San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-22

by nature; by her history, and by
the characteristics Of her sons and
her daughters, what optimistic
prophet could predict for her a
career so glorious as to be beyond
her reasonable ambition? The as
sembling OF the war Scared
veterans in this war Scared state
recalls striking contrast in the
war history. Sixty years ago Tex
as won her fight for independence.
Thirty years ago these Confeder-
ates lost their fight for separate
nationality; but Texas victorious
was no more glorious and grand
than were these brave men around
me in their overwhelming defeat.
Texas victorious won her way to
statehood and a place In the front
rank Of states. The Confederates,
crushed and disbanded as soldiers,
addressed themselves to the duties
OF citizens with a conservatism so
conspicuous, a patriotism so true
and broad, fidelity to the decisions
OF battle so unquestioned and
sincere, as to challenge the conf
dence and esteem Of patriots in
every section of the union.
This leads me to recall three re-
markable achievements by these
eX.Confederates in peace, which
impartial history will pronounce a
fitting climax to their splendid re-
cord in war.
The first is the reconstruction,
mainly through your instrument
tality, OF the labor system of our
entire section. You returned from
a long, eXhausting and unsuccess-
full struggle to find the agricultu-
raj labor of your states not only
disorganized, but as system Ito
the management and control Of
which you were born and trained)
it was utterly destroyed. Yet you
heroically undertook the task OF its
reorganization under new system,
and adapted yourselves to that
new order. The success Of your eff
forts is the noblest commentary
upon your wisdom and justice.
With no power to control that
hitherto servile labor, with no
money to pay it, you successfully
guided 1t to plane Of self.support
| and to vastly increase the.product
| of the south's great staple.
The second, is your astounding
success in securing, in spite Of the
radical revolution in the condition
around you and in so short period,
financial independence for your
families and Industrial prosperity
for your section. You returned
from the war poor--the first Of
thousands penniless, many shot
and manned and yet bravely and
! overwhelmingly laboring with aid
from no source save from God and
your own selt-reiiance and man.
hood, you have fought your way to
competence, provided for our dis
abled comrades until scarcely a
confederate soldier can be found
deprived OF the comforts of life.
At the same time your combined
effort have carried these Southern
states to a height of material adj
vancement from which you may
now calmly look back over land
which but 30 years ago was a wide
waste of desolation and ashes, and
around you our country is now
happy in it's rebuilt homes and re-
deemed farms, radiant in the light
OF industrial resurrection, Of assur-
ed prosperity and enduring ma
terial independence.
The third achievement, is the
passionless, transformations and
peaceful manner in which you laid
aside the trappings and discipline
Of the camp for the garb OF the cit
izen and the silent restraints of
civil government. For this mar
velous exhibition of self command
under supremest trials; for this
complete burial of all sectional
bitterness; for the gradual but GER
tain transmitting Of your valor and
devotion, exhibited in defence OF
the dead that fell, into unchal-
lenged loyalty to the flag that
triumphed, to all the evidences OF
the Hottest evidences of citizen
ship, you will yet find your reward
in the universal plaudits of your
countrymen, as it is already Sc.
cured in the power, progress and
cherished freedom Of our reunited
republic.
Go forward my comrades and by
self-denial, by wise economy and
we'll directed energy continue the
material development Of this
heaven blessed section, until abund-
ance shall be found in every home
and the whole land shall rejoice in
your industrial triumphs.
Go forward in the cultivation OF