The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-27

so long period the speclal objects or
SO unique and universal appreciation
and affection by people for whose
cause that soldiery contendcd unsuccess.
fully.
No Parallel Is known.
"ln every other age, in every other
land. popular plaudits have been but
the echoes Of shouts and martial pae
ans OF victory. Public honors, costly
demonstrations and universal acclaim
nave been the heritage Of successful
armies. Imperial Rome, intoxicated with
tue glory OF conquest, erected lofty
arches to her mighty warriors, only
When they bore her proud eagles above
the ranks OF conquering legion. France
was united and exultant under the
great Cofsican SO long as he was vic
torious; but he, too, was defeated, and
at MS fall the legislative assembly of
his people abandoned and demanded the
abdication of this hitherto idolized
leader. Nor do our own brave coun-
trymen, the brave veterans of the union
army, furnish any parallel to the condi-
lions which surround us. When they
returned from the horrors of war it was
TO homes OF increased comfort, to aug
mented wealth and with arms i'll their
hands and victory on their banners.
They returned to an established and
grateful government.
"The return Of the disarmed and dis
banded confederates, however, was to
people made poor; to land made desc.
late, covered with blackened ruins,
where every home was in mourning,
every breath was n sigh and every
breeze q messenger Of woe. And yet,
after third of century has passed,
after the remnant of those armies have
grown gray, and the government for
which they fought lives only as mem
Ory, these grim southern warriors gather
IN annual reunions, and are the recipi-
ents of a boundless hospitality dis
pensed by this recently impoverished
but grateful people.
Faithful to Her Sons,
"On what page i'll history will you
find similar history? In what age or
country have the shattered remnants Of
defeated armies, banded together in q
brotherhood so unique, purpose so Cn-
selfish! Among what defeated people
has ever been witnessed such fidelity to
the memories Of an unsuccessful past;
SUCH devotion to the survivors of an un-
successful army, coupled with such un-
ostentatious, genuine and responsive
loyalty to the government from which
they SO resolutely and conscientiously
sought separation? challenge the
worlds annals to furnish parallel.
"ln conclusion, let me inquire what
1t all means. Simple justice to these
brave and patriotic men, who yielded
at last to overwhelming numbers and
pie, whose devotion to their cause must
be measured by the countless sacrifices
they made for it; justice to their pres
ent attitude toward the American re-
public, whose honor and freedom ant!
nag they are always ready to defend:
justice to the self respect and manhood
OF Southern youth, who are to stand TO
all time with northern youth, in de
Tense Of popular liberty; justice to the
past and justice to the future, all de-
mand that our own prosperity and all
mankind shall know the meaning of
these phenomenal demonstrations over
the thinned ranks of n broken, but
proud and once resistless army.
Wards Of the Nation.
"Again, and finally, press the ques-
tion, what is the inmost meaning of
these confederate pageants? Are they
due to any covert or sinister aims, or.
in the remotest degree to selfseeking:
Their open sessions and published pro-
ceedings, which all the world is chal-
lenged to inspect, furnish the answer.
Do these reunions and popular demon
strations, which attend them, draw
their inspiration from any suggestion of
disloyaity to either Of the tremendous
results Of the war-the freedom Of the
s.ave sDd the etsrna, unity Of the re-
public: The protection O. the negro by
southern courts, his reliance for secu-
r1ty upon southern sentiment and his
education through white taxation in
southern schools. furnish the south's
answer as to the first. To the second,
loyalty to q perpetual union Of the states
ant to the honor and glory Of the re-
public-the south has been continually
answering since the close of our civil
war, and she is answering today by the
presence and prowess Of her heroic sons
at the front in the war with Spain.
Southerners In the War.
"Her Lee, her Wheeler, her Bagley,
her Blue, her Hobson and her thousands
of volunteers who sprang to their arms
at their cOuntry's call, are answering
from their camps from the Philippines
and from the jungles of Cuba. You,
my confederate comrades, would be
there If the counry needed yor Many
OF you assembled mere would have Eeeu
there but for impaired health and fail
ing strength. But our sons and grand
sons are there. With our prayers and
blessings they are enlisted in this war
IT high and holy purposes. Among
Lilo great ends to be attained in this
conflict with Spain, the freedom of op-
pressed islands in both oceans. the
wider influence of America in the coun-
ellis Of the nations, the increased respect
for her power on land and sea, there is
still another achievement to be attained,
no less glorious and fer reaching:
namely, the obliteration of all traces of
distrust among ourselves and the com
plets and too long delayed unification
Of the American people, which shall be
called in question no more forever"
The general, although pale and show.
ing plainly the effects Of his recent ill.
ness, was in good voice and made an
eloquent speech. He was frequently
interrupted by enthusiastic applause
and when he concluded received O per.
feet ovation.
In the evening there were reunions
OF brigades, regiments, etc.; bivonacs of
comrades on the grounds; receptions by
citizens in the CITY: unofficial elepant