Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-29

The one thing essential to the manhood and
seit-respect, and, therefore, l repeat to the
patriotism OF the people, is that exact historic
justice shall be melted to each army and all
sections. Let malicious detracbOn cease; let
enVy-which enslayes ignoble minds-hnd no
place in the breast of any lover OF truth.
with what measure yo mete, II shall De
measured to you again" A just appreciation
OF the motives that impeled and OF the
herOlsm which sustained each army
and section in their Titanic conflict,
IS the symbol as well sustenance
or patriotism. Illiberal criticism is not only
unpatriOtic-it is irrational. Merited eneo-
miums Of Southern heroism is implied eulogy
OF Northern proves, which, inspired by de-
yotlon to the union Of the States and sustained
through privatIons and blood by the pro-
foundest convictions, brought at last this lion
hearted section to defeat and surrender. On
the other hand, laudatons OF the great COM
manders of the "Army Of the Potomac" and
OF thelr fearless followers ana the monuments
built TO their memory are monuments also to
Lee and his barefoot aud hungry her les, who
for four bloody wears kept those vast numbers
at BAY, and in the space OF three years de-
feated and forced from the supreme command
at least five OF these renowned Federal Can
tains. GEL
And now, without the possibility, / trust,
of beng misconstrued in spirit or purpose by
either the North or the South, | will group
together some of the indisputable tac.s con-
nected with that mighty struggle. Justice
to the conquered South. to those who fell and
to those who survived. as well as to their
descendants, demands the production and re-
production of these facts until they become
familiar in every household in the land
THE THIRTEEN STATES.
The original colonies which rebelled against
the mother country and established their in
dependence were thirteen in number. The
| Southern States which sought their ndepend-
ence were also thirteen in number. These
thirteen, including the border States, which
were DIVIDED in sentiment, embraced terri
tory of about S32, sos square miles. leaving the
government of the United States in undis-
turbed and unthreatened possession Of ter
ritory of about 2, 1913, SAG square miles.
These thirteen Southern States possessed an
aggregate wealth of about So, DOC, OOO,O 900. They
were confronted by an aggregate wealth of
about $40, 900, 10000 OF the SOuth's wealth,
the greater portion was represented by slaves.
The Southern States had, as means or
| Transporting, concentrating and distributing
| troops and supplies, about 1895 miles Of rail-
roads, while the railroads in the section OPP
posing them measured 20, GAG miles. The value
| OF this agency IN prosecuting war Will be ap-
precIated when 1t is known that recent
able writer estimates that, with the aid OF
railroads. Napoleon would have conquered
Europe.
The Southern States had invested in manu-
featuring establishments from which to sup
| ply the Southern armies, about Sl86, 265,9S4,
while the North had in like establishments
! about $ST3, 5S9. 73I.
| The South, including the border States, con-
tanned a population of ll,44l,029 They were
confronted by States containing population
of 10. 549, ia. To add to this disparity. the
Southern States furnished to the Union
armies more than 100000 men,
etitbe further remembered thatthe move
menC was made by the leading Southern
| states without an organized central govern
ment, without an army or navy. practically
| without arms, arsenals, ammunition or arti-
| sans. This embryonic power of poorly armed
| States was an5agOnized In the incipiency of
| the movement by government thoroughly
organized and equipped; with at least the
| nucleus OF an army and navy; Win maga-
i zines, munitions aud nlanufactories Tor sup
Il plying all the implements of war.
! When the future historian shall consider
| this remarkable inequality in territory. IN
wealth, in means of transportation, in pOpu-
| lation-ln all the circumstances surrounding
the sectiOns-and when he shall add to these
| the still more striking disparity in the num-
| bers of men enlisted by each, he will be lost
| in amaZemeut that the struggle could have
been prolonged to four years of Southern re-
| sistance.
OVERWHELMING ODDS.
The official reports from Adjutant Generals
| Office shows that the number of men enlisted
IN the Union armies during the war was
| 1852 1872. The number enlisted in the South
ern armies during the war, as estimated by
| the War Department was about 100000 men
| Placing these man against man-S0O.OO0
| against the S00,C 00-there was hurled against
| the South more than 1000. 900 OF men in excess
of the numbers she bad enlisted.
These official figures, absolutely startling in
their disproportion, will forever attest an I'M
rivaled courage and conservation by Southern
troops. Let him who can, point to the par
allel.
In seeking the source of this marvellous ex-
| hibltlon of resisting power shown by the
| South, 1t 10 proper TO take into the account
| the fact that she occupied the interior lines Of
| defense. But to my mind, the one sufficient
! explanatiOn-the ''o1isd caUsdn8"-is to be
| found in the great, distinctive. primal thought
that moved, dominated and inspired The
| Southern people II the Northern soldier was
! 10 tlOUQnt a nj
! the Union endangered the permaneDce of our
| free institutions, and that t. save the Union
| was to save Republican freedom on this
| continent the South was moved, on the other
hand, by obedience to natures first laWp-
| the law of self-defense. If she sought
! to sever her relations with her sister States OF
| the North, it was in the belief that she would
! find safety under government of homOgene-
| Gus institutions. Her declaration OF a desire
| for peace and Tor continuance of friendly
| relations, was emphatic aud sincere. III in
| the progress of succeeding war che crossed
| her borders and bore her banners north
ward. it was with the hope of forcing
| the withdrawal Of Federal forces from
| her territory and Of compelling recogni-
| ton of her independence. The one controlling
! al-pervading Thought that thrObbed through
I every fibre Of the Southern brain was that the
| rights OF the States, the security of property,
ofhome, and OF liberty, were involved in the
! issue. The spirit of defense, not of defiance
nor of conquest, nerved her people. This
| was her panOply of power; this the tower of
/ her amazing strength: this the individual in
! spiration that 10 ade Of her ind vidua soldiers
| individual heroes, who have left record un-
| equaled in the annals OF war.
WRITTEN IN HISTORY.
But we were not successful. Circumstan-
/ ces decreed IL otherwise. Failure came be
cause success impossible. But deeper
/ and more indelible than the scars and lines
| left by war on the face Of the country is the
/ impress made by your valor on the pages Of
\ history A past 81 lustrous and present so
! fuil OF encouragement are prophetic of "a bril-
| liant future. DO you ak for more specific
basis for this promise? It's in the striking
contrast Of your present condition, with past
| experiences.
! And now, let the manly virtues OF the ia
( theirs and the stainless purity OF the mothers
| dwell richly in their sons and their daughters:
I let personal and public honor be the com
/ handing law both Of your thought and OF
your action; let your representatives, state
| and Federal, still maintain untarnished re-
/ putations for incorruptbllity in ONCE; let
/ your fidelity to the whole country be
rs conspicuous in peace as was
/ your devotion TO the South during
| devastating war; let the South's plghted
/ faith TO the permanent Union u the states
/ and the legitimate results OF the war be for
! ever unquestioned; let all constitutional poll
ces that tend 20 unite more closely the see
/ tions and people, and at the same time 10 pro-
| mote simplicity and economy Of adminsira-
/ ton, find among you their sincerest and most
enlightened champions. Then. ia the march
/ Of the republic TO It's high destiny, the south
| will resume her place with the ranks at tho
| head of the column. aud the names Of south