Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-18

| trial activity, capital busy in new enter
prises, labor abundantly employed and
reap.ng increased rewards, all sections of
the country welded together in the bonds
or common interest and the ardor Of
broad patriotism. Surely We have a pro-
| pttious hour for the beginning of this great
triumph OF peace to which we have invited
all mankind"
EULOGY OF THE SOUTH.
The Grafton Delivered by Judge
| Emory Speer.
Judge Emory Speer, the orator of the day,
said in beginning his remarks at the expo
sition grounds today: This is indeed a hap
Ply day for our country. Cold and dull must
be the nature of that man who is insensble
to these convincing proofs gathered that
the world may see the advancement of our
people on all the paths trending toward a
more perfect civilization"
great part of Judge Speer's grafton was
devoted to discussing the conditions Of the
| southern states. Said he:
The Negro Question.
! There was never the slightest danger of
continued negro control in the local affairs
of a southern state. Those who apprehend-
| ed 1t had done well to consider that Of all
the American Union the southern people
present the largest percentage of the old
|
| Georgia perhaps 80 per- cent are descended
| from men who were patriots either actively
| or In sympathy with the American revolu-
ton Even now there Is but 81 per cent
of foreign blood in the population of this
state. They had done well to consider the
lmperious and commanding nature of the
Anglo-Saxon race. -
| Il here declare that the so-called race
| question does not exist. There are millions
OF colored people who live and who will
hVe among many more millions of white
people Why shall any ore forge a race is
sue? Honest and decent men viii accord to
the negro that just measure of favor as a
member of society the laws afford him, and
| which his conduct deserves, and the long
processes of time will determine whether
| his presence is a benefit or an injury to
| himself and to the land to which he is now
as warmly attached as his white neighbors
| No process of reasoning, no fertility of con-
| lecture will afford any other solution of the
| so-called question.
'Why agitate it, then? Its unnecessary
discussion has withheld from the resources
| of these states the fructifying hand of the
| Industrious white men, whether farmer or
artisan, who earning bare support else
where. could. in this genial cline, win an
| abundance of which he never dreamed. 1t
| Is, moreover more cruel to the negro than
| 1t Is detrimental to the white men, for the
prejudice it awakens causes the idle, ignor-
ant and lawless to become the suspicious
enemies of the negro. 1t is, indeed. source
of alarm to those industrious and respect
| self-denyipg habits have supported their
families, educated their children and added
| millions annually to the taxable value Of
| these states. There is one thing since his
emancipation the south has ever guaranteed
| TO the negro; that is. no matter what his
trade or occupation, the privilege of earning
his living. 1t is common spectacle upon
structures of every character to behold
numbers of white and negro mechanics
| working side by side. I have regretted to
learn that this Is not true in the northern
| states"
The Resources of the South.
| Further on he said:
1.-The truth is, after making due allow
ance for our disadvantages, the world
should awaken to the fact that no other
land lighted by the sun in its diurnal
progress around the world affords such
attractions home for meE with lives
before them as do these southern states
of the Union. 1t is demonstrable beyond
question. Here the observant traveller will
see on one farm the luxuriant beauty of
our royal staple, the dark rich green of
the Indian corn, the golden glory of the
| ripening grain of every kind. the sweet
yams, Irish potatoes, peas, hay, ground
peas sorghum, watermelons apples, pears.
| figs, pomegranates. grapes. plums and
other crops and fruits all grown in per-
lection in the same soil.
1.-The truth Is the south is beginning to
think more of its interests and less of its
| rights. We have more earnest workers
and fewer grand-stand performers. The
most important fact of all Is that our peo-
pie have at length learned the memorable
necessity of reising their own food crops.
when on a memorable occasion. rot
long ago. the President of the United
States proclaimed that he would reply
to an insult to the American flag with the
guns of the American feet, they who cheer
ed him until the pictured ceiling of the
Capitol quivered with their plaudts were
men who had worn the gray and rallied
to tIo 1,o4f 11 nf fhn
federacy. Sir when the time shall come,
and come 1t must, when America will need
| the help Of all her sons, the men who wore
the gray and their sons will be no laggards
| then" ! u
! If the south Had Won.
After referring to. the civil war and the
advent of peace, he said:
And if we had succeeded and destroyed
the Union, what then?,< Two powerful An
glo-Saxon nations with all the hatred and
resentment resulting from separation after
internecine strife could not have confront
! ed each across an imaginary line without
frequent wars and the most exhausting
| preparation for them. STEPPED with sus-
picion, and ranking with revenge, the
great American people, divided into hos
| tile sections like France and Germany,
would have waited for the signal to loose
| have been possible to the proud and reso-
| lutte people Of America.
Thankful for Southern Defeat.
| "Oh, my countrymen, we should be CRATE
full to God that He spared us the calamtties
I feebly picture. How, unwiseiy I need not
say, we marched down into the valley and
shadow of death, but He who rules the
destinies Of nations was with us. His rod
and His staff did comfort US, and He has
restored our souls and. is even now leading
| Us through green pastures and by the
waters of comfort. And here and now, not
none, but before the people of the habitable
globe, He spreads the table that all may
come and see and know the bounties and
| benefactions He has showered on this IA
vored people. And shall we not be worthy