The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-21


into sectional parties along a line of de-
markation which denied equal rights 10
equal states that an appeal was made TO
the arbitrament of war. All things come
to the men or the people who wait and So
with perfect confidence in the Tectftude
' OF our motives, in the correctness of our
views OF the federal constitution and of
the propriety of our acts in the past, we
surviving cOnfederates for ourselves and
IN Denat Of our dead comrades, offer no
apology or excuse for our course in 1Sil-6j
Dut frankly and firmly avOuch the facts
OF our country's history and the teach
lngs and writing Of the fathers as a JUS
tlncation of the southern states at the bar
OF impartial history. Whatever may be
Ilsht or wrong, the south believed she
was right and the principles in defense Of
Mllcn lne south accepted battle after
pedceably seeding from the union were
round IN the constitution and taught by
our IaLnerS. The south claimed and ask
eQ nothing more than equal rights not OF
persons only but of states, equal privileges
IN ali parts of the union; equal protec-
person, to every species of property recog-
nized by the state. Less than that was
subordlnation, not equality. An appeal to
court OF last resort between sovereign
states became absolutely necessary In
us forum the states Joined issue and when
us DEGREES was found against the south
We bowed to II as final, without consent
ing to II as just or righteous. It's ire
Yocable result will not be again oues-
toned, but accepted with a solemn sense
o. uuty 70 maintain the government with
true faith and to defend the flag of our
country with the same courage and devo-
ton that we gave TO our little cross Of
st. Andrew. Our civil war established be-
yond controversy that the north was
stronger IN all the materials of war, and
them available, having besides internal re-
sources, the outside world to draw from.
But beyond that human rea-
conclusion, and the right or wrong is
leIt to impartial history, and, Mr. Chair
man, 1 have not the least apprehension
Cfn Vrsfn1 Faff1
nlze the justification of the south in the
records Of our country and find that ac-
cording TO the faith that was in her peo-
pie and their judgment made up from
that standpoint there was no alternative
left in 1861 but an appeal to arms, and
l affirm, Mr.. Chairman, with equal CON
ndence that any comparison of the two
sections from the earliest times TO the
present day will not find the south the
less patriotic or less SOlicitOus for the
honor, glory and welfare of the union.
The senator followed this up by a de-
tailed history of the battle of Chickamau-
ga and the events preceding and follow
ing it, as viewed from his standpoint He
deprecated any renewal of the struggle:
The blood and carnage of 1876 should
not be repeated. No thoughtful man. how
ever, IS Tree from grave apprehensions
when he sees the ugly signs outcrop here
and there and hang ominously over the
destinies of our country. We even now
see the faint yet vivid flashes and hear
the thunder in the distance and pray that
the storm may pass harmlessly. We who
uAu the lBullilS III our Interstate STRUGGLE
know what war means and should help
avert the danger. But should danger
come. l believe the conservative south
may yet prove to be the rod that Will con-
duct the fiery bolt harmlessly to the
earth and when liberty takes her flight
II she ever should-from this country her
last resting place will be in our constitu-
tton-loving, cOnstituion-defending south"
Speaking of the development of the
southern industries, he said: 'rhe south
mas increased the aggregate national
wealth in proportion to our population
equally with the north. We have de-
Veloped coal until the swiftest steamers
that plow the ocean look to our south
ern mines for the energy upon which
their speed demands. Our iron rivais
any in the market, our various miner
ais contribute to the worlds wealth
equal in every respect to that of the
north. In all wide-awake business cir
cles, as in current history, it is conceded
that the greatest opportunities inviting
enterprise are now in the south. Prog
ress and prosperity smile again on the
old south, whose energy and enterprise
have given generous profits to northern
capital, which found investment among
her people,.
yonder battleields know what war is
and while holding ourselves every ready
to touch elbows in line of battle, against
foreign foes, our experience, our cour-
age and our patriotism warn us Beware
of the entrance to a quarrel
when the time comes-which we pray
will never cOme-that calls our men to bat
tie, the record of the past gives promise
and assurance to the future, that the de-
scendants of the men who followed Bragg
on yOnder field will be as responsive to
the call, as valiant in the fight and as
vigorous in the pursuit as the children of
those who rallied under Rosecrans.
we of the south love our comrades
with no less devotion; we see in them no
less courage, honor, manliness and pat
riotism than you recognize in your fellow
soldiers. To the men of the south, their
cause was not less holy, nor less sacred
not less rightful than you esteem that for
I h .sr-f, xrfarr. rnnryaf FaF4rr ElA
Gen. Bate was followed by Gen. Charles
H. GrosVenor, a representative in con-
gress from OHIO. who said:
Mr.. Chairman, we meet to-day upon
this sacred spot to celebrate the heroism
of the American soldier, the great results
of the battle and to spread the victories
of peace. We do not come with words Of
elimination or with memories charged
with bitterness or envy. We join here, as
American citizens, upon one of the great
battlelelds OF great war to dedicate for
all time to the American people these mon
uments and this battlefield. We do this
to remind those of coming generations Of
the heroic races from which they descend
ed; to exhibit to them the enormous cost
of the institutions bequeathed to them
and placed in their keeping; and to for
ever appeal to these who are to come
after US that they guard, protect and for
ever cherish imperishably and immutably
the results of the great war
"The achievement of which we are
proudest, is not that we conquered in
war and by physical force overthrow
the armies OF the cOnIeQeracy, but that
we prevented the overthrow of the union
of the states; that we stood in the deadly
conflict not to change our institutions,
but to save the union not to commit
revolution but to save the flag as the
representative of g. great union; that we
fought to restore the constitution as the
supreme law of the land. These efforts
were not unavailing; the result aimed
at has been. accomplished and the union
of the states to-day is a union of hearts
and a union Of hands, and a union of
states, none can sever.
The general briefly summed up the
issues of the war, and argued that the
unionists took the logical and correct
side of the question.
The general paid a merited tribute
to the courage and skill displayed on
both sides, declaring that as a demon
stration of the spirit and power of the
American soldier, there is no spot on
the American continent the equal of
Chickamauga. The magnificent strategy
and unexcelled valor of this heroic con-
iict were accompanied by fewer blum
ders, fewer failures, than pertained to
any other of the great battles of the
war.
The programme as arranged was devia-
ted from somewhat in order that several
governors of the states who were pres
ent and were unable to remain until the
close, might be presented to the audience.