Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-02-04

Continued from Ilrst page.

0outAuuru ANuAu uAut NAkDs
I vet believe that the maintenance. OF
the rights and authority reserved to
the States and TO the people, mot only
essential to the adjustment and bal
ance of the general system but the
Safeguard of the continuance OF free
government, consider il as the CHIEF
source of stability to our political SIS
TEN; whereas the consolidation of the
States into one vast republic, sure t.
be aggressive abroad and despotic al
home, will be the certain precursor
OF that ruin which has overwhelmed
all those that have preceded it,
Glorious as were your deeds in bat
tie and terrible as were your suffer
;ngs in camp or or. the march, when
you were ready and willing to die be-
cause you felt the elbow touch of your
comrades in arms, greater VT, livin.s
in widely separated places, have been
your triumphs in peace for little as
this minimizing generation may reck-
on, to the men who fought in the Con-
federate armies are we indebted iof
the salvation of the South in the awfu
years that followed Appomattox.
Peace hath, indeed, had her victories
not less renowned than war, and the
South which lost at arms has beer
saved in arts. Who did this? Not
the young men of this day and time,
not those who seek distinction in pub
lie office, not those who rail at the
sold-fashioned ideas of private living
and public thinking but the men who
came back home from the disbanded
armies, their hearts sore with defeat
to desolated homes to build up the
places wasted by war, to establish
good government, to save the civiii-
zat;on of the State. The way was
dark, the work was hard, the Difficult
ties well-nigh insurmountable /; bat th.
men who fought in the field were the
men who achieved in peace. t is te
their everlasting honor that the mum
Der of the Confederate soldiers who
proved false to their people can be
counted on the fingers of one hand
and the South of this day is the en-
during monument Of the heroic virtues
Of the men who followed LIE and
Jackson. Who was it that rescued
Virginia from alien control? The
Confederate sold.e~. Who made tn
people off the South respected all
over the world where yalor in battle
and self-reliance in defeat are respect
ed2 The Confederate soldier.
We may say Of the load, whonrsv
honor en- this occasion, a p t.
SAL. il his memo IA, at n owe t..
Athen;an 2ead. tNcno Fl n =,
were encrvated by wealth, or hcsitat
ed to resign the pleasures of life
none of them put off the evil day in
hope, Eatu 4. TO y: We T.. i i.
though ..ioor may one day become .'ch
But deem;rg that the punishm Mt G
their enemies was sWeeteF than an,
of these things, and that ths~ cos
fall in no nobler cause, they {. te min
e. at the hazard - the live; t. be
homo: ably avenged, and u le@v Il,
rest. They resigned to honc thai~ IL.
known change Of ha. p:ness; bat i
the face OF death th.y resolved to -ch
upon themselves a'ons. And VIII
the moment came, th"y we're m n.t>e
to resist rather than to fly and save
their lives; they ran away from th
word of dishonor, but OF the BATHS
fie,! their feet stood fast anil in an
instant. at the height oil thci To-
tunes, they PASSED away from tn
scene. not OF their faa-, bat of thcil
glory"
"Ah, the world has its praise for the
men who prevail,
For the v;ctors who conquer BY
W-ortss and by m:aht
But the heart has its love for tn
vanauished who fail,
Yet battle for right,
And their names they shall shine