The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-05-14
BILL ARP'S CHAT.
Arp on President Harrison's Speeches In
the South.
Atlanta Consultation.

Atlanta Constellation.
Henry Fields says in his great paper
"We believe that the president hss be-
come more than ever convinced by this
southern journey that the south is as
much interested in good government as
the north, and that it is as much in ear
nest to solve its own problems in the best
possible manner as the north is to solve
its own no less perplexing difficulties
Kind words from Mr.. Fields, and he
always speaks them. In alluding to the
presidents speeches along the line, he
says:
"His frank and well.considered words
must bring about more kindly feeling
between men of all varieties of opinion"
We hope 30,
We liked his speeches very much, for
they were kinder than ne expected; but
from the first to the last Ee pressed the
point that all the citizens of this great
nation now shared equally in the bless
ings and the benefit of our national gov
ernment. Is that 80?
Neither Mr.. Fields nor President Har.
rison understands the southern people.
The very best people of the north do not
understand us, and Pm afraid they never
will. "Put yourself in his place." is a
maxim with which they make no expert.
ment. I wish that Mr.. Harrison could
have been in Atlanta or some other
southern city on decoration day and wit
messed the loyalty of our people to the
Confederate dead-the reverence for the
lost cause-and he might have realized
something of that deep, undying senti-
ment which still glows in southern hearts
and burns brighter as the years roll on.
While there is neither treason, nor ha-
tired, nor regret in it, there is nevertheless
q consciousness of moral rectitude that
makes ua feel all the more bitterly the
humiliation of being under the ban Of
northern triumph and northern tyranny.
If we be friends and brethren then why is
this discrimination in blessings and bene-
fits kept up? If the blue and the gray
meet together and shake hands and de-
clare all estrarse-ents buried, why are
they not made equal before the law. The
northern idea seems to be that ne behav-
ed very bad, but that they in their mag
nanimity have forgiven us. But we do
not feel that we behaved very bad at all,
and don't want any forgiveness. We want
justice. We tried to separate-to dissolve
partnership, and that's all there is in it,
and we feel that we had right to do it,
and every decision made on that question
by the supreme court leans that way, and
that is the reason why the government
dident dare to try Jefferson Davis for
treason. They knew that their own Su-
preme Court wouldent let him be con-
victed. Then why are we shut out from
sharing in all the benefits and blessings? {?
How long is punishment to go on? How
long are ne to pay pension money for
their soldiers and get none for our own
That debt is now swelled to $150,000,000
a year, and the south pays one-third of it.
A thousand millions have already been
paid out since the war to pensions, and
the wonder is that we have been able
to live and get along. We pay our part
through the operations of the tariff, and
no man knows how much he pays. If it
were.a direct tax upon US and was col
lected like our State and> county taxes,
our people would despise the government
for its tyranny, and be ready at any time
to throw off the yoke that bound them.
In case of q foreign war the north would
not be safe for moment, for the strength
of a Republican government is in the
hearts of the people. Ifby the next ses.
sion of Congress there should be precipi-
tated war With England OF Germany,
the first bill passed would be an act to
pension our invalid soldiers and to repeal
the outrageous law that now prohibits per.
sons engaged in the late rebellion from
holding any Office in the army or navy.
Equal blessings and benefits would come
in hurry. That cotton tax of S13,000,.
600 that the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States has long since declared illegal
would be refunded to US in double quick.
Why has it not been refunded I? Is there
any other reason but that the debt is due
to the South !? Is a Northern Democrat
any better friend to the South than q
Northern Republican? 1.-The is, why dc
they not press this act of justice2 Why
do they all, both Democrats and Repub-
licans, compel US to help them pay their
debts, and withhold from US what their
own Courts have declared due us? Just
stop for moment and think of the State
of Illinois drawing $12,00O,O00 year
from the treasury for pension money
She drew S9,00O,000 last year, and it will
be s12,OO0,0oO this year. Why if Georgis
drew 81, 100000 we would feel rich. It's
benefits and blessings would be felt from
the mountain to the seaboard. You see
it would be gift of gratuity-that did
not have to be worked for. No labor OF
toll or sweat, and it would come twice
every year, and we would all get some.
would have pocket full, and Majo,
Foute hat full, and Cobe a great big
wad Of money, and we would spend il
freely and scatter it around, and our peo
pie would run down to Atlanta every
week and buy dressing. Good gracious
how it would help Atlanta ! / wish that
Cobe could get pension for himself and
his mule and whole lot of back pay.
would like to see his eyes roll around and
watch him shift his tobacco from one jan