The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-05-15

Of rebel vell' or inspiring strains OF
battle music, faced conditions that
might we'll have made the doughtiest
heart to waver. BIT, face item they
did, and with them came courage that
held Hampton's Legion fast at Ma
nassas and helped to give Sumter
county's great officer the soloriquet OF
Fighting Dick" Anderson, they over
came them and are overcoming them
one by one.
Yet, for those who died, how can We
tell what thoughts of homes left with
out a head-of families perhaps un-
provided for-nay have saddened
their last hours? Of the growing
light that now brightens the lives Of.
those who have been spared to us, not
ray even tinged their horizon. It is
a woeful thing, too, to take up a work
and leave Il incomplete. But can the
work they undertook ever be corn
plete? If it was the high enterprise
Of lifting themselves and their peo-
pie toward better things, the task was
as unending as the search for the
ideal-ending. but not fruit1ess. We
cannot believe that the Father Of US
all would permit all these to die in
vain. Was the cause "lost?' Not un-
less there has been no progress to-
ward better things-a progress stimu-
lated, in part at least, by the memory
Of their lofty purpose and noble en-
deavors That there has been prog
ress. no thinking man will deny if he
stops to ask himself the question
whether he would return to the
former conditions, haloed though
they now be with the glamor Of ro-
nance. No, we must not, we cannot
believe that they died in vain. We
must believe that there is some deep
er meaning for US in these exercises
than simply the honoring Of departed
soldiers. Courage and daring have al
ways appealed to man. Heroism will
ever be celebrated in song and story.
To drink Of the sparkling waters Of
what has been called "the flowing
light fountain of heroic deeds illum-
mates the mind; to bathe in its pure
food cleanses the spirit. The courage
displayed by these men imposes upon
US the easy tribute Of remembrance;
the sacrifices that they undertook
calls for our grateful wonder; but the
cause for which they fought, not as
invaders ard despoilers, bent upon
rapine and p1under-but as defenders
Of home-men Of our own blood upon
their own soil and ours-con1mands
our loving adherence, and lays upon
US the duty Of. continuing the work
that they took up. If the cause be
lost, say not that they lost it. If GOO
takes the toiler before his task is end
ed. it is no1 for those, who are left,
to accuse; let them rather see therein
a stronger, higher demand upon their
efforts.
Let us realize more clearly and
fully the meaning of the word
home" it is for Us t. give it more
significance by filing it with those
things which elevate ana dignity it.
Implant in the children (the seed bed
Of our future citizenship, culture, re-
spect for law, (Which is the safe
guard of the home) consideration
for others. righteousness, patriotism.
Teach them-not the ancessor-wor-
ship of nouldering Cathay or caste
bound India, but respect arc graft
tude for the good name left them by
earnest, honest fathers, inculcate the
desire to emulate their virtues and
carry out their purposes, with love
leading the way.
I cannot believe that Dixie ex-
aausted herself in producing these
heroes. I even dare to assert that a
double portion of their spirit will fall
upon those Of their descendants who
will open their hearts to receive it;
that this garden spot of the world
with proper cultivation will, like the
plots which produced these beautiful
tributes. go on bringing forth unfad-
ing flowers of ever increasing beauty
the flowers of courage, of charity,
Of nobility, of love o. home of coun-
trv and Of God, such as are the natu-
raj heritage of southern men and
women.
Az 4JpINE JANnSJ JDF