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14 University Reporter. which Robert E. Lee drew his stainless sword. Carry with you into the bright future the Old South of Jefferson and of his namesake our illustrious leader whose funeral obsequies we are now celebrating. Stand up- bravely in this indissoluble Union of States for the old principles of Anglo-Saxon liberty as form ulated by our fathers in the Federal Constitution. Foiled in our effort to plant them once more in a separate government, try nevertheless to make them still the heritage of the re-united States. Blind passion, mere feeling, cannot endure the ordeal now be fore you. An intelligent conviction of the reality of these prin ciples—of the justice and truth which was imbedded in the Con federate movement. “The Lost Cause ” can never be applied to truth and right, so long as there is a righteous God in Heaven or a faithful witness on earth to plead for it. The political question of a separate government being settled by the sword, we honestly concede that the attempt to establish a separate government is a “ Lost Cause.” But the principles of right, the convictions of truth and honor upon which your fathers acted are as eternal as your red hills and your mighty moun tains. It is exactly these convictions that I now commend to your keeping for the benefit of the whole Union and of the world— the Soverignty and autonomy of the people of the several States that are bound together in the Federal compact. Fortunately for you the pens of Mr. Davis and of your own Alexander H. Stephens have opened the way for you to investi gate freely the historical and political elements of this great question. Any person of ordinary capacity and industry may, with their help, put himself in possession of all the facts in the case. Investigate freely, dispassionately, for yourselves then your convictions firmly anchored to truth can stand amid shift ing winds and angry billows. I know, of course, the possibil ity that some may decide against us and with our late enemies. So be it. I for one do not fear that risk. It is necessary and we take it. We see that if the Confederate Flag was unfurled in the interests of oppression and injustice toward the Africans among us if it represented disloyalty and perjury incurred by violating our oaths to our fellow citizens at the North—then neither the genius of our Statesmen, the valor of our heroes,