The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-09
The South and Cuba.

Mr. Editor: In view of passing
events manyof our patriotic southern
soldiers have caught the spirit ol
our southern senators and representa-
tives in congress and have rendered
their services to the President of the
United States And should the slo
gan of war rcsound to arms every
Southern State would do her whole
duty now as promptly and epontane-
ously az in 1872 against England, or
in 1916 against old Mexico, or in
1861 against the North. Of this
type is Gen Joseph Wheeler, Of
Confederate cavalry fame, and M. j.
jenkins, son of gallant Confederate
patriot and officer who fell on the
field Of battle, native South Carroll
nian. who tell President Mckinley
they are ready on telegraphic notice
Also hundreds of volunteers, both
organized and unorganized. ready to
march against the treacherous Span
lard whose butchery of helpless wo-
men aud children of the brave ca
bans whom they cannot conquer. has
been equaIed only by their own
.conardice and tfeachery 10 the de
struction of man of war and crew
of friendly nation while anchored, !,
as they supposed, under the protec-
ton of their mnrderers Now the
question presents itself to the South
s.ehall we volunteer aid to the Fede-
raj government against Spain Z"
Speaking for myself, doubtless ut
.ters the, sentiment of ninety nine
.hundredihs of the Southern States
7, like many others, gave four years
of my life to the cause cherished
dearer than life. During that long
.seige Of carnage ! never received .
fnrlough. / looked then upon the
soldier in blue as an enemy whom. l
had sworn to kilt, and adopted the
edict Of my noble ranking officer. n
B. Forrest. that e.War means fight.
aud fight means to kilt !" but when
peace was declared. the war ended
i accepted the terms Of capitulation
;was allowed to return to my home
with my side arms and cavalry horse
and eqnippage thus paroaed was
treated with magnanimous courtesy.
Likewise can thousands of my com
srsdes from the noble Lee down to the
lowest in rank proclaim the virtues of
q generous foe. Times have changed,
and With them new duties and condi
tTons confront us Instead of an in
ternecine war with klth and kin our
foe, We are confronted almost at our
own doors BY q treacherous, unprin.
cipled. though stubborn, dauntiess
enemy. IF this little war cloud hung
over our Canadian border instead Of
our coast line, might not join the
cry Of ssto arms But now what is
OR duty ? When the United States
went to var with Old Mexico in l847
4 few prominent leaders in the North
connselIed hands of, declaring il
vas . Southern fight The conse
ouence was that 40, 900 Southern sol
diers joined by only 20. eos Northern
soldiers whipped the Mexicans and
thereby added 17o,000 square miles
to Southern territory, and from tina.
day to this Southern principles have
prevailed In Texas unanimously
Apropos, Mr. Editor, I regret to
saw resd in the Columbia Daily
State Of February %. reprinted IN
the DAILY Item, an interview from
Gen. Wade Hampton in which be
uses this language. Il would advise
the men Of the South to stay at home
and let the North furnish the troops
As great an admirer as / am of Gen
Hampton. especially Of his record il
peace ard war, Recognizing in him
the qualities of q superb leader, yet
| can but express my utter astonish
ment at this upwise, untimely aud in.
discreet advice. What would be the
consequence of such Southern
spathy
! lst The South could have no share
in the spoils of victory.
I'd The finger of scorn would be
jnstly pointed in our faces BY all the
world as stupid towards
Sd. We would go down in history az
having, as q people. been go com
pletely whipped 10 the late '.rebel
lionn that the old Confederate sol
diers are too old to fight aud tbe
young generation of soutberners are
fit only as midnight assassias, white
csppers and negro Iynchers
Alb The young men of the South
| it would be charged, being devoid o
chivaIry. heed the counsel Of the ole
Disappointed, diegruntied and super