The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-09


people Is 10 make II wealthy and great.
prosperous and powerful; but It's sec
ondary effect is to corrupt, degenerate,
and destroy. To the South. as she was
at the beginning OF the war. had been
granted the greatness and strength or
Its primary effect. but its corruptive
influence was Just beginning 10 SOW It's
seed OF degeneracy among her younger
sons, and to lay its fnger-touch OF decay
on her springing generations. 1t takes
no spirit OF prophecy. no Cassandra
singing OF woes OF a Troy, to point tho
fearful and probable issue-to see as
In a sad vision the proud South fallen
from her high estate into a weakened.
degenerate, and effete aristocracy-aii the
daughters Of her music brought low.
her silver cord of power ioosened, her
golden bowl OF fame and strength broken
at the fountain. The South herself saw
and realized her danger; she knew that
her institution was opposed 10 the moral
IDEAS Of advancing civilization; she her
self believed that II was wrong. But she
was In bondage unto II. IL had been
fastened on her by the circumstance OF
destiny, the uncomfortable fate or his
tory. Il was interviewer with her every
interest. into the very warp and wool
OF her social and political fabric, II was
strength. her power and her life. can
conceive OF no probable solution through
civil channels of this nightly problem
that confronted her as though with an
issue of life and death, But the peal OF
cannon sounded in our land, and my
people were shrived Of their accursed
system by the god OF battles. The con
fiict came. II come II must. at the most
opportune time for Southern fame anG
glory, at the height of the South's
strength and power. before the disgrace
OF threatened degeneracy had laid us
touch on her younger sons. before the
iron weight of her system had borne
her beanlng forehead 10 the dust From
the ashes OF defeat we arose a freer
people, freer white race, freed from
the shackles OF our debasing institution 81
slavery. The blow fell hard, but with
an undaunted spirit. the heritage OF
those sires who, fleeing across the ocean,
lifted the tents and tabernacle or gov
eminent on this continent. the people
~ the South accepted the fact or war.
and realizing the new order ana CONDITION
OF things. with no unavailing regrets
Int with stubborn and determined hearts,
turned them 10 rebuild their desolated
homes and retrieve their fallen fortunes
They have not paused To sit DV ,nc
rivers Of sorrow and weep unavallirs
toars: they do not, like Lots wife, cast
hehtna .hem lingering glances of useless
roere,. hut with their faces set steadily
IA the front they are looking hopefully
IN the future. and marching into the
dawning years.
The South stands to-day freer and
better equipped than ever for the race
of fame and prosperity In her breast Is
a rew breath, on her forehead fals
the light OF n new moon, ard upon her
chastened brow hope Is sitting like
sunrise OF glory and progress. Hut
while my people have sincerely accepted
the issue Of the battle and have come
10 look upon il as decided for the best,
vet It is no posture OF penitence. no at
titude OF apology as though for deeds
misdone. that they thus assume. we
have to make no apOlOgies-our fathers
fought for what they sincerely believed
was the true spirit and meaning or the
Constitution, and although defeated, and
defeated as we now see for the best,
we honor them for their purity of motive
and sincerity OF purpose we honor them
for the noble battle they waged. and no
human power can abate one tot or titue
OF their peoples love and admiration.
The heritage Of the children OF the South
from the war IS as priceless. and as
sacred and as honorable as that OF the
children Of our Northern brethren. There
has been an equal need of glory. or
greatness, OF high ideals, and OF unfor-
gotten and immortal names. History
accords 20 US an equal power, an equal
ability. and an equal honor I'm the great
contest. Southern valor leaps TO heaven
with as bright a flame as Northern cour-
| age and Southern chivalry pours as
sweet a stream Of story and song as
| Northern manhood. But the sweetest
| thought OF all is that the heritage OF
| each great section from the war Is fast
| becoming the heritage OF both. The soft
| ening hand OF time is fast laying its
| gentle touch on the wound. a few years
more. and II will be entirely healed.
firmly believe that when the genera
| lions that saw and felt the immediate
| consequences OF the war shall have pass
| cd away: when history shall have
| been written I'm the calm judgment OF
the future when our country shall have
! become more united, and the ewes OF our
children shall look out upon n more
elevated and more loving America when
we can look back upon our war Of States
as England does upon her war Of Roses.
az Germany upon her religious wars,
! as France upon her war Of classes. that
the glory ~ every man whose name Is
cherished I'm honor on either side viii
become the glory OF our whole people,
TINT as Americans we Will love them all
as products Of American mind and char
| acter, tho honor and pride OF this great