The Forrest City times., 1893-07-07
OUR COUNTRY.
A Speech by a Son of the South at
 Chicago.
An Grafton Equal to Grady's "Sew south Fruits of Victory Transferred to the eyaquished-G Giories
 for Both.


 Ark, at the meeting of the Travellers Protective association in Chicago, has attracted great attention in Arkansas and throughout the south:
 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-As look out into this sea of upturned faces, eloquent with the Joy of this great occasion, am impressed with the idea that of all the classes of our citizens the drummer is the most truly representative of every section of our country. He is not only cosmopolitan himself. but through him all parts of our country are made to clasp hands and to know each other better. Bearing ms message of trade to the east, and to the west and to the south and to the north. he Is link ing all parts of our country in one great network of traffic. In the presence of such representative body of American citizenship have thought to-day 1t might not be inappro- priate if. through you. bear 10 all the people of my country message from that section or which l am younger son and scion. me south has been touched with the thrill that pulses through the latter half of the nine teenth century. and she is fast advancing 10 share in the great industrial glory that is shedding it's light over every part of our Union She has been taught that "peace hath it's victories no less renowned than those of war" and out Of defeat and dls- aster at the hand of a great civil war, out of the very ashes of woe and desolation. the spirit
  Go achieve the more lasting and enduring vic tories of peace and progress. She has been brought to recognize that il is not in the clash of contending armies. in the blare of bugles or in the flash of tanners that the greatest tri umph of a people may be won.
 HAS REALIZED THE VALUE OF PEACE
 And she has realized. too, that the best and surest successes do not come 'o "e' III the ful- mlnation of platforms. in the huzzas oI iaetion' or in the parade and pomp of party strife out that they come through all the silent ana pulsing channels of trade. She recognizes that the greatest victories are won when the gates of Janus are closed. when the voice Of partisan and the cry of faction is hushed. and when the white wings of peace and industry are spread abroad over the land: that they are won In all the paths and places of labor, in all the fields and tents of toll. at the counter and In the workshop. at the bench and on the wharf, In the whispering fed-green with the growing grain-in the echoing marts of traffic, in the dark mines yielding up their wealth. "barbaric pearl and gold" in the flare of furnaces the feaping of shuttles and the turning of spindles, in the ring of the anvil and the silver note Of the forge. in the swinging of the scythe and in the flash of the reaper cleavfng the gold sn harvest in all the ways of industry in la bor vocal on every hillside and commerce white on every sea" This is the great lesson the south is learning today. With her resources heinz developed. with enterprise and activity throt hing through every vein. with the voice of trade and the song of factories musical In her land. with north and east and west she is advancing hand in hand up the great pathway of American civilization.
 PLEDGE OF SOUTHERN LOYALTY.
 But from my state and from the south bear Co you deeper and truer message still. a mes sage of love and fraternity. not inappropriate trust. at this time upon bis great occasion am bidden to tell you that the stars that gilt ter in the banner of our Union to the names of the southern states glow to-day with an un- dimmed loyalty to this great Union of ours. So- far as the south is concerned she has no desire ito garner the and disjointed columns" of her mighty battle for lost cause. She has accepted the arbitrament of the sword and her children have turned to study dispassionately the lesson it has taught.
 1 voice the sentiment of my people when standing here in this mighty presence, before my country and my God. as a son of the south, born on southern soil and drawing my humble lineage from southern sires. with no tie of kin ship north of Mason and Dixon's line. loving the land of my birth, Its memories its tradf- lions; cherishng the story of the lost cause" a sacred and priceless heritage and clinging ss though unto the horns of an altar to a firm faith and belief'in the sincerity and patriotic purpose of its great leaders-when in this pres ence. measuring my words and knowing their full purport and extent, I declare thatEdo not regret thAt in the great strife of the sections the victorious finger-touch of God rested al last upon the banner of the Union.
 MEMORIES OF THE PAST STILL KEEN.
 do not forget the many evils the mighty issue of battle brought to my land with the dark sweep of it's wing the widows and orphans it made and the homes and hresidcs it deso- lated. Nor do I forget the sting and bitterness of defeat. that weeping of Rachel for her chill dren. those ashes of woe that sad return of the defeated soldier 70 lind his lonely chimney standing as silent sentinel over the blackened ruins of his home, pointing with it's solemn finger to his God, his last refuge and his strength Nor do I forget the long succeeding night of disas- ter, the heritage of conquered people. the dark days of reconstruction when strangers and aliens were armed with the symbols Of au- thority over us: when the victory which had been wrested from us ny noble hands was un- wittingly confined to other and Eleaner keep ing-Eo those who, flushed with the arrogance R "a little brief authority" sowed my country down in the saltso of Humiliation and disgrace. Iforget none Of these. and yet, of the south can truthfully say that l am glad that, out of the wreck of war. out of the charrng hand Of flame. this American Union has come to us unbroken, one and entire.
 For believe that il has been the best for the toutn ana htf ptoplt. anu TOT the great world wide cause of freedom, for that American lib- srty which fin this inseparahle Union flames alosz in one unbrollen column fer the enlighten- ment Of the people of the world.
 coNFEDERACYs OVERTHROW A BLESSING
 Ieven believe that an inscrutable Providence ordained the stern struggle and lost battle as at blessing in disguise to the people Of the south and for her best and truest future prosperity. We must remember that the south was cursed s1ctf tptfn fStia slah l. h,,.k.. sense of humanity. and to that lofty ideal and spirit of liberty that was illuminated in our first thunder of independence and was afterward lifted as the palladium of our free government