The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-05-06
GENERAL G0RD0N.l.
HIS ADDRESS AT MoNTGOM
cry, ALA, on THE FOUND
ING OF \ MONUMENT.
GENEROUS TESTIMONY AS TO
NORTHERN COURAGE AND
SOUTHERN HEROISM.

MONTGOMERY, Ala, April 2s.--Gen. j. y Gordon,
ex-United stat senator from Georgia, addressed
large assembly here to-day, gathered to witness
the LAYING of the foundation of confederate mon
ument After thanking the committee on lf'Nlla
ton, the speaker referred to the SURROUNDINGS az
"hiRtOric ground - 'it WAS the home of race ante
dating tue red ma" by centuries, the spanish
cavaliers pitched their tents here two centuries
ago; il was the probable birthplace of Tecumseh:
shut more than all, here was born the 'Conieder-
ate States of America. Here AMIDST the
prayers and hopes, the aspirations ana apptrheh
eions of a proud. brave, Tree and ireedoin-lo'lhg
people. wa christencd the young republic, des
lined 10 only four years of metcurc life nation
but to an eternity of Tenown. Here the chief eX
ecutive of that young repuhlic-its hrst ana only
president-calied by the united voice OF ne repre-
seRtatyes of his people, mGdestly but firmly as
sumed the etupcntOus responsibility OF us Ll1h
o nce.' Tie speaker never saw him but iwice
''once In victory and IN defeat On the one a.
president the other a. prisoner. ''the Nlca
finus sufferer ais yanaIisiod people.
He compared the two positions. one as a chief
with shouts OF victorious ie-ipnt in IA edr- the
other prisoner stripped Of all power
save the power of mind and dignity which
death alone could conquer: the latter was
the more impressive scene, because
Il teaches the young men OF the country that no
reyulsion in political fortunes can crush "the man
whose aims are lofty, and whose life is biamcless.
"And when alterations and bitter memories are
gone; when the crucial test Of historical ANALYSIS
shall be fairly made then the world will do the
justice to the memory of man which his fame
ard conspicuous services to his
country demands. lie who would frOwn upon
this scene, and does not esteem n rcnOwn won by
both armies as enriciing history, IL marrow in
conception and iaundced in vision without monu-
ments, without histories, aud not cherishing the
memory Of brave men and their deeds. "lle
would sap the solid foundations of our manhood,
and bring certain decay to the patriotism of orr
people. "rhe more commendab,e the princi.
pies and the higher the virtues, which moved and
In I'm latH
llfegiyngis the nutriment afforded to the patriot
ism Of all by their contemplation"
Let each section snow its appreciation of the
yalor Of its sons by perpetuating them in brass,
granite and marble. High praise of the Romans
does not dctract from the Britons, nor does
inherited tribute to coniedrratcs imply detraCtion
of the val"rosss federas' All honor TO Charles
Sumner, who Ced storm of political wrath, and
"could rise To the lofty pu pose OF destroy ing me
mentoes of northern triumph Ger his southern
conntrymen! "But J utterly dissent from the
opinion that such obliteratiOn was essential to the
determination Of the sections. "EXact historic
Justice" should "bc meted To each army aud all
sections. Let envy and malicious detraction
cease. llliberal rlClsm IL unpatriGtic and IRA,
tioAa EncOmiums of southern her0ism implys
eulocy Of northern prOwess, and, on the other
hand, laudations Of the commanders and their fol
lowers Of the army of the Potomac are praise Of
Lee and his barefoot and hungry heroes. "T'ruth,
self-respect and southern manhood demand the
production and reproduction Of the facts
connected with that mighty struggle "Standing
near the summit OF TINS century, ana looking DICK
ward through all history, 81 assert the belief"
grounded upon careful consideration and
search that mo more exalted purposes ever in
spired people than those which impeled the
south TO enter upon her perilOus struggle for indie
pendence,' nor ever induced a more costly sacri.
fee or secured a more deathless renown.'
~ am not here TO discuss the causes the south
was driven by apprehensiOns, whether i'll or well
founded, to seek security under separate govern
nent, which she surrounded with Gordon of de.
voted breasts, and to support which she gave her
wealth, her blood, her PRAYERS and hopes. her
manhood and her womanh0od, and yielded at last
only when exhausted In resources, bleeding at
every pore, paralyled and PROSTATE.
The statistics of the war establish the fact of the
marvellous herOism of the sou h and
indomitable will and splendid courage of
the north. CIelit IL due the south for disparity
OF numbers and resources, and to the north for Sc
curing a victory while Waginp an offensive war
fare against interior lines of defense. desire to
act mpartlally in this matter, because the "cizen
who al this day cannot discuss the facts without
prejudice Is a partisan and not patrot--or else
patriot enslayed by his passions. Like the orig
inal colonies which rebelled against the mother
country, the southern states were thirteen in num-
Der, embracing territory only about two-hfths IA
large that in undistnrbed possession of the
United States government. The f'uth was worth
S6OW,0OOOOO, the greater portion OF which was
represented by slaves; they were confronted by
$l0,OOOOOO,OOO The south had invested in estab
lishments to furnish army supplies only about
one-eixth IN much as the moth. The south
had no organized central government,
army or navy. practically without arme,
ammunition, or art ms; the north was thoroughly
organized, and equipped, or In position to equip
Consider the difference in territory the disparity
in the numbers of men enlisted by each. The OH
cial report shows that the number OF men enlisted
In the union armies during the war was 1850, 1872
that enlisted In the southern army, az estimated by
the war department, about sO0,OO0--in other words
the north hurled 2,OOOOO0 men against the south in
excess of their whole enlistment. Was there ever
such a parallel AZ both armies were composed
principally Of the same race, and as every soldier
who fell on either side was Il MARTYR to the right,
as he understood II, II is therefore, necessary TO
find some other eXplanat on fer this unexampled
resistance made by the south to one of the most
superb armies ever mustered for battle II is true
that the rural life of the southern people WAS pro
motive OF individual herosm born Of independ
encs; but on the other band, the northern soldier
was more vigorous in constitution Where is the
explanation
II is not want of high courage in the soldiers Of
the north. The rushing and oft-repeated onssts of
northern phalanges in the face Of calling and
destructive fire bear witness to the federal courage
The main reason for the marvellous exhibition of
resisting power, shown by the south, was Ohed
ence to natures first law-the law of self-do
fence
"The one controlling all pervading thought that
thrObbed through every fiber of the southern brain
was the rights OF the states, the security of prop
erty, of home and of liberty, which were involved
in the issue. The spirit Of defence not of defiance
and conquest nerved her people. This WAS the
panoply of power, this tn tower Of her amazing
strength
The scars and lines left by the war on the face of
the country are deep, but not deep and indelibe
as the Empress made by your yalor on the pages
of history
few years ago your backs were bent under the
burdens incident to defeat, hut you have borne
them like men and heroes with "a courage and
forttude worthy of the highest commentator"
"With rare and unprecedented disturbances,
you pres rived the peace, obeyed the laws and
sought redress only by manly appeals TO the sense
of justice of your couutrymen' Your increased
comforts, "your increased agricultural products,
your increased miles OF railMaye, your increased