The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-02

the language OF Mr.. Lincoln, we are ere
solved that this nation, under God shall
have new birth OF freedom, and that
government OF the people, by the people,
for the people, shall not perish from the
earth.
Mr. President, ! would not exaggerate
our progress, and am deeply sensible of
our manifold shortcomings. But, beyond
denial, there has been u marked advance
in the public sentiment OF the south along
all the great lines of civilization. Without
ceasing TO be southerners, we, like your
selves, are becoming more largely AmeIi-
cans. Our horizon sweeps the whole cir
Gle OF our glorious land, and We feel
equally mt home amid the orange groves of
Florida or the boreal soltudes OF far
Alaska's shores. Tho material develop
ment of the southern States is phenome-
nal, and the steady influx OF population,
capital, and industries, has given tbs a
wonderful impulse. Yet, so vast and so
varied are the physical resources OF the
south, that ii is safe to say we are only on
the threshold OF our progress. Speaking
politically, we have left the qucksands OF
revolution, passed safely over the bar Of
reconstruction, and now we feel the long
oNAAA vi AAAf NlltlA Nil vi llllibHNl lllt VII
which we intend to sail forever under the
star-spangled banner OF the free.
The people OF the south, brethren, are
living in the present, not in the past, and
have their faces firmly set toward the great
future which unrolls before them. We do
not underyalue the past; We are not
ashmed OF it. Wedo not forget that we can
understand the present only by studying
II in the past. We must study the Athens
OF Scion TO understand the Athens OF Per-
icles; the Rome OF Caesar TO understand the
Rome of Augustus; the France Of Louis
NV. 20 understand the France Of Napo-
leon; the England OF George Ill to under
stand the England Of Victoria. So, too,
we must study the America OF today in the
broad and blood stained pages OF the past
But, sir, II history Is something else than
"a fable about which men are agreed" il
1t is rather the temple In which Time pre-
serves Truth for posterity, and 10 whose
shrine age succeeding age must come 10
learn the lofticst lessons OF human life,
then let us cross lis shining threshold with
unsandaled feet and tread It's aislcs in rev.
erence.
II is one thing 10 study the past with a
calm, unbiased mind, that we may learn
its solemn lessons, and il is another thing
TO live in IL, and 10 perpetuate It's discords.
Because was Graded in the storm OF rcvo-
luton, and the tramp OF hostile battalions
and thunder OF warning armies were heard
around the home Of my childhood, and
saw, in youthful terror, the red plowsharc
oil ruin upturn my ancestral heanhstonc,
shall | live forever In the lund light ui
that dreaded day? When the angel OF
peace has kissed the frown from the brow
OF the nation, and the smile Of approving
Heaven makes glad the heart Of q great
and reunited people, shall / gropc in the
murky abysses OF the past, aud by sheer
force OF undying hate, scourgc into th,
! light OF the living present CORY brood o.
ghouls and night hags that haunt It's places
Of horror2 When the love OF God j,
kindling in the hearts OF Millions and al
/ the hilltops are ailame with the fires Of q
| glorious hope for humanity, and 9TH,
/ Gospel bells are ringing over land IRON sea
l 60 sea, and "the grand ethereal bow o
| Christian progress shoots up immense,
arching the whole heavens with the bright
millennial pledge, and this weary old
/ earth Of ours is sweeping out Of the dart
( shadows OF centuries OF ignorance and
wrong, and woe, into the larger and
/ brighter and happier Tune must sullcnly
/ turn my back upon Il all, hug the past 10
mortal bitterness, and strain my ear 1,
catch from It's iasi-rcceding shore the sount
I Of
'Thc death shot kissing from aiar
The shock the shout, the groin u war;
Perish the thought forever
Mr.. President | am a confirmed Opt
mist. have an abiding faith In the ulti
mate realization OF lofty idea Of ia,
brotherhood Of man. II may be that th,
/ light on the landscape OF the future is I
reflection from the luminous regions Of my
own hope, and that am doomed to dis
appointment. but, sir, II We may lean
any lessons from history; u We may hop
that the great moral forces which silently
control the progress OF nations will con
tinue 90 operate In the future, m Ia th'
past; II We may take into account thl
higher and wider sweep Of human events
II We may trust the pacific tendencies o
the age; the day IL not remote when thl
patrotic south will build monuments q
Cen. Grant, aud the magnanimOus n0r,l
hang garlands on the tomb Of Ice. Wiz
asks, today, whether the warrior who ici
ut Senlac, crossed the channel with 10
conauercr. or stool by fearless Harold
sidc2 Who asks whether the soldier VIII
slecps under the sod OF Mnrlon Moor
fought with Cromwclls lronsidcs, or rol
with Ruperts daring chivalry2 Sir W
only know their yalor made old Enrlln
great, and that their fame Is the hcritgr
and inspiration Of freedom Ia every land
Where Is the man, who, siandin
ON the flights Of Abraham, withholis irof
the brave Montcalm the tribute Of admin
ing praiso7 Who pauses 10 reflect that
he had won the battle against the gillan
Wolf. the dcsiinics q America might hav
been changed, and the tricolor flag Z
France floaicd over half Of this might
CONTINENT We would spurn tho wroic
who could insult tie generous instincts ,
humanity by venting his spleen over 18th
grave where q hero lies buried" Where
the American who can ever forget that IA
diving warrior Of Mount McGregor, ere hi
/ mighty spirit took H. flight, summ0nc
, both Federal and Confederate chicilains I
, his bier, made his very grave n perpc
, nal pledge OF peace, aud linked hi1 nam
forever with lis nobler victories Ties
. examples, sir, rebuke the persistence (
our strife, and teach "a, however unwillin
, we may be 10 learn the lesson, that q blcssc
, oblivion awaits the animosiiios Of the pas
, Sir, In the future 10 which we arc hasiei
| ing tho patriot pilgrim 10 the battle shrine
OF this great nation will not be ~ muc
, concerned rs We are 10 know whether N
I heroic relics before him were the blue I
; the gray, but he will remember that
f. the darkest hour that ever tried the spir
4. / - . ......,.ia AuuaFiaan manhood fdao In