The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-06-21
TIE SOUTH AND THE UNION.

TIE SOUTH AND THE UNION.
Rev. II. G.. Cave'g Decoration Day Utter
terance at Richmond.
The Republican organs are agreed on
extolling the consistency and the logic OF
the Rev. R G. Caves recent Decoration
Dav utterances at Richmond, the Milwau-
kce Sentinel proceeding to rebuke the
Courier Journal for the dissent which We
.venturcd to offer to DR..
Caves impashioned, bat unthoughted, ell
oqucnce. We had confined our remarks
to single depreciation of the wisdom OF
such outbursts of empty and irrelevant
rhetoric. We premise that it is possible
to pay attribute to the conspicuous valor of
the Southern soldiers without revival OF
bootlcss discussions, and to erect monu-
mcnts that shall perpetratc the memory
of noble deeds, without changing them
also with the pcrpetuation of bitterness.
But, had occasion required it., wee might
have gone furthur and upset the super
structure upon which man ofgcnius had
built a pyramid of words by the single
question, what cause has the South lost
which remains to be vindicatcd, Or which
can be recovered?
The war between SECTIONS was not war
of races or of religious systems. 1t was
not even war of dynasties, leaving be-
hind it the sense of irrcparable wrong on
the part o. the beaten and excluded cla-
mants. Two issues alone were involved
the right of the ownership of slave prop
erty in the territories, and everywhere
else, unabridged and unassailcd, and the
right State, peacefully and at its own
will. to secede from the Union, not being
able clearly to define and determine these
Issues, had compromised them in the or
eanic law. The limitations of slavery and
the exact relation of the States to the
Federal Government were left open ques-
lions in the constitution. A good arGu-
mcnt could be made on either side ss to
beth questions. Good arguments were
made on either side as to both questions.
Forty years of agitation eliminated in
four years OF war, whose results proved
conclusive. 1t was final trial by arms,
and the verdict went against the South.
Whatever peaceful right of secession a
State might have legally possessed, the
war practically demonstrated that it
could never he carried into effect as long
humap nature remains what it is, and,
since slavery existed no longer,its right in
the territories, or elsewhere, could not
seriously interest or concern anybody.
Thirty yearsof peace have confirmed
the verdict of these four years of war.
Minus slavery, the people of the United
States are exactly where they were before
the war. There has not been the slight
est change in our Federal system.
There is not The slightest abrdS-
ment of the rights of any citizen. Human
liberty has been enlarged, not contracted.
Nor is there the least discrimination be-
tween the citizens Of the North and the
citizens of the South, or between the SOL
diers, who wore the blue and the soldiers
who wore the Gray, except in the matter
of the pension list, and sure no brave or
honest Confederate soldier has ever been
heard to complain that any brave and
honest Union soldier has ever had his
service thus recognized. In all things
else. il is one with the men, who followed
Grant and with the men who followed Lee.
They sit side by side in Congress; they
serve side by side in the Cabinet; they
have represented the country and are rep
rcsenting it in its foreign diplomatic SER
vice with al ability and loyalty which, as
between the two, cannot be distinguished
the one from the other.
One of the chiefs Of secession died upon
the Supreme bencl. of the United States
lamcnted by his northern associates Two
Confederate soldiers ait there now. A
Gallant Confederate officer is the civil
head ofthe American navy All parties
agree that lie is making good Secretary,
southern lad, and the son OF Confcd-
erate hero, hasjpst graduated at the head
ofb;s class al the Naval Academy Both
the Naval Academy and the Military
Academy are full of southern boys, who
will presently hold position OF command
n The arn,y and navy. A distinguished
and brilliant Confederate officer Of our
Ambassador TO France.
There il meta right eniosed by Masaa-
chusetts which is not enjoyed By Aiasis-
.;npi THERE'S mol star in the ferna-
mont sf heaven which does not SLIME
eoualss upop Y ermont and Texas; mr., Io'
.hc matt fer Of HAT, i STAR upnl. the aass O
the Union that does not do siie same l
hing. Wllat:caase, therefore, has l s
lar lat We ought q nssinta am, aud tint
| tims sill restore asl Africaa slavery
Nan sense. No sans man would recall /
lii he could
me RICH / of secessiols Let dorado
~ 4 and soc now quick tha South J q
MIA :, wifh flie aosgllsrr Bpsn md money {