The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-13
A MEMORIAL ADDRESS
Delivered at Guyton by Col. w, W.
Gordon on Memorial Dav.

The following is the full text of the ad-
dress delivered by Col. w. w. Gordon.
before the Memorial Association of Efing-
ham county, on Memorial day.
Ladies OF the Memorial Association Of
Eningham County: In the words OF Mark
Antony,
Hear me for my cause
And g silent that We may hear"
The whole earth is the sepulcher OF illus
trlous men. In their own land the inscriptions
upon columns points out their burial places
In other lands there dwells with every one an
unWritten memorial Of the heart rather than
material monument
These words OF Pericles are as true now as
they we're centuries ago when spoken in the
funeral Grafton over the Athenlans slain in
battle.
Stately columns. and humble head-stones
marx unnumbered SepulcherS in our land
but the unwritten memorial OF the heart is
what we cherish most, and it finds expression
In this anniversary.
rms day brings TO our generation recolJec-
lions OF the cause for which we suffered. and
memories OF the individuals who We're mar
tyrS TO that cause. To younger gcnerations
the day suggests period Of upheavals among
men as potent and terrible as the sweep of a
cyclone, or the swing OF an earthquake The
day suggests these appalling and disastrous
scenes nut 1t should also teach something of
the causes and results.
In the wears first succeeding the war this
anniversary was largely the outcome of per-
sonal mourning for relatives and friends who
was In the confederate ranks No communitv
no FAMILY, had escaped It's contributions to
the death roll. All ages and sexes joined in
this tribute to their dead, and none stoned
TO analyze the cause moving them The dead
ana they were as one In feeling and the wish
to give public expression to this feeling
WIS as spontaneous and unanimous
ana overwhelming AS was the
response to arms in 1861. II would
nave seemed as sacrilegious to imavlue thar
time or circumstance could obscure the merit
OF this cause or dim the glory of these dead
as that the graves themselves should be VIC
lated, The span of almost a generation has
barely sutficed to close the wounds LEFT hy
that struggle The tender scars upon our
hearts still culver and throb responsive to
any mention OF those days. But our gener
alton is passing away, Those who follow MS
cannot feel the same intense personal interest
that we feel, ana we must look to il that thew
90 not misJudee our cause nor forget our
dead, and we must utilize this anniversary
aid THESE ceremonies to transmit to them the
tacts which forced us into hostilities and we
must reelte TO them such "reminiscences of
men and deeds as will bring before them
these dead as living entitles-he heroic in that
they gave their lives for principle in which
they believed
he interstate war which commenced in
1861 and closed in 1868 was the result of az
gresslons by fanattcal party in the northern
states. Slavery was the alleged cause but
TINS was preteXt. Greed for power and lust
Tor public land was the root OF the fauaticism
@nd, II slavery had not existed, some other
plCttAb hOulU nave NObn found to give
TO section envious of the mental superiority
or southern statesmen and to secure an OF the
public domain to the citizens OF that section
alone In which said fanatical party could
The real rebels were the advocates OF what
they called the higher law" which ignored
the compact OF individual sovereign states
joined in union for common defense aud
convenience, with no authority EXCEPT that
specially delegated. The real rebels wore
those who called the constitution of the
United states "a league with hell" who
openly dehed its laws in their own states:
VINO invoked arms and violence to deter
Southerners from settling in the territories of
Kansas and Nebraska; who inslgated and
in the person Of John Brown. attempted at
Harpers Ferry to light the fires OF servfle
instruction, needless il il should result in
the massacre Of white and all the horrors of
san Domingo and the hendish atrocities of
the Sepoys.
When a President and congress was elected l
by party leaYened and led by these fanatics
IL was apparent TO the people Of the south
that their rights under the constitution we're
lmperiled. 1t was in resistance 10 this spirit
or interference and aggression that the cit
liens OF the states south Ct the Potomac and
the Ohio rose as one man to protect them
selves and the principle of local self govern
ment. II was the same principle which ami
mated the Detch Under William Of Orange to
resist the tyranny OF Philip the second. OF
the English under Hampton to defy the
edicts of Charles the first; of the colonlsts
under Washington to repudiate their oaths
Oh diltBlduCe 10 george the tnlrQ. IleY were
successful and history calls them patriots
We were unsuccessful, and they call us rebels.
The facts that l have briefly stated are the
Keynote TO the instruction which this ami
versary should Impart to our children and
our childrens children. We want them TO
recognize and realize
That the southern states did not rebel
against lawful authority. They withdrew
from compact of union which had been at
tackled and violated
That the secession OF each state was deter
mined, not by mobs nor irresponsible persons,
bot by conventions elected by its citizens to
decide the question.
That the conventions certainly voiced the
wish of the people, for their decisions we're
accepted with enthusiastic unanimity and
the right of q state to seeede. and the para
mount allegiance each citizen owed his state
was recognized not only al home, but in every
part OF the world by the designations of its
natives who held civil, or military or naval
office under the federal government
The scriptures tell us OF the cave Of Adul-
lam, and the gathering there of the idle and
dissolute, the worthless and the reckless,
clamoring for a change Of rulers to mend
their broken fortunes,
Our confederate leaders were the purest
and noblest Of the nation. Their most devo-
ted followers were the most intelligent and
prosperous of the citizens OF their states
Howell, Cobb, stephens, Tombs, Jefferson
DAVIS, had won foremost places as national
statesmen
Buchanan and Tatnall, the two Johnstons
and Lee, were among the highest in rank in
the federal navy and army Each had done
much for the nation. Each had displayed ex-
traordinary ability. Each had assurance Of
continued honor and advancement under the
old f1ag-and they loved that old flag which
was to them symbol Of great and glorious
nationality.
But when their states were threatened and
had resumed their sovereignty. when the union
under the old flag could only be sustained by
armed invasion Of their mother states they
sacrificed the certainty Of continued pros
perity for themselves and joined their fellow
citizens in forming and defending a new gov
eminent.
Young people don't be misled by the litera-
ture of the north into thinking with pity per
haps with contempt, OF the south for seced-
ing. The southern leaders were not
madmen, nor were the southerners fools
Simply as a practical question-aside from
principle or sentiment the chances for sue
cess were greater than those OF the colonists
in 1916
France was anxious TO recognize the con-
federacy but was restrained by England who |
hoped that the interruption to- and possible |
destruction Of cotton raising in the south
would build up cotton production in English /
colonies in the east. Recognition by either |
England or France would have resulted In |
success to the confederacy at any time
previous to the fall Of Vicksburg and the bat |
tie OF Gettysburg.
But leaving foreign aid out OF the question |
and relying solely upon themselves there |
were many crises when results might have /
been reversed and. II so, brought the war to a /
different conclusion. 1t is idle TO speculate |
now as TO what would have occurred if the |
battle Of Manassas had terminated IN the |
aff Inc LqtRn