Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 31.djvu/260

 252 Southern Historical Society Papers.

"Who is to have a statue, means whom shall we consecrate and set apart as one of our sacred men. Sacred; that all men may see him, be reminded of him, and by new example added to old perpet- ual precept, be taught what is real worth in man."

My friends, the man to whom we have reared this statue is one whom we delight to honor, and, in honoring him, we not only honor ourselves, but we say to the world, this statue represents one of our ideals of real worth and true manhood.

Dr. McGuire played an important part in one of the greatest dra- mas that was ever performed on the stage of human history. He was assigned that part by one of the greatest leaders in that drama of war, and that great leader has put it on record that our hero per- formed his part well, so well indeed, that the name and fame of Jackson, both living and dying, will be forever associated with that of his great Medical Director.

It is, therefore, fitting that the friend and companion of the great "Stonewall," the man who shared his tent and his mess in the days of his trials and his triumphs, who at the same time enjoyed his friendship and his confidence, and to whom he assigned great and important trusts for execution, should have his statue placed near that of his illustrious and incomparable chieftain.

But not only did Dr. McGuire win such fame as should entitle him to this statue by his great services as the Medical Director of the Second Corps of the immortal Army of Northern Virginia, but he rendered even greater services and won even greater fame after the war was over. It was then amid the desolations left by that conflict that he did so much to help to rebuild the waste places of our ruined land; to relieve the sufferings and the sorrows of our stricken people, and to keep the history of their deeds, and of the principles for which they fought, right and true.

In recognition then of his great services to his State and people, both in war and in peace; of his exalted character as a man and citizen, and especially in recognition of his eminence and achieve- ments in the line of his chosen profession, the friends and admirers of Dr. McGuire, soon after his death, formed the HUNTER McGuiRE MONUMENT ASSOCIATION for the purpose of erecting this memorial of their love and admiration for their friend, and to perpetuate in imperishable bronze the record of his achievements and great worth. The task undertaken has been completed, and, it is due to the dis- tinguished artist to say, it is well done.