The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-13

He quoted extracts from speech deliver
ed 10y me at the unyeiling of the Hin monu-
ment. in which | euloglzod ex-prcsidcnt
Jefferson Davis. Against these, he quoted
extracts from a speech delivered by me be-
fore the New England society, in which l
attested the devotion of the south to the
union. He then asks:
when was hat orator sincere When aid he
sre'E tie feel nys the sentiments and convictions
Of tac southern people When he delivered that
Grafton on he lst iay OF May IN Atlanta, in The
pIescaoc Of aIV,auliuG thou a19s or when he went
I up to tic Ne" England dinner in December and
slatci OIL and vine all over tie American people
have nothing TO do with the senators
! speech. Bu' plain question deserves a
! plain answer. And | answer the senator's
/ question. especially as It involves broad and
essential issues, reaching beyond his person
ality or mine.
was sincere when spoke in Atlanta /
was equally sincere when ] spoke in New
York. Barring certain phrases in the first
speech, the questionable taste of which the
enthusiasm Of the occasion may have eX-
cusod, there is not a word of either, assured
ly not a sentiment, or conviction. that | do
not now deliberately repeat and reafiirm. In
Doth speeches there is deep and rever-
entail love, earnest and outspoken, for every
man who died or suffered for tho southern
cause, and based upon this, and stronger
and better because Of it, full and perfect 10y
atty to the reconstructed union
Let me say one word just here about the
ovation to Mr., Davis. | do not hope that
Senator ingalls, will comprehend its true
meaning. A man shameless enough TO Sian
der his own dead in partisan rage, vandal
enough 10 write traitor on the tomb of Ne
Clcllan, who first gave victory to the union
armies, and cowardly enough to denounce
as an ally of the enemy (while the widow in
her weeds sat almost in the sound of his
voice. Hancock the Superb, who, on the
heights of Gettysburg, saved the union
cause; such 4 man cannot under
stand, or understanding honor, the
devotion that twenty years after defeat is
still constant and unshakcn But let 9TH
ers know that from Bcauvoir to Atlanta Mr..
Davis, representing a cause that brought only
sacrifice and suffering and ended in disas-
ter, rode amid the unbroken shouts of
devoted people. From ploughshare
and shop they came--from hut and man
sion from city and country side-thronging
that they might look into his face, or have
him lay his hands on the heads of their chill
dren and bless them. For twenty years I'M
exampled prosperity had led the south to
material things. Further and further had
we drifted from memories fraught with ten
der and heroic lessons. A growing generation
driven early TO school and shop and store,
lost sight of the graves and monuments of
its fathers. An old man in his lonely home,
poor and accomplishing, looked wonder
ingly on his people gone mad with trade,
but bore in silence their neglect AT last
he was called forth, and trusting came.
Then the south took "a day Off" And a
manly, self-respeeting day it was-the most
useful, rs it was the most beautiful, day in
her history. Filled with love without dis
loyalty joy without rancour-- smiling
through mist Of tears-loving every sol
dicr better that she loved her soldiers So
touching every grave in America with the
flowers that decked her overlapping her
heart anew in waters without bitterness
honoring the union most in respecting her
gRl lot 4
on that day. Never did our hearts beat truer
10 the republic than when, gathering to-
gcther our broken swords and tattcred
hags, we conSecrated them anew in the
presence of our leader and our children. No
man who believes that steadfastness is bet
ter than inconstancy-that defeat hallows.
as victory glorities, a cause honestly en-
gagged in and brayely fought, can do less
than honor the south in that, two de-
cades after her overthrow she gave to him
who laid down her broken sceptre
grandcr and more heartful triumph than
woald have been his had he returned
fresh from the signing of treaty
of peace at Washington.
What is it Mr.. Ingalls, would haye9 Is
it possible amazing, Incredible, is it posi-
bile that he would demand as proof of our
sincerity. that we should denounce, or in 81
lence hear others dcnouncc, our own people.
living or dead . Would he measure our 10y
atty to the mion by our treachery to our
comrades OF our fathers ? Would he stop
our widows as they 90 to honor their hus-
bands gr'ves, or have us teach omchildren
that the monuments that glorlfy our land
from Virginia 10 Texas, teach a lesson at
which they must look askanee Would he
have us come to our brothers late estranged.
holding ON; one hand in friendship while
the other faltered in the defense Of our com
radcs in e,tyangcment ?
II 50, lie shall be disappointed. The
south is back in the union in perfect good
faith willing TO bear her par, OF its bur
d,ns. readyt TO work ont her share Of