The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-05-19
VALOR AND VIRTUE.
Address Delivered Before The Ladies'
Memorial Association of Anderson, S.
c., on Saturday, May 8, by Col.
James A. Hoyt, of GreenvilIe, S. c.

Mr.. Chairman md Ladies Of the
Memorial Association The occasion
which calls us together this morning
differs from any other that can be
mentioned as occurring on the face OF
the green earth. We are assembled
to do honor to the memory Of men who
have passed from the stage OF action,
and to revive the rccollections Of a pc
Rod which is in the remote past, it we
reckon by the swiftness and impor-
lance of events that have come since
that day. Yet it is not in the fact
that we are paying tribute to fallen
heroes, for nations, long since forgot
ten, have yielded homage to bravery,
nor hat we are calling to remem-
brance the stirring events of other
days, for that is common to mankind.
But we are here to think and ponder
over a cause that no longer lives, and
which has no possible resurrection in
the future. Other peoples have seen
their hopes blasted and the land they
loved pass under the dominion of the
conoueror, but they were subdued and
fettered. They dared not come to-
gether again even to review the re-
cords of their patriotism, and like the
Israelite on the banks Of the far-away
Euphrates they must %perforce chang
their harps upon the willows" as they
must not bring out the music of their
souls for fear of exciting the ven
geance of their enemies. Not so with
the mel who wore the gray, and whose
proud privilege it has been all these
years to relune the camp-fres and re-
hearse the story which never grows
old to the men and women who lived
in the days of the Southern Confed-
eracy. No other government in the
world would permit such an assem-
blage as is before me to-day for the
purposes we have in view. No other
system of government could stand the
strain, which elsewhere would be
made, were a defeated army to COM
memorate without let or hindrance
the virtues and services which made
it illustrious. The ruling powers
would instinctively suggest and suspect
that a recapitulation of valiant deeds
meant the repetition of efforts to over
throw their dynasty. There are good
reasons for the exception in our own
land.
First, let me insist that the Confed-
crates were never conquered in the
sense that they were brought into sub
lection and treated as interiors by those
whom they fought. The Federal sol
diers never imagined that they were
capturing a weak, helpless and Deepen
dent foe when the sun rose upon the
fateful field of Appomattox. They
did not expect the Confederate SOL
diers to get down into the dust, and
cringingly accept terms that were de-
basing and humiliating. Whatever of
chagrin and modification that came to
our fair Southland, in the early years
after hostilities ceased, was not due
TO the wishes and desires of the brave
leaders and honorable private soldiers
Of the Northern armies. It was the
.maddened spirit of men who gloated
over the defeat of a foe that they had
not faced in the open field of battle.
A thousand million of such would
never have vanquished the half
starved, ragged battalions that follow
cd Lee, because their courage was new
er so high that they wanted it put to
an actual test.
Again, it was the highest safety of
the Republic that the Confederates
were never considered in the light Of
subjects to a %conquering power. The
armies of the world were not sufficient
to subdue their unconquered spirits as
freemen, whose birthright was not af-
fected by the disasters of an unequal
war. They renewed allegiance to the
United States not as servile minions,
but as co-cquals with the truest and
noblest of patriots, who had struggled
manfully for the maintenance of prin-
ciples dear to all Americans worthy of
the name. Because they had failed
to establish the government which, in
a peculiar measure, represented their
views, they were not less inclined to
bear their share of the burdens Of
life, and to take part in the upbuild-
ing and development of a reunited
country. They did not repine, nor sit
in sackcloth and ashes, but courage
ously met the requirements of the sit
%uation, and have compelled the admi-
ration of thoughtful. earnest men and
women who did not agree with them,
just as their yalor and heroism com
mand the worlds applause while the
sentiment of all nations was against
them on the subject Of slavery, out
of which grew the contentious and
chickering's that resulted in bloody
strife.
With the underlying cause out of
the way, where was the wisdom and
foresight in perpetuatlng the strife?
The practical common sense of the
American people was against the
ebullition of passion and the baneful
influence of prejudice which filled the
hearts and minds of some who were
wont to prate about the d~isloyalty
and treason of the South. The pro-
cess was slow but surc that cxtermina-
ted and %uprooted the spirit of enmity
which hung for a time like the deadly
Upas tree, blighting and whitening as
it fell upon the social, religious, po-
litical and commercial interests Of a
reunited country. Slowlyth clouds up
lifted and the clear, peaceful skies look
ed down upon scenes that even the ac-
tors themselves behold with wonder.
The true representatives of the blue
and the grey have fratcrnized in pub
lie assemblies from the St. Lawrence
to the Gulf, and from the grim and
battered wall of Fort Sumter, where
valor stood the test on both sides Of
the controversy, more than once has
gone a welcome response to the pTans
of peace waited by the soldicry of the
North. 1t was peculiarly appropri-
ate that, among the notable instances
where fraternity broke through the
crust of prejudice and softencd the
aspcrities cn~gendcrcd by war, Fort
Moultrie and Bunker Hill led the
way. The extremes were met again,
and the ties of reconciliation were the
stronger because South Carolina and
Massachusetts,, ancient and honorable