The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-01-02

from which ctilsro and elegance never departed
We hare let ccoac<Hy take root ard sprctd among
ms as RINK as the crab grass which sprung from
Shcrmans cavalry camps until we are wiling TO
lay odds on the Georgia Yankee as he squeezes
pure olive oil ont OF his cotton seed against any
downeaster that ever swapped wooden nutIneSs
for flannel sausage3 In the valley OF Vermont
Above al, we know that VIC have achieved IN
these piping times Of peace a fuller independ-
easce for the south than that which our fathers
sought to win in the forum by their eioqueDce or
compel on the field By their swords
It Is e rare prrvisece sir, 10 have hal pert how
ever humble, in tn s work Never was nohb,r duty
confided to human hands than the uplifting. and
upbuilding Of the pTossrste aad bleeding sodth,
misguided, perhaps, but beautiful in her suffer
ing and honest, brave and scneroias always In
the record Of her social industrial and political
restoration we await with confidence the verdict
Of the world.
But what OF the negros Have we solved the
problem which he presents or progressed in honor
and equity toward its solution! Let the record
speak to this point. No section shows moro
prosperous labo-tng population than the negroes
Of the south, none in fuller sympathy with tho
employing and land owning class. He shares our
school fund.- has the fullest protection Of our laws
and the friendship OF people. Self interest IS
well as honor demand that he should have this
Our future, our very existence depend upon our
tice. We understand that when Lincoln signed
the emancipation proclamation your victory was
assured, Tor he then committed you TO the cause
Of human liberty against which the arms Of man
cannot proyail-'while those Of our statesmen who
nsde slavery the corner stoneef the Confederacy
doomed US TO defeat, committing US to @ cause
that reason could not defend or the sword main
tain In the hight OF advancing civilization Had
Mr.. TooSnbs said, which he did not say, that he
voad call the roll Of his slaves at the foot OF
Bunker HILL he would have been foolish foF
he might have known that whenever slavery
became entangled in war it must perish,
and that the chattA in human flesh was
ended forever IN New England when your
fatheTs-not TO be blamed for parting with what
didn't pay-sod their slaves to our fathTs-not
to be praised for knowing paying thing when
they saw It Tho relations OF the southern people
With the negro are close and cordial We remen-
Der with what fidelity for four years he guarded
oar defenseless women and children whose hus-
bands and fathers were fighting against his free
dom To his eternal credit be 1t said that when
ever he struck blow for his own liberty he fought
In open bGtsc and when at last he raised his black
and humble hands that the shackles might be
struck OF, those hands were innocent of wrong
against his helpless charges, and worthy to be
taken In loving grasp by every man who honors
loyalty and devotion. RuffianS have maltreated
him, rascas have lnisled him, philanthropsts es-
tGb2ished q bGnk 6er him, bet the south with the
north protests against in Justice to this simple and
sincere people. To liberty and enfranchisement
10 as far as law can carry the negro The rest
must be kSt to conscience and common sense. 1t
should b. left to those among whom his lot Is cast
with whom he IS indSssolubly connected and
whose prosperity depends upon their possessing
his Intelligent sympathy and confidence. Faith
has been kept with him IN spite Of calumnous as
seTtions to the contrary, by those who assume to
speak for US or by frank opponents. Faith will
be kept with him in tho future If the south holds
her reason and integrity.
But have we kept Faith with your In the fullest
sense, yes When Lee surrendered-I don't say
when Johnston surrendered because understand
he still alludeS 10 the time when he met Gen. Sher-
man last SIS the time when he determined TO
abandon any further prosecution of the struggle
-vhen Lee surrendered, I say, and Johnston quit,
the south became, and has been since loyal to this
Union. We fought hard enough to know that we
wore whipped, and in perfect frankness accepted
as hnal the srbitrament oS the sword TO which
we had appealed Tho sossth found her Jewel in a
todB heed. The shaekses that had held her In hmi-
tat$ons fell forever when the shacles OF the negro
shave were broken. Under the old regime the
negroes were slaves to the south, the south was a
slave 30 the system. Thus was gathered In the
hands ID splendid and chivGlric oIipsrchy the
substance that should have been diffused among
heart, filling that with afiuent rapture, but leay
ting the body chin and coloriess.
The old south rested everything on slavery and
Agriculture unconscious that these could neither
give nor maintain healthy growth. The new south
presents perfect democracy, the oigarchs lead
ing % the popular movenent-a social system
compact and CLOSELY kntted-ksS splendid on the
surface but stronger at the cora hundred farms
for every plantation, fifty homes for every palace
and diversified industry that meets the complex
Deeds Of this complex age.
The new south Is enamored Of her new work Her
so0l Is stirred with the breath Of d new life The
light Of grander day is failing fair on her face
She b thrilling, str, with the consciousness Of
growing prosperity. AS she stands full statalred
and equal among the people OF the earth BREATH
ing the Keen air and booking out upon an EXPAND
ing horizon, she understands that her enancina
tton came because in the inScratable wisdom of
God her honest purpose was crossed and her brave
ARMIES were beaten This is said in no spirit of
tame serving and epoiogy. should be unjust to
the south II did not make this plain in this pres
ence The south has nothing to take back: moth.
ting for which she has excuses 30 make In NV
native town OF Athens rs q monument thatrrowns
MS central hliS-a plain white shaft Deep cut
INTO IT'S shining sides Is a name dear to me
above the names OF men, that Of a brave
and simple man who died in brave aud sim
pro Iafh NOT Tor ali she gtorieS of New England
from Plymouth Rock all the way, would / ex
change the heritage he left me in his patEloe,s
death. To the foot OF that shaft shall send INV
children children to reverence him who enno,,lad
their name with his heroic blood But, sir. sneak
ing from the shadow Of that memory. which I
honor as do nothing else on earth say that the
cause In which he suffered and for which he rave
his ffe was adjudged by higher and fuller wisdom
than his or mine, and am glad that the onp;s
c4ent God held the balance Of battle In his al.
mighty hand and that the American Union was
saved from the wreck OF war
This message, Mr.. President, comes No vos,
from consecrated ground. Every foot Of tn. anjI
In the city IN which live Is sacred as a hattle
ground of the republic Every hill that invests
. Is haiioved to you by the blood II yo,r
brothers who died br your victory, and tics,bly
hslEowed to US by the blow Of those who died
hopeessfy, but uDdaunbed, 10 defeat-sacred soil
to al OF us-rich with memories that make us
pnrer and stronger and better-siIesA bat
stanch, witness In its rich deeolation Of the
ralor OF American hearts and the
oeathsess glory OF American arms-speakinQ and
esoQnens witness III It's white peace and proSner-
ny TO the fndissolubic Union OF the American
states and the impet'hshah!e brotherhood of the
American people.
Whae answer has New England to this u,essaoes
WIN she permit the prejudice of war to remain In
Inc hearts OF the conquerors, when it has did in
me hearts Of the conquered? Will she transmit