The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-30

order, (s-e no class of defenders rnre
true and devoted than the ex solder
# the : nth apd their worthy descend
>nts Put rcn realize the great truth
that q people without the memories OF
hero;c suffering and sacrifices are a
people without a history.
ITO cherish such memories and re
call such a past, whether crowned
with success or consecrated ip defeat,
is to idealizs principle and strengthen
character, intensity love 81 country
ard convert defeat and disaster into
pillars Of support. for future nanhood
ard noble wnmsnhood. Whether the
southern people under their changed
cor ditions NAV ever hope TO witness
another civilization which shall eq1Sl
that which began with their George
Washington and ended with their
Lee it is certainly true that devotion
to their glorious past is not only the
surest guaranty of future progressive
hottest bond Of unity, but is also the
strongest claim they can present to
the con idsnca and respect Of the other
sections Of the Union
Speaking then of your ~organizs
tion. [ said:
" L. is political in no sense excapt
so far as the word political" is a
synonym of the word patriotic 1t
is a brotherhood over which the geni
Gus of philanthropy and patriotism, of
truth and Of justice will preside. Of
philanthropy because it will succor
the disabled, help the needy, strength
en- the weak and cheer the disconso-
late; Of patriotism, because it will
cherish the past glories of the dead
C~opfederacy, and tranSmute them into
inspirations for future services to the
living republic; of truth, because it
will seek to gather and preserve un-
improbable facts as witnesses for his.
tory Of justice, because it will Guilt
vate national as we'll as southern fra
ternity, and will condemn narrow
mindedness and prejudice and passion,
and cultivate that broader, higher,
nobler sentiment which would write
on the grave of every soldier who fell
on either side.
Here lies an American hero, a
martyr to the right as his conscience
conceived it"
M comrades, how can l doubt
your sympathy and approval, when
this analysis of your creed you have
supported me for so great period and
with such unparalleled unarimity 2
Guided by my own convictions of du
ty to you and to our whole couotry, |
have not hesitated to proclaim on all
proper occasions in public and private,
on the political musings and the Dor
the Senate, at th~ north and the south
and among the English speaking pao
pie beyond the Atlantic-every where,
I repeat, I have proclaimed that the
knightbood won by the Confederate
soldier 10 war would ne e be lost or
furnished in peace by narrow bigotry
or any lack OF a noble magnanimity.
"Mr. President, as long as the
south's flag could be held aloft in the
smoke and storm Of battle, no man
followed it, I think. more Loyalty or
lovingly than myself, aud the judge OF
all hearts is my witness that [ would
freely have given for lis triumph the
last drop of blood 10 these veins No
man is more loyal now TO the hallow.
ed memories than ara embalmed with
Fit, but when that fl G went down at
| Appomattox, when the fate of war
made it certain that this c1uutry was
to remain one, with one flag and one
destiny, I turned my thoughts and
labors to the upbuilding of that one
country which was BIZ leatbed to ell
the sections by the fathers. From the
morning at Appamattox to This hour
in Nashville it has been my highest
| political ambition to BIZ an humble
instrument in the restoration of fra
ternity and unity to the once divided
and embittered sections, upon q basis
consistent with the honor and man
hood of all.
Il trust, my comrades, that you will
regard these personal illusions as at
least pardonable, although they may
! not be essential to 4 clear understand
ing of my stewardship. You will also
permit me to recall in this connection
the indisputab!e fact that for thirty
years southern leaders have stood 10
| ths forefront Of the cnuntry's psace'
makers. 1t wes Ben Hill, of Georgia,
who, in that masterful defense of his
people on the floor of Congress, call
ed the nation to witness that 'south's
sons were in their fathers house and
tn Are to stay 1t was nay long cher
isned friend, Mississippi's illustrious
son, the matches Lamar, who utter.
ed in that same hall the inspired
words, My c%ountry:nen know each
other and you will love each other
These noble words from a southern
leader caught the nations ear and
thrilled the nations heart. 1t was
Henry w. Grady who, in the very
precinct of Plymouth Rcck and in
sight of Bunker Hill, proclaimed that
evangel Of peace Lhat rang in every
home Throughout thu land. And,
Mr.. President, and Comrades,
the proudest hour ia my own
public life was that in which
| was able to pledge to the dis.
turbed communities Of the north the
loyal hearts and strong arms of the
south for the enforcement of law and
order. 1t was in that dreadful hour
when your sister city of the west was
threatened with riot. torch and blood;