The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-10-04
NUMBER 80.

tentlon 10 The glorious and valiant
sacrifices Of the Southern soldiers
throughout the war. There IL, in
my opinion, no honor 10 which u
soldier can be entitled which should
not be accorded the sJ0nthern sol
dier--the Southern private soldier.
lie is entitled 10 our gratitude and
affection for the inlrepidity and
machIess valor with which he fol-
lowed his commander for four long
years. But after The end came, my
friends, the three million men, of
whom our friend, DIR. Ward, has
lust spoken, burnt our cities, our
homesteads, and destroyed our pros
pertv. Then there came an era
in American affairs which WIS the
era of Reconstruction.
The Northern statesman deterifr-
ined that before The South should
have representation i'll Congress,
they would make The Southern
people brand themselves with the
mark of Odium. They so announced
il in speeches made III the Amerl-
can Senate and House of Repre-
sentalives. They intended IT, make
YOU, by your own hand, affix the
STAN of diShonor and odium upon
our people.
They appealed 10 the seltihness
of the Southern soldier; they told
him he was not responsible. Ups
on YOU we will not inflct this
brand ui disgrace, but we require
of YOU the ratification of the l4tfi
amendment to the Constitution, sn
YOU yourselves shall fix the brand
nl inlamy and dishoner upon your
leaders"
There never was a subllmer
spectacle, there never was grand
er act chronicled i'll the history OF
human affairs than when the South
ern soldiers and citizens through
ont The Southern States respondedi
saving:
awe will not have your pardon,
your favor, your pleasure, by dis
hOnOring our name"
In The whole South there Was
scarcely found single soldier who
was willing TO purchase their dis
honorable recognition OF himself
bv branding his leader with infamy
and dishonor.
desire simply TO call your al
tenlion 10 that Fact as one OF the
brightest jewels in the Southern
crown. Having done so, and know
ing others are going 10 engage your
attention, | will thaIk you EfHesY
| for the careful attention you have
| evinced, and bid you respectful
goodbye" ...
Senator Wallhall closed with
this pathetic and beautiful appeal
for Confederate reunions and the
State monument
IL am here to-day TO meet these
comrades, who, twenty-five years
ago. people use 10 call boys. But |
must remember that since first We
met more than a quarter OF cen4
tury has passed away. The frOsts
of winter have been settling upon
your heads, and when look into
your fece l see them marked with
the touches time has placed upon
them. see some with your chill
dren and even your children's chill
dren, and am forclbly reminded
that we, my comrades, are The old
men of to day. ] am reminded
that the meridian OF life, for us, has
been passed and The surrounding
shadows tell us the evening is ap-
preaching. We have that i'll our
old age which no power can take
from us--we have our memories,
we have our history, which is hon
or and glory 10 US.
But, my friends, when. i loORoVeI
this crowd, feel the autumn oil
our lives has come and The leaves
now falling around remind us that
one by one we too shall pass away
and be forgotten.
And oh! my friends, while We
live let's keep alive our interest III
reunions and 0bservances OF OF TO
: day. We have no Confederate
laws 10 favor lis, but we have nc
mouthing, garrulous Tanner and
am glad of it.
But l feel in spite of my gooC
resolution, | am drifting into a veiI
| do not intend, so l will close
though not before beg YOU L
press forward your efforts in behai
of The Monument 10 The COnfeder
ate dead in Mississippi, aud whlcf
! has already been too long in com
pletion.