The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-05
AN ABLE ADDRESS.

livcrcu at Bethel Reunion Jul,
21st by Hon. a. Ill. Dean. o
GrconYilIc.
Commander and Survivors Of Mannins
Austin Camp United Confederate
Veterans:
| can not proceed to the remark
| which | have to make, my friends,
without first expressing to you the ap-
prcclatlOn which | feel for the distin-
Suished honor you have done me t. in
Vltc me 10 be present with you ON thi is
very happy and auspicious day. For
| peculiar reasons the cause Of the Con
lcorracy and its hallowcd mcrorirs,
occupy choice place in my hearts :
affections, and congratulatc you upon
the custom which you have established
OF meeting here annually, to recount
past cNpericr ces and associations, ana
to bind closer the tics OF love among
the thin ranks OF the rapidly disap-
pcaring survivors Of the Confederate
army.
li,w different is this day from tho
list Of July, 1861, which you saw on
the bloody field Of Manassas? Then,
there was turmoil and carnage and the
ain OF battle ; the cries OF the wounded
and the wall of the dying the cXultant
shout OF the victors. History does not
record more magnificent victory more
bruvely won than that which the Con-
fcdcracy achieved at the battle of Ma
hasas under tho matchlcss leadership
OF BartOw, Bee, Evans and others in
| command there. Bat today, instead
Oh turmoil and warfare we have peace
ana plentiful harvest. oar fair land
when was then devastated and barren,
under the magic touch Of educated
laoor ana energy, now "blOssoms
as the rose" Enterprise and progress
| everywhere. The soil yielding boun-
t.in'ly to the hand OF Industry. Man
ulacturlng enterprises literally crown
ing our hills and making the valleys
merry with the music OF machinery.
we have been made to kiss the hand
that smOLc us. We pay millions in
pensions, or tribute money, to the sur
vlrors OF the outnumbcring and over
| powcring army Of the North, yet Sc
great are cur advantages il: resources
in climate, in soil and otherwise that
notwithstanding what VIC conceive tt
| be discriminating national Legislation
and burdens which We bear in tho
shape OF tribute money. it seems that
IN spite OF all VIC are destined to out
strip our brother OF the North in ma
tcrlaI progress and prosperity, and
| "S!!!i Will car flowers uitramplcd sprin,
| Our harveSiS wave, our cities rise
And still till time shall fold his wing
Remain carth's lovliest PARADISE"
1t has been something more than thirty
years since tho old flag Of stars and
bars was furlCd and arms stacked at
| AppOmattoX. The tattcred and worn
Confederate soldier, who for four long,
weary, trying years had withstood the
prlvAtions, the hardships and vicissi-
tudcs Of cruel warfare, turned his face
homcward; came home foOtsorc, weary,
TO lnd his country a waste place, some
OF his former proud cities in ashes
from the torch OF the invader and de-
spoilcr, and his home in desolation
Since then, many who returned have
'crOSscC the river" to rest under tn G
shades in the Great beyond with the
| immortal jackson and johnson and the
many others whose bones are bleach.
ing on Il thousand battle fields, who
poured out their life blood as libations
upon their country's altar for cause
which they believed to be Just and the
Justice OF which has not been dimmcd
ny time.
And as we contemplate the hoary
heads, the STOPPING forms and tCtter.
ing steps of those who yet remain, we
arc reminded that they too must
soon join the majority
"Whcrc the war drums throb no longer
! whtrc the battle flag is furlcd,
| In the Parliament of Man, the federation
| Of the world.
Now it is said that they are forgot
| ter, that they are nOl appreciated
| Their deeds, their forttiudc, thci,
! hcroism and their valor, they say, ir
some quarters, is forgotten. They
! say that we have lost that sense OI
appreciation which once characterized
us as Il people, and which was tn,
| boast, the proud boast, OF ovcrv true
Soutncrncr. My friends, as the son OF
Il Confederate survivor, knowing some
thing at least Of the sentiment tina,
thrills the breast Of the younger gen
Grafton. | deny that charge. Tn,
numerous historic and memorial assO
Citations which arc organized through.
out the South contradict the idea tina,
they are forgotten institutions en-
dO@cd for the collection and prcscrva
tiOn Of mcmcntOs and relics Of that
mortal struggle deny il: deny tina,
their memory Is diShOnOrcd and for
gotten. We testify to our ailrctionat,
regard and dcathlcss love for thci,
deeds and their valor and tDCir memory
In ali the principal cities Of the South
ing its head hcavcnward almost ricrc
ing the stormy clouds, are monument
tCStiiying to pOsterity Of that cvcrlast
ing love for those who wore the gra,
and who went down in tho lost cause
And annually, as spring time, with it
abundance and profusion Of flowers tha
bless our fair land. comes trOoDin.
from the lap OF winter, tho fair dangh
t tcrs Of the Confcdcracy with aiToc
tionhte and loving hands weave bcauti
ful GarIands, and place them upon th
; graves OF those who went down in tha
= struggle, some Of them sleeping o
/ dusty pillows in unmarked graves, an
sing sweet anthems to their memories
r No, they arc not forgotten.
!, That was Il most impressive seen
o which occurred about year ago
l. lfichmOnd, the Mecca OF the COnfcde
d acy, at that grand reunion OF the oil
> battle Scared Confederate survivor
when that OlG hero Of many battl,
C from our own State, made his appca
G. ancc before the multitude Of his 0
~ comrades in arms. With them he hs