The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-05-14

and thy Sons sons" So it is well
that we take heed to ourselves and
keep our souls diIigent, lest we for
get the deeds Of heroisn il the past;
but let US continually teach them
our SONS and our sons sons. We
nave not met here to-day, Confeder-
ate veterans, to debate whether or
not you made mistakes in 1861. Io1
have settled that matter. We have
met here to assure you that We know
you acted wisely and honestly and
justly, as it was then given you to
see justice and righteousness, acting
upon all the facts and experiences
and light that you then had before
you. You had before you for settle
ment constitutional question that
aad agitated the minds OF the Amer
lean people from the foundation of
this government. Fer the adjust
ment Of it you appealed to the ar5lt-
rament Of arms, and by that deci-
sion you have added, and assure
you that from the decision we shall
not appeal. Sirs, in appealing to
the arbitrament Of arms you made
for yourselves immortal history.
You laid deep the foundations from
which must spring inspiring litera-
ture; you flung wide the pages in
which the poet CT the future will
and must write an immortal epic.
Those characteristics, Confederate
veterans, which will give you unique
place in the history and the litera-
ture Of the world are these: Your
knighthood and your chivalry as
ante-bellum gentleman; your homes
ty and integrity as people, standing
upon the verge Of war; your indom-
liable bravery and courage as sol
diers fighting for your country's
honor; and finally, your unparalleled
powers of an adaptation as defeated
army returning homeward from war
when all had been lost save honor
itself. These, these, sirs, are the
characteristics that will immortalize
you in histoty and make you sacred
in literature.
Ladies and gentlemen, turn back.
ward with me in your imagination
for forty-fve or fifty years, and
will introduce you to an age which
represents the highest type Of chiv.
airy and gallantry that the worlc
has ever seen. The old South just
prior to the war represented the
grand elimination Of five centurie;
Of development in gallantry and
chivalry. You were by inheritance
chivalrous knights. Your English
forefathers were knights Of former
days. And from the day the caval
Ter first planted his foot upon South
ern soil at jamestown in 1920 up Tn
I'll 1861, never were conditions more
favorable for the highest develop
ment Of q gallant and chivairou
spirit than those thai existed in tn
South. The cavalier found befor,
lim bread acres Of land upon wh;ci
ha could erect his COLONIAL mansion
in Corinthian and Doric architecture
and there upon his Southern mano
numerous slaves stood ready to ODE.
his every command and to ministe
20 his every want, and he in turl
ninistered to the wants Of the wife
who was queen Of all he owned.
am mindful Of the fact that Their
was an age in English literature i
which the knight was required /
take an oath to protect those in dis
tress, to maintain right agains
might and to never do that Whic
would cast stain upon his charac
ter as knight or christian.
The ante-bellum Southern gentle
man, without taking the formal oat
of knighthood, was always ready t
protect those in distress; his door
were ever swung wide to those VIII
would enter therein and partake O
his Southern hospitality.
Without taking the formal oath O
knighthood. he was always ready t
maintain right against might. TIL
Southern gentleman was of all tn
most ardent devot4e of freedom an
liberty. He loved liberty; he wo,
shipped at freedoms shrine. ca
on history and literature to bea
witness to the fact that those VIII
are themselves the owners of slave
are the most jealous of freedom. 7
them it is kind privilege and a
honor that they hold more sacre
than life itself. Without taking tn
formal oath of knighthood he wa
! particular to never do that whic
would faint his character. He ha
; an ideal Of what should be the cha
; acter of Southern gentleman. Thu
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