The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-06-27
Thomasville Cha arity and Children.


We publish below a singularly
felicitous article entitled "Under One
Flag from our bright contemporary,
the Raleigh Times, and we desire to
add our hearty endorsement to the
sentiment therein contained. We
hope the suggestion offered to our
good women, who are doing so much
to preserve the sacred memories of
the Confederate cause, will meet their
approval. AS the Times well saws,
ut is not victory that is the test of
ones soul-it is defeat;' and to lava
wreath upon the grave of soldier
whose army was victorious, by the
hands OF the vanquished is the high
est proof OF a noble nature. Any
body, however small, can harbor
hatred-it belongs only to the high
est and best of the race to forgive
and forget. And this forgiveness
and forgetfulness is not at all incon-
slstent with the utmost loyalty to
the cause that was lost. We further
more add our earnest hope to that
OF the Times that on" Memorial Day"
in the South the flag whose glory has
filled the earth will be foated. Let
the old veterans raise the banner
they followed through four years
OF carnage, but put the flag of the
nation in the hands of the boys.
The two are no longer opposed to
each other. They may float side by
side. The flag of the United States is
our flag and our children should be
taught to cherish it. Our fathers
raised it more than q century ago,
and carried it to victory. For seven
ty-five years, through the most try
ing and stressful period of the ma
tion's life the South, more than any
other section, helped to guide the
young republic into power and great
ness. Shall we forfeit oil this glory
that is our heritage because, for
sooth, we were defeated in later
years for standing for our rights
We despise the smallness of men who
would deny the South equal privileges
with every other section in the bless
ings OF our reunited nation. May we
not be guilty of the same smallness
ourselves by dishonoring the flag
that floats over us all? The time
has come at last land it is hailed
with Joy by all but the little and the
mean) when we may rally under both
flags; and wear with equal pride the
blue or the gray. Joe Wheeler set
the pace for the South. He fought
under both flags, and rendered the
same fine service to eachi Let Us
teach our children to reverence the
Stars and Bars, and to honor the
Star-Spangled Bannerl
Following is the Times article
above referred to:
Americans throughout our union
must have read with a feeling akin
to Joy of the generous act OF the wo-
men of Vicksburg in sending flowers
on May 30 to decorate the graves of
the Federal soldiers that were
killed about that city. Fora number
of years the graves Of Confederate
dead have received the same con-
sideration at the hands of Northern
women. For these to do this, it is
noble. For Southern women to do
so, it is sublime. 'Tis far easier for
the victor to be generous; and it is
not victory anyhow, that is test
of ones soul-it is defeat
With equal pleasure must Ameri-
cans have read OF the last attack by
Confederate soldiers on Washington.
Those old veterans, though they
failed forty-three years ago, captured
the citadel last week. They stormed
right into the White House and into
the heart OF their President and the
hearts of their countrymen.
In this connection it might not be
amiss to say that Memorial day iii
the South is not what it should be.
Our patriotic women have made May
10 each year memorable, but still it
is not complete In some cities the
local military companies are not
wanted in the parades simply because
these companies must float the
United States fiag.
We can readily conceive how the
good women feel about the matter
They think there ought to be ut
least one day in the year when the
heroes of the South can float the
Stars and Bars by itself. While ap-
preciating their feelings, still we can
not help but think that Memorial
day would be more auspicious with
this additional element added. Our
country's banner would not act as a
taunt to the ''thin gray line" The
presence Of bands, fine companies,
cadets, and the national guards
would give to the occasiou I. lar
more martial air, and would serve to
revivify the old veterans. Let the Con
federate banner, borne by our heroes
old, head the procession, and let tie
national flag, borne by the sons of
these heroes, bring up the rear.
The sentiment, we confess, appeals
to US, and we should like to- see Ne
mortal day SO observed.
/ Remarkable Rescue.