Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/171

 Rh his public life by some fit and enduring memorial. The success, brilliant as his own resplendent career, which calls us together within less than half a decade after its inauguration to crown the completion of its work, is highly honorable to those who have achieved it, but most honorable to him who inspired it. It has few, if any, parallels. It is in itself a more fitting and eloquent oration than human language can pronounce, for that may speak in exaggerated phrase of the worth of the dead and the sorrow of the living; this is love's own tribute; this is grief's truthful expression.

As we come to dedicate this statue to his name and memory, all the surroundings are most auspicious. No place could have preferred a claim above this. It was his own home; it is the Capital of the State, and his fame is a common heritage. The progressive spirit that has already made this populous and growing city the pride of every citizen, the wonder of every stranger, shall furnish opportunity to speak, as it shall speak, to the largest number of beholders. It is the time, too, when all over this Southern land, in the observance of a custom that should be perpetuated, fair women and brave men pay tribute to our dead. May we not think of the spirits of our honored dead who preceded him in our history, as well as those of his worthy contemporaries, coming from that world where no uncharity misjudges, no prejudice blinds, no jealousy suspicions, to hover over us and rejoice in the tributes of this day. And surely, if the honor this occasion pays the dead could be enhanced, or the joy it imparts to the living could be heightened by human presence, we have that augmented honor, and that elevated joy in the presence of one worthily ranked among the most renowned of the living, whose strength of devotion to our lamented dead has overcome the infirmities of age, and the weariness of travel, and who comes to mingle his praises with ours. Illustrious son of the South, thy silent presence is loftier tribute than spoken oration or marble statue or assembled thousands. Alas! Alas! we this day mourn the silence of the only tongue that could fittingly and adequately voice the honor we would confer upon thee. Beside the grave of him who never swerved in his devotion to thee and the cause of which thou were and art the worthy representative, we this day acknowledge thy just claim upon the confidence, esteem, love and veneration of ourselves and our posterity. May these auspicious surroundings help us to commemorate the life and character of him in whose honor we are assembled, and move us with the higher purposes of devotion to our State and country that life and character inspire.