The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-05-02

assembled to hear national or state
questions discussed, not to express prefer
ences for agents to attend to their business
In national, state or county affairs, but
! they have dedicated this day to meet an.
nually In memory of the fallen heroes,
who died to uphold the flag of the stars
and bars, and all that flag stood for.
| It's meet, too that our fair country.
women should be foremost in tho ex-
ercises of decoration day, for their love
and devotion for the cause of the south
was as earnest and sincere as were that
of the apostles, Peter and Paul, for the
Christian religion. The student OF
American history recalls the fact that less
than three millions of people, scattered
over wide expanSe of territory, under
the leadership of a southern general, the
ablest, greatest and Wlsest commander the
worlds history, in struggle of seven
years, defeated the English government,
at that time the best equipped power for
war known to civilization. Our liberty
loving ancestors transmitted to their de-
scendants the fruits of their victory
"The land of the brave, the home of the
Free" the "Queen of the world, and the
child of the Skies" 1t was this in
dependence, with the republican form of
government, that held the united hearts
of loyal and patriotic southern men and
women. The causes that led to the war
between the states IS of no special mo-
ment now, but it should be borne in mind
that the south stood as six hundred
thousand to two millions, eight hundred
thousand, with the world to draw from on
the part of the federalS, while the south
was restricted to its own limits.
The white population of the north was
near fourteen millions, that of the south
something over five millions. Not only
this great disparity in numbers, but
greater still was the disparity in our
navies. Ambassadors and consuls of the
United States received recognition at all
ports of the world, while the representa-.
tives of the confederacy were without
recognition anywhere. All conditions
were most favorable to the north. The
federal capital, with all its departments,
were intact, and supported by ample
revenues and resources, with standing
army. To meet this formidable enemy,
the south, without standing army, navy
or munitions Of war, and with limited
revenues, met its adversary on the field
of strife to try conclusions.
The unequal contest lasted for four
eventful years. Battles were fought, and
victories won on either side. The peer
less confederate soldier, the rank and
file, under Lee and the Johnstons, Forest
and other distinguished commanders, the
men who carried the musket, cartridge
box and knapsack,-the men whose love
of country, pluck and courage, met every
emergency in that memorable war, are un-
surpassed as soldiers in the worlds
history. From Pennsylvania to the Gulf
of Mexico, at Manassas, Shiloh, Gettes-
burg, Franklin, Chickamauga, the
Wilderness, Nashville, Fredericksburg,
Georgia Campaign, Vicksburg, Murfres
boro, Port Gibson, Missionary Ridge,
Bakers Creek and hundreds of other
battleflelds, bear testimony to the heroism
and dauntless courage of the confederate
soldier.
How comforting to the confederate
soldier, that during the struggle he had
the unstinted and unwavering support of
the high spirited Christian, honored and
beloved southern women. In this
presence see quite number of comrades
of the 9th Mississippi Regiment. but miss
many familiar faces of that and other
commands of the long ago, who have
preceded US to the Great Beyond. The
gifted physician, honored citizen,
courteous gentleman and splendid, soldier
Col. J. j. Thornton, sleeps in the
cemetery of Pass Christian, near the
murmering waters of the sea. The true
friend, the legislator and gallant soldier,
Col. j. M. Jayne, rests in your cemetery,
and nearby are the mounds that cover the
able lawyer, gifted advocate and chival-
rous soldier, Col. w. B. Shelby, and that
of the painstaking lawyer, just Judge and
gallant soldier, Col w. H. Clarke. and in
the piney woods home of his early man.
hood rests the remains of the brave and
fearless soldier, Col w. K. Easterling
And in the vicinity in which he lived and
died rests the remains of our dear old
surgeon, Doctor William Aills. The night
was never too dark, nor weather too cold
or hot for him to administer to the sick
and wounded. Peace to his ashes | in
dulge the hope that in the observance Of
this beautiful custom, Decoration Day,
that a sprig of flowers will be laid on the
graves of our heroic dead everywhere.
True it is, the people Of the south SUBJ
mitted to the arbtrament of the sword
and lost, and so the star spangled banner
floats over all the states of the American
Union, and stands for the protection of
American citizens. We.a are faithful and
loyal to the flag, our men and women
have designated one day in the year to
express our love and affection, and do
honor to the memory of the stars and
bars. God bless the dear old flag, furIed
| it may be forever, but its memory lives,
| it will continue to live in the hearts of
those who proudly upheld it from '6I to
| '65.
Comrades, pardon me while refer to
the absolute want of written history of
the part borne by Mississippi soldiers in
the war between the states. The
survivors in that great conflict want a