The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-10-23
A SOUTHERN STATESMAN SPEAKS
WORDS OF CANCELLATION.


WORDS OF CANCELLATION.
The annexed extract from q recent
oration of Senator Gordon of Georgia
delivered at Savannah, before fifteen
thousand people, is worthy careful read
ing and study. He is the Senator de.
scribed by Republican bowler, as "the
rebel General second in command under
Lee at Appomattox," and certainly with
this introduction, his sentiments should
command respect, as coming fr I'M an in.
flential source. Compare Gordon's re.
marks with those of any "bloOdy shirt
screamer, and no one need be in doubt
as to who is the trnest patriot or the best
adviser, We may premise that Senator
Gordon's address was delivered before
one of the largest audiences ever assem-
bled in Georgia, and the remarks we
quote were received with loud and pro-
longed applause. The extract which
follows will evoke hearty response
from every patriotic heart;
Let US hope that the passions engen-
dered by our calamitous civil war, and
the distrust toward the South incident
to the war, may not furnish the excuse
nor become potential agencies for the
destruction of those principles ofgovern
ment for which Washington and Jasper
died. Let me not be misunderstood It
is no part of my purpose to magnify un
duly the rights of the States, nor would
our people deprive the General Govern
ment of one right or power which the
Constitution has conferred. We believe
that the most lasting good, as well as the
greatest national strength, is to be at
tained by an unfaltering adherence to
the rights of the States on the one hand.
and the fullest recognition of all the pre-
negatives of the General Government on
the other In other words, under our
form of government, and with our vast
territories and conflicting local interests,
the grants and limitations of the funda.
mental law must be recognized The
Constitution must be the omnipOtent ar
bitter from which there is no appeal. Nor
do seek by the references to the South,
to detraCt in any degree from the credit
due the able statesmen of the North, for
their brave defense of this colonial and
constitutional doctrine Of free. nntram
meled local government. l do not claim
for the South any monopoly of virtues
pretended in the terms patriotism
and republicanism. | am not of those
who believe that love of country or fidel.
ity to the Constitution is bounded bv
State lines or confined to sections.
would that such obiqnity of Judgment
aud all sectional bigotry and passion and
prejudice could be banished from this
country, and that a broad patriotism. as
broad as the Republic itself, could pos.
sess the hearts of the entire American
people. Would that the South, no lon.
ger the subject of distrust, could Contem.
plate with generous PRIDE the mighty
and material development of the great
West and North, and the grand indus.
tries and achievements which contribute
IN the high civilization of the great East.
Would that the West and East and North
with magnanimity of justice worthy
great people, could cherish as a common
heritage, the history, the honor, the pat.
rotism, the courage the fidelity and the
heroic endurance of the stricken South.
God speed the day when the maxim,
This is my country" all my country,
every State, every section, every acre of
soil over which the flag of the Republic
loats. shall be embraced by every Amer.
lean freeman, not only as geographical,
historical and political fact, but as liv.
ing, potential, inspiring sentiment.n