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

Fort sumter's booming guns sum
n2oned them from their homes, who
can tell but that they carried with
them the scent Of new blown roses, OF
honeysuckle and Jasmine that min
gled their fragrance with memories
of the dear ones left behind. Perhaps
for some of them the orange blossoms
had hardy faded. They all lie equal
there-high and low; strong hearts
and faint; he who was most l'aomis-
ing with the man that was without
hope. Some like Lee-articulate. ca
pable OF framing their motive into an
apothegm that is immortal and i'm
noralizing-that is to say, Duty IS
the sublimest word in the English
language" and seeing their duty to
their homes and their God in their
duty to their country. Many inarticu-
late, going before their Maker with
only their deeds in their hands-no
explanation, no justification ready
nor were they needed. Their uncon-
ouered spirits went to Him who en-
dowed them with courage; their scar
red and ofttimes mutilated bodies
they left for strangers to inter. But
in their beloved southland, they will
not be forgot-though many unna1l-
ed. It is enough to know that they
died for country and for home. No
hired Hessians We're they-men
whose business it was to fight, who
had the price and took the chance;
but protectors of their homes. Ye
women -. home-makers without
whom the word home loses its
,meaning-ye do we'll to honor its de-
tenders Lose not a chance to
strengthen the appeal Of "home" to
man; for the family is the foundation
of the State; and you do your coun-
try service in proclaiming by acts
such as these that those who died in
defense Of their homes are still cher
ished in the hearts Of home-lovers
wherever they may be. Think for a
moment of the wrenchi=g Of hearts
that their home-1eaving must have
caused and by the love that YOU bear
to your own homes measure the
sacrifice.
What led these men to lay down
their callings, forsake their business,
abandon their comfort, leave behind
them al that makes life dear? There
must have been some appeal. There
must have been mighty motive
broad and strong-not ephemeral,
but abiding-deep buried-handed
down from fathers and without doubt
transmitted to escendants-almost
instructive. That multitudes Of men.
Of different minds-by no means
agreed among themselves as to the
measures that We're the proximate
cause of the rupture, (whether siav-
cry. as our friends acress the line
would have it, or States's rdights, as
we have ben taught, II matters not)
but that a host of individuals should
as one man plunge into the horrible
6ebauchery Of war strikes US as too
tremendous movement to ettribute
to mere difference OF opinion upon
policies. We must look deeper. These
men must have been stirred TO the
centre of their life, and that we can
find only in the homo. While man is
naturally a social animal, it is those
who are nearest him who first call
forth his interest and love. Through
the progress Of the centuries his SYM
pathy has been widening first 20
community, then State and nation un-
til finally it belts the world, but the
thread of it becomes more finely spun
as it legthens and the first is ever the
stronger. even in these later ages.
These men must have felt-and deep
ly-that their State, and back Of this,
their home life. would be profoundly
affected to their injury. Whether
they We're right or wrong in this cor
lecture, it is not profitable now to
discuss. Tre important point is that
they believed it, and in this belief
they put forth their utmost effort.
They fought for the welfare of their
own people and through them for the
betternlent Of their country.
We're they sincere? Their deeds
speak for them. We're they earest?
See what they endured: Love beckon-
ioaow rgiacwaaao thnsiei ia elm
ed and they followed. They could not
tell the depth of their love nor had
they even fathomed it. Possibly death
spared those who lie here the sight Of