Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1907-07-04
the Women of the Confederacv

South more lofty, einspiring,
more potent for all that is good
than any other thing whatsoev-
er. 1t will go further toward,pre-
serving the ideals of that great
generation, further toward re-
newing our civilization in all that
best in the Old South, further to-
ward saving the women ola more
prosperous period from the temp
tations OF luxury, further toward
bringing forth here a race which
shall be earth's chief glory, than
any other thing that | know of.
And to fail to build this monu-
ment will be to convict ourselves
of blindness to this immensely
significant and sublime fact.
But we should not forget o ur
duty to these women. If q monu-
ment had no use save that odds
charging in its poor measure the
debt of a people to their heroic
ouls, we should build this monu-
ment to the Women of the Con-
federacy. In no other way may
we repay them. In no other way
may we recognize our debt and
render our tribute to them. Our
gratitude for illustrious perfor-
mances and imperishable services
should SO oppress our hearts for
utterance that we must neads a.
rise and express it as fitly as we
may. We build monuments not
for the future, but in order to
express that sense of gratitude
and reverence which we can find
no other means to 80 wOrthily
express.
To fail to build this monument
to the Women of the Confederacy
would be to convict ourselves OF
indifference to the most heroic
suffering that q generation OF
women ever endured; to convict
ourselves of want of blindness to
the value of the most inspiring
examples that were ever given to
a people; to convict ourselves o
want of gratitude and reverence
| for the noblest service ever render
. ed. And since it cannot be sale
that Southern men are wanting
in these great elements of man
, hood, am assured that they
will no longer postpone the dis
charge of this most obvious hon
orable duty.
We must notpostponeit. Thes'
forty years have carried ava,
the large majority of the Men anc
J Women of the Confederacy; ant
: in q short time the remnant vii
follow after. Before they 60 tn
: generation that succeeds then
should give them this token 0
the honor in which they shall b
: forever held, this assurance tha
J their sons and daughters, TO
t whose inheritance they SO heroi
: cally suffered, are worthy o
g them.
: know it is not well to 60 int
r details at this point, for to do g
: may produce controversy; an
/ at present 1T is best for us all t.
3 hold to that in which we are a
. greed. But surely | risk nothin
d by suggesting that this mont
y ment should be of the mobiles
type. We should not be conten
y with a shaft and bronze figures
J. The noblest theme requires til
It most exalted treatment. r ic
: must be the rendering OF a tribut
9 SO richly deserved. / would lik
p to see a costly monument of OF
n or several groups symbolic of tt
= Women of the Confederacy,
IS granite and marble, SO noble
st conception and execution thu
D. the fame OF it would run throue
out the world. And would Ill
IT to see it reared by the W h 0
le State. 1t is an undertaking thi
c. requires North Carolina h c
IN best.
e In such q work we should nj
1T plead economy. But ifone shou
or there is an answer: North Car