The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-10-07

last struggle with the mother coun-
try. But if Southern men planned
this war, no less did Southern men
take prominent part in bringing it
to successful issue; for no where
do we find men to equal the bravery,
the prudence and the indomitable
perseverance of Harrison, Andrew
jackson and Decatur, who were con-
spicuous among those who led our
armies and ships to victory.
But there is another period in our
history to which we revert with
pride; a period rich in military
heroes; a period when under the
administration of James X. Polk,
Southern man, were added to our
dominion the States of Texas and
California, thus extending our vast
territory from the Atlantic on the
east to the Pacific on the west, and
from the great lakes on the north to
the kingdom of the Montezeumas on
the south. / refer to the war be-
tween the United States and Mexico.
"The war of independence" it has
been said, "gave the United States
a political existence; the war of 1912,
enfranchised the popular mind from
a state of colonial subserviency; the
war with Mexico developed the mill
tary genius of our people" Of this
we have evidence when we trace the
careers of the two most prominent
leaders Of this war, for in Scott and
Taylor we find the true type respec-
lively of a hero and a general.
Having then recounted the heroic
deeds Of her sons, the hardship and
oppression which they had to under
go in thus rearing our national struc-
ture, it is with pleasure that we come
to see what progress the South has
made in the arts of peace. Here
too we find that she has had her
"victories no less renowned than
war;"
In the field of literature as also in
other events of importance it has
always been the characteristic of the
North to claim for herself the
brightest laurels and thus to throw
the South into comparative insignifi-
canoe. This trait Of hers has been
happily Satirized by Southern
writer when he says: " We have no
doubt that there are now in the
archives Of Yale College, or will be
when wanted, authentic documents
to prove that Bunker Hill monu-
ment marks the site of Babylon, the
mighty; that Homer was professor
of Relles-Letters at Harvard that
Afchimedes was private tutor Of
chemistry at Concord; that St. Peter
was Cape Cod fisherman, and St.
Matthew collector Of internal rev.
enue at Boston, that Noah's family
was so much elated at their alliance
with the Websters of Massachusetts
that they got up dictionary to
commemorate the fact, and finally
that the millennium will begin at
Boston, and will not be permitted to
extend beyond its limits except by a
two-thirds vote of the inhabitants,
carefully excluding all who have
ever expressed a doubt as to the
propriety of hanging Jeff: Davis on
a sour apple tree"
Although the North thus claims
for herself this superiority over the
South, she can produce no greater
names in literature and poetry than
those of Simms, who in the field of
fiction ranks equally with her Coop
er, of Edgar Allen Poe whose genius
has crossed the waters and been
recognized in other lands than our
own, and. later on in our history, of
Timrod, Hayne and Ryan.
In theology the South has produc-
ed an Alexander, Breckenridge,
Dabney, a Thornwell. In jurispru-
dence, Rufin and Pearson, whose
| decisions have been quoted in Eng
land, and a CASTOR to whose quail
ties as Jurist were added those of
| a poet. AS the names of Payne and
Key will ego sounding down the
ages" "linked with "Home, sweet
Home" and the "Star spangled
Banner" so when Gaston's fame as
a Jurist will be forgotten, his name
will remain fresh in the memory of
every Carolinian when he recalls the
touching lines:
" Cardinal Carolina Heavens bless.
ings attend her,
| While we live. we will cherish Drotect
and defend her;
Though the scorner may sheer at and
witlings defame her,
Our hearts swell with gladness when
/ ever we name her"