The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-03

attitude, and with the same spirit that an
initiated every vampire, who few years
back were sucking the life blood from
this grand old Commonwealth, with the
same determination and invincible will
that carried Hampton so triumphantly
into the gubernatorial chair, let us put
on the armour Of true citizenship, and
convince our sister Counties and States
that we are a thinking people, a brainy
people, working people, and by the
help of God intend to carry our cause to
success, to pull wide open the agricultu-
raj throttle valve and drive the farmers
train down the grooves of time into fu-
ture where flowers bloom and peace and
plenty reign. weigh my congratula-
tions with yours upon the cheerful out
look and cheering pospect of an abun-
dant reward of our labors, now awaiting
us in the field.
If the past has been dark, the present is
bright, and we have much to allure us
forward. Pm glad to be one Of you.
During the late war old North and South
Carolina fought side by side and shoul-
der, then let lis as citizen soldiers having
one common interest, press forward to-
gether. In regard to the memories, of
that war, turned-down page in the life
book Of memory shall mark the era in
which those heroes went forth to battle
for what they thought was patriotism and
principle. They have not died in vain
Their examples live, and will FOREVER
live! And the daughters of our South
land will perpetuate the memory of their
noble deeds, while ONE flower blossoms
meath our sunny sky or May shall WOO
the opening bud. And from out this glo-
rious land will go each year prayers and
| longings for her noble sons who perished,
and some whose bones have never yet
been gathered, but left bleaching on far
away distant battle fields.
We remember with feelings of pride,
their valor amid the fire of musketry
when they went forth and courted death
upon the bloody fields of Malvern Hill,
at Antiedam, the wilderness, and other
heroic strugglipgs around old Gettys-
burg, and often in fancy as memory
spans these weary years, do we still catch
faint echoes Of the "Rebel yell" and
watch them in our imagination heroically
charging on to victory, defeat or death.
Nor Ney, nor Napoleon, nor Caesar, nor
any other captain ever led forth to battle
better, braver and 'nobler troops than
those dear old Carolinians, who for four
long weary years carried the fortunes of
the Confederacy upon the points of their
bayonets. And when the bugles sang a
| lruC6 W all IuIS ulOOuy CdIudS6, W I'LL IQlS
suffering, after haying fought so long, and
last in q tattered suit Of grey, foot-sore
and heart-broken, the scattered remnant
returned but to find .desolation enthron-
ed around each hearthstone that they had
remembered as once joyous and hospita-
BILE. Familiar forms had passed into tho
dark beyond. The desolation of war had
swept away almost all, tools had been de-
stroyed, and conveyances Of all kinds left
wreck; but with muscle and strong
arms, and great, tender, loving, loyal
hearts, they took up the burden of life
again to RESTORE Southern industry,
and how we'll, how nobly, how heroical1y
they have redeemed the once down-trod-
den South, and made her the gem of the
earth will ever remain the brightest page
in history.
Let US gather inspiration from these
glorious examples, and when life's rug
ged battle has been fought, we too may
leave behind US some such a glorious
record OF true and noble citizenship.