The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-12-19
TA4 TaHrH&t.
CAMDEN, s. G. DECEMBER 10, 1889.
GRADY DEFENDS THE SOUTH.

present at the annual banquet of the
Boston Merchants Association, on
the 18th inst, was Mr.. II W Grady
of the Atlanta Constitution, from
whose very eloquent speech on that
occasion we extract the following
"When will the black cast free
ballot? When ignorance anywhere
is not dominated by the will OF the
Intelligent; when the laborer any.
where casts a vote unhindered by
his boss; when the vote of the poor
anywhere is not Influenced by the
power Of the rich; when the strong
and steadfsst do not everywhere con.
troll the suffrage of the weak and
shiftless; then. and not till then,
will the ballot of the negro be free.
The white people of the South are
banded, Mr.. President, not in preJu'
dice against the blacks. not in Sec
tional estrangement, not in the hope
Of political dominion, but in deep
and abiding necessity. The negro
vote can never control in the South,
and it would be we'll if the partisans
at the North would understand this.
I have seen the white people OF o
State set about by black hosts until
their fate seemed sealed.
but. sir, some brave man, band.
ing them together, would rise as
Elisha rose in beleaguered Samaria'
and touching their eyes with faith,
bid them look abroad to see the very
air filled with the chariots of Israel
and the horsemen thereof. If there
is any human force that cannot be
withstood, it is the power OF the
banded intelligence and responsible
ty Of free community. Against it
numbers and corruption cannot pre-
vail. 1t cannot be forbidden in law
or divorced in force. 1t is the in.
alienable right of every free com.
munity, a just and righteous safe
guard against an ignorant or cor.
rupt suffrage.
ut is on this, sir, that we rely in
the South, not the cowardly menace
of the mask or shotgun, hut the
peaceful majesty of intelligence and
responsibility lnassed and unified
for the protection of its homes and
the preservation ofits liberty. That,
sir, is our reliance and our hope, and
against it all the powers of earth
shall not prevail.
at was just as certain that Flr.
ginia would come back to unchalleng.
ed control of her white race, that be.
fore the moral and material power of
her people once more unified oppo.
sition would erumble until its last
desperate leader was left alone,
vainly striving to rally his disordered
hosts, as that fire should fade in the
kindling glory of the sun. You may
pass force bills, but they will not
avail. You may surrender your hber-
ties to q Federal election law, you
NAV submit in fear of necessity
that does not exist that the very
form of this Government may be
changed. This old State, which
holds in it's charter the boast that it
'is free and independent Common
wealth." may deliver its election ma.
chinery into the hands of the Govern
ment it helped to create. But never,
sir, will single State of this Union,
North or South, be delivered again
to the control of an ignorant and in.
ferior race. We wrested our State
Government from negro supremacy
when the Federal drumsbeat rolled
closer to the ballot box. and federal
bsyonets hedged it deeper about
than will ever sgain be permitted IN
this free Government. But, sir,
though the cannon Of this Republic
thundered in every voting district OF
the South. we still should find in the
mercy of God means and courage to
prevent its re.estab!lshment:
"Such, Mr.. President, is this pro-
blem as we see it, such is the tenn.
per in which we approach it, such
the progress made. What do we
ask of You? First, patience. Out
of this alone can come perfect work.
Second, confidence. To this alone
can you iadge fairly. Third, sym.
ps!y, In this you can help US best.
Fourth, gre"us -yv-. sons 'seHc55s:
tages. When you plant your capital
in millions. send your sons that they
may know how true are our hearts
and may help to swell the Anglo
Saxon current until it can carry with.
out danger this black infusion.
Fifth, loyalty to the Republic.
For there is sectionalism in loyalty
rs in enstrangement. This hour
needs LOYALTY that is loyal to one
section and holds the other in endur.
ing suspicion and estraugement.
Give US broad and perfect loyalty,
that loves and trusts Georgia alike
with Observation-Disclosures knows no
South, no North, no East no West.
but endears with equal and patriotic
love every foot of our soil, every
Sta.e of our Union \ mighty duty,
sir, q mighty inspiration, impels
eyery one OF US tonight to lose
in patriotic conservation whatever
snstranoes. whatever divides. We,