The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-05-04
upon the ahore to watch wlth Weary

II urge monuments to the Oonfed-
crate soldier, first, for the sake Of tho
lead, but most for the sake OF the
living, that in this busy Industrial
sge these stones to the Confederate
may stand like great interro.
marks to the soul OF each be.
Are you also ready to die for
your countryp Is your life worthy to
be remembered along with theirsP Do
you choose for yourself this greatness
Of s0ulP
Not In the clamor Of the crowded
street,
Not In the shouts and plaudits Of the
throng,
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
bring shame aud regret; that we, also,
were Confederate soldiers. As we
shared with them the glory Of their
sufferings, the fame of their victories,
the tragedy Of their overthrow, and
that sympathy Of their countrYmor
which covered the defeated as with
mantle Of imperishable love, let US,
also, share rs best we NAV their sim
pbcitY of heart, their scorn of all liz,
noble actions, their dignity Of acul
tnat our descendants may say to us
with swelling hearts. He also follow.
ed Johnson; he also fought with Lee.
TO this day there stands carved upor
the graves OF u 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 the
hand Of the kingly man who sleeps at
Lexington, and say, Brother, my
cause vas also LOST
And Is there any message We
would give to the State we loved, and
on whose behalf we drew swords,
more than q generation agop AS we
nave sorrowed over your devotion, we
no" rejoice In your prosperity. We
chose for you the fortune OF war,
rather than q shameful peace. We
battled for your principles, rsthe,
IMAM yield them, not to conviction,
but to force. With breaking hearts
" . bowed beneath the stroke of fate,
We chose the only course worthy OF
Americans. Better defeat than dis
honor, better the 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 u motives to the judg
mont 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 our deeds with same. we do not
regard even the verdict of posterity
as tho equivalent of a clear consci-
ence; nor ought we to have been false
to u convictions, even to win the
eternal praises Of mankind. If our
children shall praise us, it is we'll; II
u own hearts tell us we have fulfil.
cd our duty, 1t is better.
Last of all, let us romember our
less prosperous comrades, not fortu.
nate even In their death, or In their
survival, to whom have been denied
wealth and good fortune; alasl toe
often, even the blessing of health,
without which all others avail but III.
tie. If we can perhaps sweeten the
last years of these old mon, BRING
back, maybe, the light Of other days
IN their fading eyes, awake in their
hearts the great memories. they shall
bless US In receiving more than we in
giving. Many Of the States, whom
they 80 nobly served, have begun to
gather them In soldiers homes, In
situations which combine the beauty
OF charity with the grace of gratitude
But there are many other old yeter.
n who will never be brought within
such hospitable walls, and who are
left TO u 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
for this beneHcent labor, and lot us
see to 1t that true comradeship shall
cease only when the last old soldier
has passed beyond human power.
ITO you, brothers of the memorial
association, will be given the service
or COMMUNICATING the soldiers vir-
tues In the hearts Of those who come
after US, by the story Of the illustri.
dead, of comforting the hearts OF
those who mourn our lost heroes, with
ministrations as bespeak the
sympathy of the patriot and the low
Ing Kindness Of those who are familiar
with the same borrow.
TO you, Sons OF Confederate Vet
Grams, we will commit the vindica.
tion of the cause for which we fought.
10 your strength will be given the de-
tense of the Confederate soldiers
good name, the guardianship OF his
nlstory, the emulation OF his virtues,
the perpetuatlon Of those principles
which he loved, and which YOU love
also, and those ideals which made
him glorious, and which you also
ITO you, Daughters of the Confed-
eracY, will be given the loving service
Of remembering the Confederate dead.
and OF m%inistering to tho living who
dear TO him, and are In need of
your help and Tenderness. Worthy
daughters you shall be of the immor.
women, your mothers, who gave
TO womanhood q new perfection of
heroism and 6 more divine expression
)f sacrifice and devotion.
To you, brave people of the South,
10 you, true. hearted Americans every.
where; to you, world-conquerlng race
from which he sprung; to ali men
everywhere, who prize In man the
manifest deeds, who love In man the