The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-06-14
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAD -:
-: TO ALL LIVING VETERANS
s

those he loved dearer than life had
the reward of being a hero He who
was faithful unto death had the re-
ward of a stainless honor. What
other course could a Southerner
have taken.
Behind nim were the great tradi-
tions of his English race-there were
Hastings and Greasy Agincourt, there
were Naseby, Blenheim and Quebec.
there were Kings Mountain and
Valley Forge In his veins flowed
the blood of a thousand years of
chivalry He could face the line of
fire. but not the shame OF standing
back
All merit, comes
From facing the unequal;
All glory comes from daring to begin.
= Fame loves the state
That reckless of the sequel,
Fights long and well, whether it lose
"If il might be imagined, said
Seneca, that the Almighty should
take off his thought from the care
of his whole work, what more
glorious spectacle could he reflect
upon tnan valiant man struggling
with adverse fortune"
Not long ago / read from an E2g-
USn review J1SSt MOIIS-
when all is done that man could
do and all is done in vain, the human
heart goes out to the weaker side,
to the soldier who fought on ragged
and starving to the bitter inevitable
end, to the leaders who would never
admit that hope was lost, and to the
noble women of the South who gave
of their bravest and their best with
out a murmur."
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 alter OF
their country Their reward was the
imperisnable 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 or
noble 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 add
ed to the spiritual riches of man
kind. The memory of his deeds Is
the treasure of his people, incorrupt-
able, undefiled and that fadeth not
away. No noble action is ever lost,
no brave deed snail ever pass away.
They are written upon the everlast-
ing pages of the Universe, they are
inscribed upon the heart of God.
The mountains and hills shall ne
made low, and there shall be no
more sea, but nothing Of moral worth
shall perish Upon the coral of SUCH
lives as these, Gods islands lift
Their fronded palms in air.
But if religion were superstition
and faith were folly. If death ends
ali and icy night awaits the world,
these men lived the only life mt to
be lived.
To those who keep alive in loyal
hearts the memory OF the Confeder-
ate dead, would say these men
chose the noblest part. This IS the
best life offered any man, to strive
fer the highest he knows. Is IL not
better to achieve these things, even
al the cost of lire itself, than to pur-
chase length of days by means and
sordid living by cowardice or craft,
by surrender of the fine ideals OF
manhood in base compliance to dis
honor? In the hearts of every man
the Everlasting has made answer II
the caITse was lost the men were
not Looking beyond the little span
CT human life, into the white light
of eternity, what better could We