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 The Lost Cause. 245

common defence and general welfare about to be wrested from the purpose of its institution and employed as an instrument of their oppression and destruction ; and thus situated, and thus believing, they imitated the example of the patriots of 1776, and sought, in peace and quiet, to assume the management of their own matters; that they declared their withdrawal from a Union that threatened the safety of their rights and institutions ; that they formed a con- federate government, taking the Constitution of the United States as its construction, wilh slight changes, and thus showed beyond dispute that their dissatisfaction in the Union was not with the Constitution, but with its threatened perversion ; that by duly accredited agents they sought earnestly to avert the calamity of war with the United States; that these efforts were unavailing, and in spite of all their peaceful overtures, war did come, a long, devastating and calamitous war ; that its shock was met wilh firmness and sustained with enthusiasm ; that men rushed to arms ; mothers surrendered sons, and wives their husbands, to the call of patriotism ; that the sound of the fife and drum was heard in every village, and hills and dales resounded with the notes of martial music and echoed with the soldier's measured tread, while fair hands were busy in every household with prepara- tion for the soldier's outfit, and Heaven's throne was besieged with importunate prayers from pulpits and altars for blessing on the youthful Confederacy, in which were centered the hopes of millions of trusting hearts ; that after well sustained efforts, through four years of the varying fortunes of war, after ten thousand heroic deeds and deaths, the sun of the Confederacy set forever, in gloom and darkness ; its bright banner, all covered with glory and renown, was furled on land and sea; its gallant soldiers dispersed; its music hushed ; its votaries smitten with sadness and grief. But though lost it was not dishonored. Its history, though brief, was dazzling with brilliancy. Its arms, though unsuccessful, filled the world with their renown. Its struggle though a failure, showed the world how a brave people could dare and suffer and toil and die to maintain their rights; and recreant to the high trust committed to them will the survivors of the sad contest be, if the time shall ever come when the dead heroes of the struggle shall be forgotten, or their memory permitted to be tarnished with the uncontradicted slanders of igno- rance or hate.