The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-09
FROM OUT THE SOUTH.
JUDGE Z. =. BHYAN1'S SPEECH 10
COMMERCIAL TRAvELERs.
After q Brief Welcome to the Pathfinders Of
Commerce He Delivers an Grafton TN
surpassed by Grsdy's New South"

--[
The following is from the Chicago Tri-
bune OF Sunday, June 18th, and while
several weeks have passed since the
Grafton was delivered. the words have
lost nothing by the delay;
Judge Edgar u. Bryant. OF Fort Smith,
Ark. was assigned the subject of "A
Message from the South" at the Travel
ers Protective Association meeting yes
terday. Since the memorable utterances
OF Henry w. Grady no such Grafton has
come out Of the South in friendly greet
ing to the North. From the first he held
the audience In profound attention. He
was frequently interrupted by applause
long continued, and when he had taken
his seat the people crowded TO the plat
form to shake his hand. while women I'm
the audience pressed forward to hand
him flowers. For fully ten minutes the
proceedings were interrupted to permit
those In the audience 10 ofrer congratula-
lions for the mastery effort. Judge Bry-
ant. after conveying a message Of friend
ly feeling from the South to the members
OF the association, said:
But from my State and from the South
sage still-a message OF love and fra
ternity. not Inappropriate. trust M
this time and upon this occasion. / am
bid TO tell you that the stars that glitter
IN the spangled banner Of our Union to
the names OF the Southern States glow
to-day with an undimmed LOYALTY "a
this great Union Of ours. SO far as the
South is concerned. she has no desire go
garner the scars and dsjointed columns"
Of her mighty battle for a lost cause
She has accepted the arbitrament OF the
sword, and her children have turned 70
study dispassionately the lessons Il has
taught / am conscious that | voice the
sentiment Of my people when standing
here In this presence. before my country
and my God, as son OF the South.
born on Southern soil, and drawing my
humble lineage from Southern sires. with
not tie OF kinship or personal interest
north Of Mason and Dixon's line-lovlng
the land OF my birth. its memories. IT'S
traditions, and its history; cherishing the
sad story of the lost cause" as a sa-
cred and priceless heritage. and clinglng
as though unto the horns OF an altar 10
a firm faith and belief In the sincerity
and patriotic purpose Of its great leaders
when I'm this presence, measuring my
words and knowing their full purport
and extent, ! declare that do not regret
that I'm the great strife OF the sections
the victorious hnger-touch Of God rested
at last upon the banner Of the Union.
DO regret the many evils the mighty
issue OF battle brought 10 my land with
the dark sweep OF It's wing. the widows
and orphans IL made and the homes
and hresides II desolased. nor do I
forget the sting and bitterness OF defeat.
that weeping of Rachel for her children.
those ashes of sorrow, that sad return
OF the defeated soldier 10 find his lonely
chimney standing az silent sentinel
over the blackened ruins Of his home.
pointing with IT'S solemn finger 20 his
God. his last refuge and his strength.
Nor do forget the long succeeding night
Of disaster the heritage OF a defeated
people, the dark days OF reconstruction,
when strangers and aliens were armed
with the symbols OF authority over us,
when the victory which had been wrested
from us by noble hands was unwttingly
conhded 20 other and meaner keeping,
10 those who flushed with the arrogance
OF "a little brief authority" sowed my
country down In the salt OF humiliation
and despair. And yet, despite all this.
viewing the whole Question calmly and
dispassionately and in the light OF the
great future that Is dawning ahead for
this great and free Government, as
son of the South can truthfuliy say that
| am glad that out OF the wreck or wal.
ont Of the charring hand OF fame, this
American Union has come 10 US un-
broken. one and entire. For | believe
that e. has been the best for the South
and her people and for the great world
lhde cause ~ freedom. for that American
liberty which iu th.e insoparahie Union
garoas nf0ff ~ ore unbr0kon column for
the enlightenment OF the peoples Of the
world
even believe that an inscrutible Provi-
denco ordained tho stern struggle and
lost battle as "a blessing IN disguise 10
the people of the South and for her
best and trueSt future prosperity We
must remember that the South was
cursed With an institution antagonistic
10 the high sense ~ humanity, and 10
that lofty ideal and spri, OF liberty that
was Illuminated in our frst thluder 81
Independence. and vas afterwards ifted
az the palladium OF our free Govern