The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-02-23

rendered because it has been reduced
to rubbish by the cnemy's artillery.
The Federals on their side were de-
Veloping and testing to the utmost the
turreted man-of-war, and were demon-
strating that brave men in the dis.
charge OF duty could not be demoraliz-
ed by the presence OF a new and terrible
weapon planted where no eye could
see, and no human sagacity could guard
against.
| nave no time to particularize, but
there was one exploit here that de.
serves to take its place among the
classics. Victor Hugo extols as be.
yond comparison the contcmptuous
answer given by tho French officer to
the English General Picton when he
roae up ana asked the surrender of a
hollow square OF the Old Guard that
was melting away under u deadly fire
from all sides, and writer's never tire
OF telling US of the discipline and devo-
tlon of the Roman soldier as illustrated
oy the remains OF q centurion dug out
from the ruins of Herculaueum where,
standing erect at his post, he had been
overwhelmed by the lava; but beyond
ana ABOVE these secm to me to stand
the heroism of Lieutenant Dixon and
captain Carlton and the five men who,
With little torpedo bOat, sank the
u,
times this boat had sunk before sho
could be brought to bear upon an
enemy-each time all her crew, except
one at one time and thrcc at another,
had perished beneath the water; but
there were always volunteers to man
the little craft The sixth crow was
successful. They sank the Housatonic,
but FOR the sixth time the torpedo boat
went down with her crew. When,
hn No,
removed the little boat was discovered
on the bottom about hundred wards
from the Housatonic. Every man was
at his post. II there be anything to
surpass this | know not where to fiud
1t In the literature Of past ages, but it
has its parallel in the sinking OF the
Confederate ship Albemarle by Lieut..
Gushing in the waters of North Caro-
llDa in 1864 and his miraculous escape.
WHAT is it, Mr.. Chairman, that has
wrought the revolution that has taken
place between February, 1865. and Feb.
ruary, 1897 ? How happens that the
liect that blockades Charleston harbor
In 1897 is sent here by u Secretary who
Is an cX-Confcderate soldier, and how
does 1T happens that the people OF tho
North and the South are better friends
aud that the prospects of a perpetual
union are more assured to-day than at
any time since the foundation of our
government down to 1860? Those re-
suits are phenomenal in history, but
the causes are not far to seek. The
change has grown out of the nature
and character of the issues that were
at stake in the civil war, and out of the
observation-disclosures of the American peo-
pie. On both sides were we fighting
for the constitution OF the fathers as
we understood it. The issue that was
left unsettled by the founders was, how
much power did the Federal constitu-
tion give to the general government
and how much did it leave with the
States This issue had narrowed it.
sell down to the right of secession, and
the question OF secession was settled
forever by the war, just as this arbiter
IN the last resort has settled every
boundary line between the nations Of
Europe.
Slavery, an incidental issue, was also
decided With secession and slavery
both out of the way there was nothing
left to divide the North from the South
hut passion and prejudice. These dis
appeared when the smoke OF battle
had lifted, and the victors took survey
Of the field. The blood that had been
poured out on both sides like water had
not been shed in vain. Mutual respect
and admiration took the place of the
hatred and ignorance that had inspired
the combat. The people of the North,
with whom as result of the struggle
all power had been left, came to SEQ
that the government Of the fathers
could not endure with some of the
States in subjcction to others, and they
saw also that the men who were capable
Of such heroic sacrifices as the Confed-
crates had displayed would be honest
and true when they renewed their
allegiance TO the Union, and so the
people of the North deliberately de-
cided to share with the South again
the powers Of this government. In
this they made no mistake, as this and
u Thousand other occasions have since
testified. Our country's new navy,
which typilics the might and majesty
OF the Union of the States, was built
up by the joint efforts OF those who
had Supported the Confoderacy and
those who had helped 10 maintain the
Union. That navy is something to
kindlo pride and patriotism in the hears
OF every American citizen. Its ships,
its guns, its torpcdocs are equal to anv
in the world. Its officers represent
every Congressional District in the
land, they represent the bravery and
devotion that made snch resplendent
records for the armies and navies OF
Ollc SOnlcucfdcy anu Oh Lnc Union.
The GOODNESS and courage OF the officers
OF the new navy were typiiicd recently
by the nerve with which the captain of
the Maine handled his ship when there
was cry Of man overheard " in the
midst Of that terrific storm, and of
young Gherardi, who took charge of
the rescuing boat and who, when il was
found impossible to lift that boat again
from the tempestuOus pillows thai
were threatening momentarily to en-
gulf it, was the last to be lifted from it
by Il rope to the dock of the vessel.
AS for the sailors OF our navy, the he
rOic impulses that animate them pro-
claim that they arc worthy successors
OF the gallant tlrs who have so often
maintained the honor Of, our flag upon
the seas. need only point to the gallan-
try OF Creelman, to whom it was nv
high privilege to-day to present in per-
son medal, and the bravery of others
Of his comrades on board the Maine in
their cIlDrts to rescue their drowning
companions.
There q e still in the service some of
the gallant officers Of the old navy,
Rear Admiral Buncc. who is present
this evening and who is now in COM
mand OF the feet in your harbor, dis
ttngutshcd himself in the civil war.
His captains, Schley, Bartlett Glass,
Taylor, Crowninshield, Sands, Wise
and Harrington, all rendered gallant