liz.
noble actions, their dignity Of soul,
that our descendants may say to us,
with swelling hearts, He also follow
ed Johnson; he also fought with Lee
10 this day there stands carved upon
the graves Of III English ancestors
the symbol Of the Crusader. Their
names are forgotten, but the GROSS re-
mains. So let 1T be with tho Confed.
crate soldierl In the great muster
day he Of the lion heart will take tho
hand Of the kingly man who sleeps at
Lexington, and say, Brother, my
cause was also lost
And is there any message we
would give to the State wo loved. and
on whose behalf we drew swords,
more than q generation agoP AS we
have sorrowed over your devotion, we
now rejoice In your prosperity. We
chose for you the fortune OF war.
rather than q shameful peace. We
battled for your principles, rather
than yield them, not to conviction.
but to force. With breaking hearts
we. bowed beneath the stroke of fate.
We chose the only course worthy of
Americans. Better defeat than dis
honor, better tho long, bitter story of
reconstruction than tame surrender
Of the convictions we received from
u fathers. the principles which we
cherished as the basis OF our liberties.
We leave our motives to the judg
ment of prosperity. In the choice
we made, we followed the dictates Of
conscience and the voice of honor.
We sacrificed all that men hold dear
for the land Of our birth, and, while
we have no fear that history will re-
cord u deeds with same, we do not
regard even the verdict of posterity
as tho equivalent of q clear consci-
ence; MOI ought we to have been false
TO orr convictions, even to win the
eternal praises Of mankind. II our
children shall praise us, it is we'll; II
our W hearts tell us we have fulfil.
cd our duty, 1t is better.
Last of all, let us remember our
loss prosperous comrades, not fortu-
nate even In their death, or In their
survival, to whom have been denied
wealth and good fortune; alasl too
often, even the blessing of health.
without which all others avail but lit.
tile. If we can perhaps sweeten the
last years Of these old men, bring
back, maybe, the light of other DAYS
In their fading eyes, awake in their
neafCs n great memories, they shall
bless US In receiving more than we in
giving. Many of the States, whom
they so nobly served, have begun to
gather them In soldiers homes, In
st1tutions which combine the beauty
OF charity with the grace of gratitude
But there are many other old veter.
ans who will never be brought within
SUCH hospitable walls, and who are
left to our personal charge for such
sympathy and assistance as are hon.
orable alike to them and to us. Let
each camp continue it's special care
Tor this benefcent labor, and let us
see to 1T that true comradeship shall
cease only when the last old soldier
has passed beyond human power.
To you, brothers of the memorial
association, will DO given the service
OF COMMUNICATING the soldiers vir-
tues In the hearts Of those who come
after us, by the story Of the illustri-
Gus dead, of comforting the hearts Of
those who mourn III lost heroes, with
such m%inistrations as bespeak the
sympathy Of the patriot and the low
Ing kindness Of those who are familiar
with the same sorrow.
ITO you, Sons OF Confederate Vet
Grams, we will commit the vindica.
tion OF the cause for which we fought.
70 your strength will be given the de-
tense of the Confederate soldjer's
good name, the guardianship Of his
history, the emulation of his virtues,
the perpetuation Of those principles
which he loved, and which you love
also, and those ideals which made
him glorious, and which you also
cherish.
TO you, Daughters of the Confed-
eracy, will be given the loving service
Of remembering the Confederate dead.
and OF ministering to tho living who
were dear TO him, and are In need OF
your help and tenderness. Worthy
daughters you shall be of the immor.
tai women, your mothers, who gave
to womanhood q new perfection OF
heroism and a more divine expression
OF sacrifice and devotion.
ITO you, Draw people Of the South,
to you, true.hes ed Americans every.
where; to you, ..orld-conquering race
from which he sprung; to all men
everywhere, who prize In ran the
manifest deeds, who love in ulan the
Iowa nP nNttrtA- -.