The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1888-06-23
AMERICAN CIVILIZATION.

Wheeling, W. Va, June l1.-HOn. S.
B. Elkins delivered the annual address
before the library society of West Yir-
ginia university at Morgantown to-
night in the presence of an immense
audience. His subject was Ameri-
can Civilization" lie touched upon the >,
forms of Government of the European
countries and compared them with
that Of America. He discussed the
labor problem at length and philOso-
phized as to its future.
In speaking of the sectional strife of :
America the speaker said;
The general condition of affairs in
the South, since the war, has been natu-
raj and logical. The war left the two
races i'm their changed conditions ON
the same soil, under the same skies,
and in the same homes and places.
Neither race could get relief by retir-
ing. In these new and trying circum-
stances, for which neither was prepar-
ed, IN open antagonism, they were
forced to begin the work of solving
, the race problem. History furnishes
J no parallel to a situation so difficult for
both sides.
The black man deserved the pro-
1 foundest sympathy-the white man
Q consideration. In the humiliation OF
: defeat, loss Of property, and every
. thing he had fought for and held dear,
q the white man brooded over his losses
II lie determined that his humiliation
should not be deepened by allowing
his former slave to be his social and
IN political equal, and aid in making laws
=, =, for his government lie resisted by
j. omen force in some cases; by threats
he and indirection in others; and often by
al state laws passed in his own interest.
,u , Federal laws were unavailing. Even
g. where there was federal or state law.
O. that might favor the black man aud
he was sustained by the courts, there was
10 no public sentiment behind either that
~ could enforce it, There Is whole en-
an. pire of questions in our domestic con
no. Germs that statute law cannot reach, an'
mo where natural laws are supreme an'
VI govern. In the ilercest civil war, i
of the long night of battle and bloc
which hung over the land, when Tn
mel liberty of the negro was IN balance
you his conuuct was marked by no act
ore violence orrevcngc, and he rename
! he the true, trieo and trusted friend
mo- his master and his family, who wer
= 10 fighting to hold him in slavery. The
a1m atas is nothing In all history equal to tn
For example of affection. forbearance an
lster charity ON the part of a whole rae
ven- This splendid fact should stand out
'rior n bond between the two races, and
mod Is hoped in time will be gentle mel
and orv that will draw them closer togeths
ifted The great republic could make q
'lace slave free and Its citizen, but could n
,.o !. at the same time, arm him with t
,an's necessary intelligence and erperien
nan's that would enable him TO exercise |
and rights of a freeman and n citizen In
fttt
contest with his former master. III
was not the fault the government,
was the misfortune Of the negro.
The government did all IL could
= up aid its newly made citizen In his he
ono less and almost hopeless conditit
''a' The Negro, heir to thousands Of ye'
nish of ignorance, slavery, and barbaris
'ne', the only civilization he ever knew fiji
anu ing him slave, and his first duty
man obey, was not prepared to exercise
VI political rights against his former M
ianoo ter. who was accustomed to cont
'ion' and govern, and was cntrenchcd behi
Cap'' power, wealth, and education. ]
Il Inc contest was unequal. There could
sihoh but one result. Ignorance and povel
y 'he had to 90 down before intelligel
from and wealth, as 1t has always dc
nies'' the world over
ieks- IL is in the order of events in
Ia path of certain destiny that the pco
Durg of all sections through the whole co
Waoh try shall be friends. Then let us wi
'sure- ly anticipate the work of time, and
'rtaih oblivion and the reconciliation OF
ouho- children by few years and be frief
thoW, now. When the race question in
mseh south shall be settled, and shall be
pJecls longer the football of politics,
menus union will in the best sense, be restor
'ut as The people of the whole country
upon enjoy that peace and repose I
OIL, 10 friendly feeling and good will for c
ump other which are so necessary to
'aking highest progress and the most per-
to get von, o.fotv of tho union. and wi
oap'' they have not known for more tina
pfac- quarter of century. The passl
mes AZ born of war, and often kept alive
us up selfish purposes will then be buried
ABOVE the "sea that giyeth not up Its dca'
'e low Sectional differences and antt
nun nisms--always menace and dan
u NC to the rcpublio-will disappear and
which words "solid south" and @untcd no
wcnty- ,.u, ,o l,ov, mn morc forever.
These
d ordl- Worth Knowing.
loment Mr.. W. II, Morgan, merchant,
hut in CITY, Fla, was taken with severe
-, attended by distressing cough
Wouiu running into consumption In It's
call q.