The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-10
SPEECH PREPARED BY GENERAL LEE
AND CIRCULATED At THE REUNION

line of fire. but not the shame of stand
ing bacn.
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 1t lose
or win.
IF it 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 than a valiant man strug-
Cling with adverse fortune?"
Not long ago read from an English
review these words:
when all is done that man could do,
and all is done in vain, tho human heart
goes out to the weaker side, to the soldier
who fought on ragged and starving to
the bitter, inevitable end, to the lead
ers who would never admit that hope
was lost, and to the noble women of
the South who gave OF their bravest and
their best without q murmtlr."
States are not great, except as men
shall make them.
Men are not great, except they do ana
dare.
These men fell bleeding and with broken
swords before the altar of their coun-
try. Their reward was the lmperishab1e
nighthood of their service. / imagine
that the knights of the Holy Grail never
sought other reward than just to serve.
Soldier.
The Confederate soldier was the flower
In nd "a
her kiss upon his brow, and love Of
country folded him in her arms. He en-
richeds the world in honor. He added to
the spiritual riches of mankind Tho
memory of his deeds Is the treasure of
his people. incorruptible, indebted and
that fadcth not away. No noble action
is ever lost. no brave deed shall ever
pass away. They are written upon the
everlasting pages of the universe, they
are inscribed upon the heart of God.
Tho mountains and hills shall be made
low and there shall be more sea, but
nothing of moral wbrth shall perish.
Upon the coral of such lives as these
Gods islands lift
'"rlcir fronded palms in air"
But IL religion We're superstition, aud
faitl We're folly-if death ends all and
Icy night awaits the world these men
llyed the only life fit to, be lived.
x 10 those who keep alive In loyal hearts
the memory OF the Confederate dead.
would say these men chose the noblest
part, This is the best life offers any
man, 10 strive for the highest, the
greatest, the bravest lie knows. Is it
not better to achieve these things, even
at the cost of life itself, than to pur-
chase length Of days by mean and Ssordid
NV .rtl,.,,
render OF the fine ideals of manhood in
base compliance todishonor? In the
hearts of every man the Everlasting has
made answer. ] r tho cause was lost
we men were not, Looking beyond the
lutte span of human life, into tho white
!lsht or eternity, what better could we
nave wished for the Confederate soldier
tllln 70 have played his part as lie did?
he mas left heroic memories tina tfchasten3!
ana purify the hearts OF all who shall
come after him Tie has lifted life above
me low level of the commonplace Into
me realm ,of precious land immutable
things, into the great spiritual realities .
which abide above all change, beyond I
tlia reach of years.
The story OF tho dying Sidney, who
gave his glass of water to q wounded q
soldier saying Thy necessity n greuter8
man nlne,pis one OF the fine memories 4
OF the English race. Il would than the
pen OF Milton or Gibbon We're mine that
might place besldQ4t the story of Pat 4
Jlenirne vt Franklin MS he drew OF HIS 4
BOOTS TO place them on the bleeding feet 4
o. q comrade and then rode on, to lead 4
me iatal CHARGE, lie fell upon the
o, stwor!ts, saving I'm killed. boys,
DIT fight it OUT
Ear out on the crest OF the battle N a
Up, up toward the death n AZ an