San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-11

WACO, Texas, August s, 1886.
Editor San Antonio LIGHT.
attended the late ex-Confederate re-
union at Waco, and although an ex-Con-
federate soldier myself, l only partici-
pated In the meeting as q spectator and
not as a speaker, owing to the existence
of certain facts that need not relate.
Colonel Willie, of Dallas, an x-Union
soldier, spoke, and his address was well
received, with only an occasional inter-
ruption, which was more than counter
balanced by the cheers and greetings he
received during its delivery and at its
close. No republican ex-Confederate
took or was invited to take part, so far
as | heard, In the speaking. though
most of the filings Of the speakers were
made at that obnoxious class of our fell
low citizens. All are forgiven, except
the southern republicans, or rather re-
construotiOnists, without whose action
reconstruction could never have been a
success. l copy below a part of an adj
dress Of welcome, delivered by Judge &.
B. Gerald, of Waco, ex-mayor and pres
ent postmaster of that city:
"And when he looks upon this flag,
the proud emblem Of fifty millions OF
free men, remember how many gallant
southern hearts stood sponsor at its bap-
tismal font and ooDsecrated il with
their blood and sufferings, and when he
looks upon that, the once emblem of the
new born nation, that in the cradle of
war was rocked, and in the bed of battle
died; think of it, not with heart burn
ings, rot with regret, but as one who in
the morning OF his manhood at the altar
pledged his love and faith to some fair
girl, who in her beauty died, yet can in
after years stand by her grass grown
grave and on the lips Of the second i'm
| drops tear to the memery Of the loved
| and lost.
Now, the language of the above
is striking and beautiful, in
deed, but l beg leave to sug-
gest that the comparison Is not
fair one. On reading this passage In
the speech Of the eloquent orator, my
muse went to work to present the case
from her point Of view, in order to let
1.-THE world, and the rest of mankind"
see that something can be said on both
sides Of the question:
Think rather of the being who loved you and
bore,
Whose blood in your bosom was beating so
Whose tears you made flow, whose heart you
made sore,
When danger came on and wild ragged the
storm.
Or think of the woman, tender, loving and
fair,
A fond, faithful wife-your pledged one for
aye,
Who lived but to see her protector forswear
Their union for life, and wander away.
A wife and mother, to leave in their woes,
is sad to behold in a husband or son,
But both to abandon, their rights to oppose,
Is something too dreadful to ever be done,
Or is treason to duty that mortal should shun.
cannot conclude without verse or
two to my old friend, the irrepressible
and immortal Frank Lubbock.
He quoted from his friend, Jefferson
Davis. and endorsed the sentiment: ~
have nothing to take back" speaking Of
his course during the late war.
No one asked you to take back word, Uncle
Frank,
Not a word, not a word,
For no such claim was imposed by the Yank
Not that we ever heard.
But none OF yours were allowed, you know,
Back they come, back they come,
But sui, Uncle Frank, you can blow, you can
blow,
All the same, all the same.
OCCASIONAL.