The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-06-10


he loved dearer than life had the re.
ward of being hero. He who was
faithful unto death had the reward OF
a stainless honor. What other course
could Southerner have taken3
Behind him were the great tradi-
tions OF his English race-there were
Hastings and Cressy and Agincourt,
there were Naseby, Blenheim and
| Quebec, there were Kings Mountain
and Valley Forge. In his veins flowed
the blood OF thousand years of chiv-
airy, He could face the line OF fire,
but not the shame Of standing back.
States are not great, except as men
shall make them.
Men are not great, except they do
and dare.
These men fell bleeding and with
broken swords before the altar OF
their country. Their reward was the
imperishable Knighthood OF their SER
vice. | imagine that the Knights Of
the Holy Grail never sought other
reward than just to serve. The Con
federate soldier was the flower Of no
bic and heroic courage Duty laid
her kiss upon his brow, and Love OF
Country folded him in her arms He
enriched the world in honor. He ad-
ded to the spiritual riches of man
kind. The memory of his deeds is
the treasure of his people, incorrupt
able, indebted and that fadeth not
away. No noble action IS ever lost,
no brave deed shall ever pass away.
They are written upon the everlast-
ing pages of the Universe, they are
inscribed upon the heart of God.
To those who keep alive in loyal
hearts the memory OF the Confeder-
ate dead,I would say, these men chose
the noblest part. This is the best life
offers any man, to strive for the high.
est. the greatest, the bravest he knows
Is it not better to achieve these
things, even at the cost OF life itself,
than to purchase length of days by
mean and sordid living, by cowardice
or craft, by surrender of the fine
ideals Of manhood in base compliance
to dishonor? In the hearts of every
man the Everlasting has made an
swer. If the cause was lost the men
were not. Looking beyond the little
span Of human lie, into the white
light Of eternity, what better could
we have wished for the Confederate
soldier than to have played his part
as he did? He has left heroic memor-
les that chasten and purify the hearts
of all who shall come after him. He
has lifted life above the low level OF
the commonplace into the realm of
precious and immutable things, into
the great spiritual realities which
abide above all change, beyond the
reach Of years.
The story of the dying Sidney who
gave his glass of water to a wounded
soldier saying, "Thy necessity isl
greater than mine, is one of the fine
memories Of the English race. !
would than the pen of Milton or
Gibbon wore mine that | might place
beside it the story of Pat Cleburne at
Franklin as he drew off his boots to
place them on the bleeding feet Of
comrade and then rode on to lead
the fatal charge. He fell upon the
breastworks, saying, "Im killed boys,
but fight it out"
The old masterful type of the
Southern statesman passed away with
slavery. Whatever may be said of
that institution, it trained men for
leadership and government The con
stant presence of the bindsman
wrought in the master love Of free
dom and sense of honor that will
never be surpassed. Wonderful men
those old Southerners were: great in
counsel, great in battle, but greater
than all in the integrity which felt
dishonor like wound. They would
have fallen upon the sordid p1under-
ers which in later times have infested
public life like Elijah upon the prop
hets of Baa1. I cherish the hope that
our Southern blood will produce the
type again that with renewed pros
perity we will again introduce into
public life class of men able and
willing to devote themselves with
pure and unwavering fidelity to the
public service, and free from the all
absorbing struggle for bread, which
has been the portion Of Southern men
for SO many years. May it be the lot
of our children to perform the duty
Of freedom in a republic, with as will