The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-29

lux anu G1RRLNNh eh1AN fNf
miles of railroads, while the railroads
in the section oppoing them meas
ured 20,646 milee. The value OF this
agency in pros ecuting war will 9e ap-
preciated when il is known that re-
cent able writer estimates that, with
the aid of railroads, Napoleon would
have conquered Europe.
"The Sluthern States had invested
in manufacturing establishments from
which to supply the Southern armies
about $136 265, 1884, while the North
in like establishments about 1878, $780,
73l.
The South, including the border
StAtes, contained population of H.
44l ,029. They were confronted by
States containing population Of 49,
549,ll4. To add 10 this disparity. the
Southern States furnished t) the Union
arm es mora than $50 600 men.
''Let il be further remembered, that
the movement was made by the lead
ing Southern States without an organ
ized central government, withou. an
army or navy, practically without
arms, arsenals, ammunition or arn-
sans. This embryonic power OF poorly
armed States was antagoniZ ID in the
iBcipiency Cf the movement by gov
eminent tho oughly organized and
equipped, with IT ltast the nucleus OF
au army and navy, with mage zines,
munitions and m annfactories for sup
plying all the implt m ants Of war.
when the failure historian shall
coneider this remarkable inequality in
territory, in wealth, in means of trans
poititioD, in population-in all toe
| circumstances surrounding the sec
tons aud when be shall sdd TO these
the still more striking disparity in the
numbers of men enlisted by each, he
will be lost in Rmezsment tSai the
struggle could have been prolonged 10
four years of Southern resistance.
"The official reports from Adjutant-
Ganeraps flee shoR that the number
# men enlisted In the Union armies
during the war was 2.S59,l32 The
number enlisted in the Southern
armies during tkewar IS estimated hy
the War DEPARTMENT was about S00,-
000 men. Placing these nan against
man-S00,000 sesinst 10000 there
WAS hurled fg,inst the soulh more
than 1000 900 of men in excess Of the
numbers she had enlisted.
"These official figures, absolutely
STA tling in their disproporliOD, will
torsver attest an unrivaIed coursg9
and consecration by Southern troops.
Let him who can point to the par
allel.
"To the philosophic statesman Of
the future most interesting field Tor
thought will be fonnd in investigating
the source of this phenomenal power
exhibited by the South. Both armies
were composed principally Of free
born American citizens. The ranks
Of both were largely filed by volun-
teers and not by mercensry hirelinge.
Both gave allegiance to governments
organized under similar constitutions,
guai anteeing political and religious
liberty, trial by jury, taxation only
with representation, and all the fund-
smentsl rights of equality and repub-
lican freedom. Botn gathered inspi-
ration from the example Of the faith
ers. B ,th were impelled by the au-
thoritative sanction cf genuine pa.
triotism; and every soldier who fell
on either side turned his pale face to
heaven, martyr 10 the right as he
uDdeTst cd it.
TT is necessary, therefore, to find io
some other and peculiar elements oi
power the explanation for this unex'
ample resistance made by the South
to one OF the most superb armies evel
mustered for battle. OF the tame race
born OF a common ancestry, reart
under the same free in'titutions, J
would have seemed safe to predi,
that with the disadvantages unde
which The South labored she woulC
be compelled to surrender 10 force
not greatly superior TO her own. IL II
true that the rural life of the Sauth
ern people wss promo'ive cf individ
usl independence, and this independ
: ence was productive OF iEdlvldua
heroism, which was one Of the marked
charactf rlstiCs OF tae Southern eold'e'
tut on the other hand, the Nor herr
foldier was more vigorous in conslitu
ton, more robust in physical energy
and was reared under a civilization
and domestic institutions which de
veloped, in high degree, the virtu
OF stlfreliance. Where, then, are vi
, to find the explanation of the astound
: log fact that II required to defeat th,
South in four years an enlisted fore
more than twice rs great as the ent r.
Prussian armies which in seren month
overwhelmed and humiliated France
Whit is the eXplap alton, again III
.. . quire, OF the unexsmpled record mad
by the Southern armies?
1T cannot be attributed to any wsn
2 1T high courage in the soldiers OF Ia
/ Nofth. Independent OF the exhihi
+ tions Of individual heroiem, by whicl
all were impressed who met them OF
!, the field, the ratio Of Federal losses il
I hattie, as compared to the loses o
: European armies, the rushing and of
n repeRted onsets OF Northern pnalanxei
!. with fixed bRyonsts, against the wall
4 Of fire from Southern guns, and owe
. the dead bodies of their comrades
!. piled in ghastly hecsiombs befor
i Southern forts and breastwolEs, / ca
l. witness to Federal courage aud devC
q tion which nothing can ever impeacf
1 "In seeking the source OF this ma
e velous exhibition Of resisting powe
! shown by the South, it is proper t
T Ike into account the fact that sne ct
g cupied the interior lines OF defense
o But TO roy mind the one sufficient e1
e plauation-the 'cdusG calsdns'-is
t. be fcuud in the great, distinctive, pr
d NAL thought that moved, dominate
d and inspired the Southern people.
y the Northern soldier was impelled b
l. ,he thought that disruption OF th
- Union eDdang cred the permsnence {
s. of our free institutions, and that I
save the Union was to save republica
= freedom on this continent, the Sout
n was moved, on the other hand, b
,f obedience to Natures first law'-th
is law Of self defense. II che sought {
70 sever her relations with her siste
1t States of the North, it was in the b,
d lief that she would find safety under
|. government OF homogene GUS institr
1T tions. Her declaration Of a desire 70
peace and for a continuance OF fIienC
Ie ly relations wss emphatic an
M sincare II in the pro0res6