The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-16


that no compromise was made, that the
Southern Confederacy fought to the bitter
end for the rights which were justly due her.
Right and principle are dearer to every true
man than victory on the bloody field of bat
tie. There is nothing in Confederate history
to be ashamed Of but much to admire: and no
truth ever furnished a more brilliant setting
in any nations history than the two canoes
to which we have just alluded aud which
have been criticised as mistakes.
have looked upon the gravestones in some
of our national cemeteries, placed there at
great expense to the national government to
perpetuate the lasting resting place of those
who fell fighting under the UEited States
Gag, and although ! am thoroughly a South.
erner, no sentiment of opposition to this
enormous expenditure of national funds has
ever arisen in my heart; for if ever any ma
ton has been brought under obligation to
her soldiefy for the protection and preserva-
ton Of her national colors, that nation is the
United States Of America. For Confederate
soldiers, backed by the poverty Of the South
and inspired by convictions of right, came
very pear plucking the stars and stripes from
the capitol at Washington on more occa-
sions than one and thus they sent rolling
over The North such a wave of s'fear and
trembling that many of the more timid kind
ko-o - saAova.a1 frNpn - ~ fhic dow Tho
funeral Of a Confederate general, the inter-
ment of Jefferson Davis, or any such occasion
in the South, frequently brings down upon
US Il sbriek OF horror and a perfect TRADE Of
abuse from the Northern press. 1t is not q
matter Of surprise that such should be the
case ; but upon the other hand, it is a forced
admission of the real valor and bravery
which the Nerthern people really accord 10
the Southern soldiery, and which they are
| ashamed otherwise TO admit. The fact that
these innocent occasions sometimes call forth
the groundless charge, even at this late day,
that there yet remains in the hearts Of the
Southern people the smoldering fires of re-
bellion, together with the fact that nine
tenths of the brave fellows, who fought ON
either side, sleep to-day 10 Southern soil, are
two potent factors in history, which some
! future historian will use in dernolishing the
one-sided Misrepresentation, which are bonn
tifully prevalent to-day, of that brave ssrug-
gle for Southern rights, in which 80 many Of
our heroic citizens fell. These TWO facts are
pillars Of history. The frequent howl of the
Northern press, the palpable suppression of
historical facts, and the gross misrepresenta-
lions of great historical truths prove con-
c~lusively that Northern. writers have never
regarded the South as honestly and fairly
conquered (: because they see the justice Of the
claims for which we fought, aud the addi-
tional fact that their dead sleep under South
ern skies, must forever publish the fact to MI
coming generations that they we're the inodders
and that The South fought for the protection
of her country, her property, and her homes
Blot out all else Of our history, and these facts
alone would beget in the minds Of future
historians a conviction that our cause
though lost, was a just cause.
In 1853 a pedigree research led Sir Bernard
Burke, of England, to pay a visit to the
town of Finderne. he sought, it is recorded,
for the ancient ball, not a stone remained to
tell where i, had stood. He entered the
church; not single record Of Finderne was
there. He accosted a villager, hoping to
CLEAN from him some stray traditions of the
Finderues. "Findernes I" exclaimed the
villager," we have NO Findernes here; but we
have something thas once belonged to the Fin.
derenes, we have Finderne flowers" "Show
me them" exclaimed Sir Bernard Burke /;
and the old villager Immediately led him into
a field, once the site of Godfrey Finderne's
castle: there still remained faint traces of
terraces and foundations. The once magni-
6cent castle had crumbled to dust, aud the
ploaghshare Of the farmer turned up the sod
upon which was once located the ancient hall
of the Findernes. "There," said the villager
pointing to a bank Of garden flowers grown
wild, 'sthere are the Finderne's flowers,
brought by Sir Godfrey from the holy land;
and do what we will, they will never die p
So the sharp ploughshare of hatred and pre-
judice has been driven through the brilliant.
record of Confederate scholarship and of
Southern rights but do what they will, the
flowers Of chivalry and brilliant military
genius planted by Confederate soldiers, and
watered by the best blood Of the South will
never die"
After the Grafton which was greatly
enjoyed by all present, three salutes were
fired by the s.. L.. L., the benediction was
pronounced BY Rev. DR.. Edmunds, aud the
crowd dispersed.
Council Proceedings.