Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-06-10

! leaders who would never admit that
hope was lost. and to the noble won
en- Of the South who gave of their
bravest and their best without a muir
MUIR
States are not great. except as
men shall make them
Men are not great, except they
do and dare
Tribute to the Confederate Soldier.
These men fell bleeding and with
broken swords before the altar OF
their country. Their reward was the
impe rishable KnighthOod Of their ser
vice. imagine that the Knights OF
| the Holy Grail never sought other re-
ward than just to serve The Confed
crate soldier was the flower of 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. lie added to the
spiritual riches of. mankind. The
memory OF his deeds Is the treasure
OF his people. incorrup,a able. indebted
and that fadeth not away. No noble
action is ever LIST, no brave deed shall
ever pass away. They are written
upon the everlasting pages Of the Uni
verse. they are inscribed upon the
heart of God The mountains and
thills shall be made low. and there
shall be no more sea. but nothing OF
I moral worth shall perish. Upon the
coral Of such lives as these. Gods is
lands lift.
| "'Their fronded palms in air
but il religion were superstition.
and faith were folly. If death ends all
and icy nights awaits the world. these
men lived the only life fit to be lived.
ITO those who keep alive In loIl
hearts the memory Of the Confeder-
, ate dead. would say. these men
choose the noblest Npart. This is the
hest life offers any man. to strive FOR
the highest. 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 coward
fee 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 II the cause was lost the men
span CT human life. into the white
light of eternity. what better could we
have wished for the Confederate sol
diar than to have played his part as
he did? He has left heroic memories
that chasten and purify the hearts OF
all who shall come after him. He has
lifted life above the low lever OF the
common place into the realm OF pre-
cious and immutable things. into the
great spiritual realities which abide
above all charge. beyond the reach OF
years.
Story Of Pat cIeburne.
"The story of the dying Sidney who
gave his glass of water to wounded
soldier saying. Thy necessity is
greater than mine." is one of the fine
memories OF the English race. r
would that the pen OF Milton or Glib
bon were mine that | might place he
side it the story of Pat Cleturne at
Franklin as he drew of his boots to
place them on the bleeding feet Of a
comrade and then rode on to lead the
fatal charge. He fell upon the breast
works. saying. I'm killed boys, but
fight 1t out
Far out on the crest of the battle
up. up toward the death
"'To die for one country Is sweet he
remembered.
"'And then, ont Of breath
MET the shock and the pain and the
terror.
.Unflinching and knew
lin one ins;ant's unbearable bright
ness
1T was true. It was true
'Of him also it might have been
written:
Right in the van on the red ram
parts slippery shall.
with hearts that beat a charge, he
Forward. as fits a man,
but the high soul burns on to light
mems feet
where death for noble ends makes
dying sweet
The old masterful type OF the
Southern statesman passed away with
slavery. Whatever may he said Of
that institution. It trained men for
leadership and government The con-
slant presence OF the bondman
wrOugt in the master a love of free
dom and a sense Of honor that will
never lie surpassed. Wonderful men
those old Southerners were: great
in counsel. great in hattie, but great
er than all In the integrity which felt
dishonor like a wound. They would
have fallen upon tn" sordid plumber
ers which in later times have infested
public life like Elijah upon the pro-
phets Of Raal cherish the hope
tina. our Southern blood will produce
The type again-that with renewed
prosperity We will again Introduce
into public life class Of men able
and willing to devote themselves with
pure and unwavering I'D lily TO the
public service. and free from the all
absorbing struggle for bread. which