Evening star., 1897-04-27
GRANT, THE soUrH.s FRIEND.
Conquered the Love of the Men Who
Fought Him,

conquered the Love of the Men Who
Fought Him.
The annual Grant dinner of the Mfddlesex
Club OF Boston was held last night at the
Hotel Brunswick, with nearly go members
ana guests present. Ex-Gov. j. O. A.
Bracket, the president of the club, opened
the post-prandial exercises in a brief
speech. The principal speaker was Repre-
sentative Pearson of North Carolina, who
said:
'An old confederate lately said TO me I
am glad you are going to Boston to join in
doing honor to General Grant. He was the
best friend the south ever had, and we old
confederates are learning to revere his
memory as we revere the memory of Lee
and Stonewall Jackson.
The highest tribute to this great leader
is that he conquered the love Of the brave
men who laid down their arms to him.
These men have shown themselves more
vulnerable to kind words than to bayonets
That puissant sword which broke the
chains of slavery; that stainless sword
which he declined to take from Lee: the
tongue that uttered the words: Take your
horses back with you, you will need them
for your spring ploughing:' the pen that
wrote the words: Let us have peace
these tell the whole story of his life.
Strength, magnaninlity, common sense, I'M
common patriotism.
Grants name will stand forever identified
with the two greatest achievements Of the
republican party-the settlement of the
question of slavery, and the settlement of
the question of secession.
Within one generation the word seces-
sion has been obliterated from the hearts of
the men of the south, and in it's place. in
great big enduring letters, Is written the
word Union. 1t was Grants fortune to be
the chief figure in settling this problem,
and to live long enough to see the proofs Of
this revolution Of sentiment 1t was great
to cOnOner-it n1apIf6copf n
IF one generation can produce such a
change as this, let us hope, as the
thoughts of men are widened with the pro-
cess of the suns that one more generation
will witness the obliteration, or, at least,
the softening, of race prejudice, which has
been the bane of the south.
Now, gentlemen, as q southern man
whose people have lived down there for
2UO years, l want to tell that our people
have many good qualities which may not
be visible to the naked eye, at least In
their election methods, but, assure you
they possess many of the most noble traits
Of character and Of citizenship.
Standing here tonight, In this ancient
capital of New England, Il make bold to
assure you that you are going to get help,
yeg political ;hssa help G.vf form that section
day predicted by Macauley ever be-
falls our country; II the time ever ar
rives when the portentous doctrines not
expressed, but foreshadowed and lurking
under the surface of the Chicago platform,
shall assume actual and visible form; in
that dread crisis you win find positive and
powerful support in the south.
Some of our southern people would real
ly like to see this country engaged in
foreign war. in order to prove their devo-
ton and loyalty to the Union, but there
is not man among them, employer or
employe, planter or tenant, who does not
classes. 1 repeat 1t: You will get help from
those people when help is needed"