The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-05-14
Memorial Address
of Henry G. T1l111a11


y Mr.. Heny c. Tillman, of Greenwood,
the Memorial day services of the
elliam Lester chapter, U. D. c., at
sperity, on Monday, May 10:
pday tie nations of Europe are en-
ID in a great war for world power.
ons of men equipped with every
rn man killing device are strug-
with other millions equally as
equipped. In actual numbers en-
ed, in the slaughter and the earn
e, in hideousness and horribleness,
other wars must pale into insignifi-
canoe. Only yesterday it was that a
monster grey Mound Of tie ocean was
sent to the bottom by a modern SER
pent of the sea. The newness Of war
but makes it more horrible. But out
of it all will come the same results
that have come from other wars.
There will be MANNED men and widow
ed women, and children who will vail
the loss of father and a friend. 1t
will be harvest of unrequited hopes
and broken hearts. Nations will be
laid waste and torn down and the work
of centuries of civilization will fall to
the cry of the Kissing bomb and the
boom of tie bursting shell. Only two
certainties stand out. The one-tne
heart throbs of a depleted and disin-
tegrated citizenship. The other-a VIC
tor and vanquished. The victor with
redoubled power-the vanquished with
out power. No two of the contending
nations speak the same language, but
to each the word meaning power ex-
presses the final goal of their efforts.
Already the men of these armies of
the old world have proven that men
still know how to die. Each day a
new hero is born to give undying name
to those who come after him. Each
army is filed with men VINO dare and
die to write upon the scroll of his
tory's passing page a deed that will
mean a heritage of glory to his pos
terity.
The nations of Europe have visable
ways of attesting the love OF coun-
try for it's heroes, and tonight along
the trenches in the east and in the
west many are the dreams of the dec
oration which claims for its owner a
place among the immortals. This one
perhaps is dreaming of the iron cross.
Not far away, and perhaps within tie
same battle line, there may be another
who dreams Of the Legion of Honor
OR maybe the cross of Victoria. How
men will fight for the chance Of earth
ly glory.
And still, were I soldier, with
soldiers life and soldiers love. there
is a decoration that I would rather
have than any that can be given by
prince, or czar, or king.
1t is a decoration that has no pres
tige of empire to give it power or
worldly place. It is a decoration that
is not bestowed solely upon the peer
less or the favorite. It is TIRE decora-
ton which does not bear the stamp
of State. Kingdom or Alliance. 1t is
a decoration that is not inspired by an
exhibition of prowess nor desire OF
reward. 1t is a simple tribute of JbVe
and respect by women VINO know how
to love and respect. 1t is the emblem
of a buried hope blazoned by 5ands
and Eearts, who have loved and lost a
cause. 1t is the gift of the Southern
women to the Confederate soldier. The
Southern cross.
No prince-no potentate-no matter
now wide his dominions may be, can
ever bestow upon soldier bold dec
Grafton that means as much Or is as
much deserved. Tie same hands which
bestow it upon the living with tender
care, with tenderer love, are bowing
today to place flowers, upon the graves
of the dead. And in this springtime,
and in the springs to come, no Con-
federate soldier need think of his bat
tie as of battle in vain, when ne
sees the unending love which that bat
tie has inspired in the hearts of his
people,
I sometimes think that the true
greatness of any people can be accu-
rately ascertained by study of the
sincerity and the simplicity of the
manner of that people in memorable
ing its dead. The memorials Of the
South are pre-eminent both in SINGER
ity and in simplicity. In almost every
Southern county there has arisen out
of the hearts of the peODie simple