The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-02-14

| uOyS uOlluuy lIOllC we Wdub uO eu6-
mics in our midst. Open foes we know
how to cope with, but household ene-
mics are the most dangerous sort, and
therefore, repeat, the time has come
for every man to declare where he
stands Tomorrow I shall begin the
work Of enrolling volunteers for the
company propose taking into the field
myself. I hope no man that Cloverdell
has ever held in high repute will be
absent from that meeting"
The colonel bowed his handsome head
and sat down amid wild applause.
When 1t subsidized, there was a moment
Of profound silence. No one seemed to
know exactly what should be done or
said next. In the midst Of it little Potts
was seen to leave his seat and walk res.
olutely toward the platform, with his
eyes fixed sorrowfully on the faces OF
the men who had been his friends. He
walked up the steps to the judges seat
and lifted hand to command atten.
ton 1t was accorded him without
word or murmur of welcome.
He began in trembling voice. Per.
haps It was the first speech he had ever
attempted in public, and he knew his
audience was not in touch with his
sentiments, all OF which told against
eloquence. =
Friends of Cloverdell, you have
just been addressed by man whom I
have always delighted to honor and
whom 1 shall admire and love all the
days Of my life. lam not standing here
to judge him or his actions. He has the
inalienable right of free thinking on
this subject as on all others. As freely
as l accord that privilege SO freely must
it be accorded me. My friend said lit.
tie while ago that whatsoever was not
with you was against you. In most
matters that must be held to be strictly
true. But as he also says the time has
come for every man to declare where he
stands ] am here to declare myself most
emphatically opposed to this movement.
As my fellow citizens, men among
whom | have been going in and out all
my life, I am with you in all that
makes for your welfare or the welfare
Of our section. l do not think there is a
man here who can say he has ever sor.
rowed and have not sorrowed with
him or rejoiced and I have not been
glad for him, but in this stupendous
matter Of throwing off our allegiance to
the old flag, in this our hour of peril
and of rash action, do not stand with
you. I.would to God l could hope that
my words would carry any weight with
them. ! would try to make them burn
into your hearts and memory, but a
more eloquent man than has just spo.
ken to you and you are in accord with
him. That leaves me nothing to say but
this"-here he paused and wiped his
brow with trembling hand-"if I am
not with you, I could not be against
you. You who are so eagerly buckling
on your armor p give battle have an
easier task than mine. I know the ma
lures around me too we'll not to feel
that I am making myself an object of
contumely to every man here. So be it.
Conscience and I must stand together
though no man stand with US. But, dear
friends Of old. in-the dark days that are
ahead. of us there must be some friend
ly offices that you will permit non
combatant to perform for you Or the
dear ones you will be leaving behind
you You and they will always know
where to find me-
He turned and offered his hand to
Colonel Bascom. The colonel was busy
looking over some papers. He did not
see his old friends outstretched hand
or the smile, sadder than tears, that
wreathed little Potts lips. The colonel
had set the pace for the crowd. He gen.
orally did. Slowly little Potts retraced
his steps, Only once, after that first re.
lection, did he offer his hand-to be
once more rebuffed. He left the court.
house and walked home to the house
behind the oleanders. There he would
find balm. There were three loving
hearts that acknowledged his suprema.
cy. They had never yet failed hiln in
his hour of need.
When he entered his home, his heart
sank within him. Miss Melanie sat
rigidly upright, rubbing the rust from
pair Of knitting needles. She was
anxious to revive her half forgotten &C.
complishlnent in the line of knitting
socks, comforters and anything else sol.
diers should be provided with when en-.
gagged in the civilized pastime called
warfare Miss Melanie, in common
with every other member of tho Ladies'
Aid society, had been in state Of
wordy preparation for the impending
crisis for months. 1t only required that
shot to crystalline her zeal into instan.
taneous activity.
She smiled acridly as little Potts
came toward her where she sat before
her work table.
"Well, Brother Lester?'' There was
a challenging note in her voice which
little Potts was sensitively alive to-
well, Sister Melanie?'
II did not see you in the park"
mo; I was not there" .
why weren't you? Everybody else =,
in town was, except infants and bed.
ridden people,"
Little Potts tried to be funny.
"Then there were plenty without =
me-" . !.
mo, I don't think anybody could ..
have stood for you, how willing soever :.
the girls and might have been.' =
Were you all there?" :
Miss Melanie's eyes snapped. every :.
one Of us. You wero the only Potts alb. = =
sent and my cheeks burned at the !
thought"
my poor Mel, ! am afraid there is !"
good deal Of check and heart burning
ahead for you and the girls if you are ;,
going to take my attitude in this matter !, T.
SO much to heart Il
what is your attitude, LESTER" Il
THAT of deathless adhesion to the :,
right as my own conscience conceives ii :; y
and mortal combat against the wrong as " :
/ comprehend it." "
"OhP' said Miss Melanie, with con ,
else scorn. q
Where are tho girls now?'' II
"They haven't got in yet They went
to the meeting at the courthouse ! "
came straight homo from fhe r,ark " II