Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 18.djvu/96

 96 Southern Historical Society Papers.

memory, a stalwart tradition, and while this nation will never be re- vived with the

" Pre-eminence and all the large effects That troop with majesty,"

it may not be denied that the principles upon which it was founded, the ends it was designed to promote, and the manly traits and pa- triotic sentiments which it inculcated and engendered, should be as enduring as the ages. Commonwealths, dynasties, and individuals pass away ; but truth, justice, right, valor, virtue, and love of country are deathless.

It may not be disguised that there is a growing tendency to frame excuses for, nay, even to belittle the aims, the inspirations, and the exploits of a Confederate past.

Under the absurd guise of a New South flaunting the banners of utilitarianism, lifting the standards of speculation and expediency, elevating the colors whereon are emblazoned consolidation of wealth and centralization of government, lowering the flag of intellectual, moral, and refined supremacy in the presence of the petty guidons of ignorance, personal ambition and diabolism, supplanting the iron cross with the golden calf, and crooking

"The pregnant hinges of the knee Where thrift may follow fawning "

not a few there are who, ignoring the elevating influence of heroic impulses, manly endeavor, and virtuous sentiments, would feign con- vert this region into a money-worshipping domain ; and, careless of the land-marks of the fathers, impatiefit of the restraints of a calm, enlightened, conservative civilization, viewing with indifferent eye the tokens of Confederate valor, and slighting the graves of Confederate dead, would counsel no oblation save at the shrine of Mammon. Beguiled by the hope of place and gain, misled by false notions, and demoralized by the commercial methods of the present, there is danger, my friends, that the number will increase of those who, failing to appreciate, will neglect to rightly value the aspirations which ani- mated the breasts and nerved the arms of the Southern people during a momentous and defensive crisis, than which the world has known none sanctified by purer self-sacrifice or characterized by loftier em- prise.

Surely, if it can be prevented by precept, example, and honest avowal, we will never consent that our loyalty shall be questioned,