Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-08-07
The "Unidcatiou:Y Movement.

rather hyan tnuS olsposes oI Tue
Unifcation' movement:
Against it we are far from stand
ing alone. Did we, against it, stand
al5ne, we would none the less openly
protest. The true Southern Press
which does not barter independence
for a bribe, nor sacrifice principle to
policy, speaks out solidly against it.
They deprecate or .they denounce.
And the true people Of the South
shrink in abhor ence from the resolu-
tions and recommendations of the
Unifcation Meeting. We do not 60
one inch beyond these published reso-
lutions. The intentions and motives
of the men of the movement we care
not to Investigate. Those men them
selves we do not wish to malign, such
is not our habit. Their motives are
beyond our ken and criticism. Their
intentions may be the best and most
sincere. But men, motives and in
ztentions-apart, we regard q theipoliti-
cal NOV ment alone, and in its reso-
lutions we read the last surrender of
Southern sentiment, idea and tradi-
ton. At the close Of the war Gen.
Lee, in face OF overwhelming opposl-
ton surreudered-what? Honor ?
No, Manhood Never. Principles?
BY no means. Right? No. South
ern ideas?-Neyer. He simply sur
rendered the military forces under
his command. All the implements
of physical force which Gen. Lee had
used against the United States in de.
fence of cause, which on battlefield
had become hopeless Of success, he
yielded to Gen. Grant. Muskets,
swords, war-torn banners, artillery
and all the other material appliances
of war he yielded to the enemy.
Nothing else. 1t was simply ply
sical surrender. The physical power
and policy of resistance,-not the
principle of resistance was given up.
when Lees unstained sword was
sheathed, the flag of the Great Cause
was furled and the Rights, the
Ideas, the Sentiments and Traditions
of the South retired in honor from
the field Of battle,-but, with all
their supremacy preserved, re-entered
the aouls and consciences of the de-
feated, to hold their mastery there
beyond the reach and range OF Force.
At Appomattox Court House the
Southern sword surrendered to the
Northern sword, Southern physical
weakhess yielded to Northern superior
strength,-but Southern Idea did not
surrender to Northern Idea. The
men that wore the Grey gave up their
muskets but kept their manhood, =
flung down their swords but guarded
still and nobly preserved their senti-
ments,-gave up their arms but kept
their soul, lowered and folded their
banners but held unsurrendered in
their le.rts their traditions ;-bept
to might, bnt betrayed not one single
right. After the surrender came op-
preston. We submitted because we
could not resist. Here and there
men began to yield their convictions.
Weary Of waiting for better times
they beg to accept the Northern
Idea. Self-interest trinmphed in ma
ny hearts oyer patriotism. Love OF
place in some quarters. began to tri-
ulnpl over love of country. Many
tell off from Southern Faith. Seldom
they fell without hearing words Of
indignant rebuke Their policy was
to better the material and political
condition of their oppressed people
by making concessions to their ene-
mics. Those enemies they did not
know. The more our people gave,
the more was exactcd. Concession
did not better their conditions while
it strengthened the power and posi-
tion OF the oppressor: Ihat cnnres-
sor wanted our souls,-our consci-
ences. He wanted the universal tri
umph of his political idea. By fraud
and force he took possession Of our
State Governments. He arrayed the
colored race in bitter hostility against
the whites of the South. But the
oppressor could not degrade us until
he had followed the Southern Idea
into the Southern soul and made it
surrender, without conditions to the
Northern Idea.
The last Presidential election came
off. The Southern politicians selected
as their Standard Bearer, Horace
Greeley, who, Of all men, represented
and advocated the Northern Idea. 1t
was fearful blander. They gave
their votes TO Greeley-and were
again in the political field, conquered
by Grant. But beaten as we were
physically on the battle plain,-beat-
en- as we were again politically,-lt
was not enough.
Our oppressors wanted more. They