The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1872-04-05
Hon. Ben. Hill.

livercd n political speech III Hcorgla,
which is regarded by those who heard 1t
as among the ablest efforts of his life
We copy the closing portion of it, adj
dressed particularly 10 the young men
Of his State:
And to you. young men, ] desire TO
say few words. The young men who
have not acted with any party, who are
not identified with the Wing party or
the Democratic party, (and | believe
there are no young men in this country,
thank God, who are identified with the
Republican party,) are the hope OF our
State. There never was a generation OF
Young men that had greater response
bility resting upon them than rests up. |
on you. came to this hall for several
days after the first assembling of the
Legislature, for the express purpose OF
watching the Young men, and OF seeing
who they were that would be prolni- |
ncnt in the history Of the State in wears
to come. also watched each gradual
ing class at our University. and put my
mark upon every Young man whom
Thoughts, was going to be distinguished
in the future. Thank God. there are
men coming forward who are going to-
be the strong men OF this country. |
feel great pride in them: but let me
warn you now, young men, don't com
nit the blunder of tying your nccks, as
YOU enter the boistcrous sea Of public
life, to the millstGNe. Of defeated thco-
rics. IL is cruel: it is unkind; oh, it is
terribly cruel for those who are old and
gray, and who have been wrecked upon
their theories, to spend the remainder of
their days in urging the young to lol-
low in their unfortunate footsteps. ]
tell you the revolution has wrought re-
suits, and such men are but the lingcr.
ing echoes Of dead system. | do not
ask YOU to approve of those results.
do not say they are right. ! would lose
my right arm before would say they
are all right, but tell YOU there is no
greater truth in history than that power
is the chief element Of law. and power
has wrought results, and he can never
be wise statesman to guide the future
dcstinies of this country and build up
its prosperity, who does not recognize
these facts and 90 to work accordingly.
Why, fellow citizens. there is scarcely a
government on the face of the earth
that is not the result OF usurpation. The
time will GOMEZ believe it will come,
! have faith that it will come-modcra-
ton, prudence, dignity, forbearanct,
kindness TO each other, abstaining from
abuse of each other or of anybody will
hasten it-whcn a dark line will bel
drawn around this infamous chapter in
the history Of mankind. and when re-
construction will be blottcd out from
the records of the country. II may not
be in your day, it may not be in mine,
but believe it will come at last. 1t is
not in your power to accomplish it, but
YOU can promote it. You cannot pro-
mote it by passion, hatred or intolcr
ancc, but by good will toward each
other, by forhcraance, charity and mod
Grafton, by going to work and building
up yonr own material intcrcsis-yourI
own universities, your own schools, and
by engaging in all those noble works
for the revival of your prosperity. lfI
YOU do this. the time will come when
passion will subsdc and n reaction will
take place and there will be n sense of
Justice in the Northern people, and they
will say eve repent that in the hour of
our malignant passion, we offered such
an insult to Onr brethren of the South,
and 'ont damned spot" they will cry.
At least, let US be charitable enough to
hope it; let us be kind enough to be-
licvc it; let us have faith enough to act
upon it. AS for myself, YOU cannot tic
me to any party. have no use for par
ty except as | can accomplish good by
it. ] have no use for any organization
except rs | can promote the interests Of
the country by it. Faith in God and
no, in man are the only fundamental
principles in my human creed. 10
worship God and to elevate man are the
only fundamental obligations | admit.
Everything else is subordinate. All
things else are simply means to accom-.
plish these glorious ends and to dis
charge these duties. Those are the
principles upon which to act. That
great Roman to whom have referred
said, shortly before his death, that he
had one thing to ask of the gods. and
it was. that. dying. he might leave his
country free. Fellow citizens. that isl
my ambition. God knows it is not of.
flee that | want. want your conf
dcncc. but | do not want it expressed in
that way. | have yearning and an
absorbing ambition to build up the
country in which was born and which
| have seen devastated before my eyes.
And if God should spare my life. |
have, too. one thing to ask, and that is,
spirit shall start on its flight through
the air. let me look down and see on
every square of Southern land, n beau
tiful cottage filled with a happy family
and surrounded with every evidence of
virtue and thrift. Let me see upon our
hills and in our valleys the factory, the
furnace and the foundry, with their
smoke curling toward heaven, and filled
with busy multtudes, bringing to our
people n steady stream of wealth and
prosperity. Let me turn my gaze to-
ward the University of my State, and
see there thousands of noble Gcorgians
learning by art ard science how to
make great and prosperous their grand
old native State. Then let me pause for
one moment in my upward flight. and,
binding my eyes, catch the sound of
lamentation coming from this free and
prosperous people, for the recent de-
partnrc of one who had done his whole
duty in this glorious work. Then will
| raise my eyes heavenward, and with
their ascending voices. holier escort
than that of angels, will proudly 20 to
the gates of Paradise and claim admis.
sion there.
Horrible Outrage.
Four scoundrels forced drug down
the throat of n Mr.. Shelton in McCrack-
en- county, Kentucky, the other day,