The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-03-24
THE SOUTH AND THE EMERGENCY
In the Event of War With a Foreign
Power the People of the South
Would Show Their Loyalty No Less
Than Those of the North.

A few weeks ago, Hon. John j. In
gals, formerly Senator from Kansas.
and always one of the most brilliant
and gifted men of his day, returned
from trip through the South. On
reaching Washington he fastened to
pay eloquent tribute to the common
sense, the conservative disposition,
but at the same time the profound
patriotism of the Southern people in
the present crisis Of our national al
fairs 1t is not at all probable that
Mr.. Ingalls, had been in any serious
doubt in this connection before set
ting out upon his tour. He is too
intelligent and well-informed a man
to have supposed that Shutherners
were lacking in any essential OF loyal
citizenship. We assume, merely,
that he was especially impressed by
the prevailing calmness and dignity
of the popular attitude, the absence
of silly rant and rodomontade. the
distrust Of vicious and sensational
agitation. the absolute freedom
from historical excitement which al
ways characterizes men who can be
| depended upon to act with courage
in the hour of trial. At all events
he found the South composed, ration
al, but thoroughly prepared for any
| emergency that might arise. He
was confronted by a spectacle which
might well exalt patriotic heart.
The South has disappointed none
| of those who know and understand
her people. The South has seen
more Of war than the North has, for,
while the North has furnished sol
diers of splendid valor and indomi-
table devotion, the South has done
that also and has, besides, expe-
rienced the ravages and devastatiOns
of warfare Both sections have given
| their sons to the causes they respec-
| lively regarded as sacred, and both
cherish with pride and love their
| heroism, but the South alone has felt
! the bitterness of defeat and known
the sorrow and humiliation Of an
armed and successful invasion.
| Last TUESDAYS demonstration, the
action of the House on the $50, OO0,-
600 emergency appropriation, full
account of which is printed on the
first page of the GOLD LEAF this
week therefore was most significant
as regards the Southern people than
those of any other section. 1t showed
that they retain only the glorious
memories of the war of 1916, that
all regrets and animOsities have lon g
since been buried, and that they are
now as devoted to the re-established
Union, the Stars and Stripes, and the
honor and welfare of the country as
though thew had never been arrayed
against the flag at all. 1t was not
the voice of Southern member OF
| Congress that was lifted to Obstrnct
the patriotic outburst which thrilled
the land from end to end. No South
ern Representative took advantage OF
that tragic opportunity to parade
his stupid vanity and set up the
trumpery spectacle of his private
self-esteem. There were such dis
cordant notes-drowned, however,
and very promptly, in storm of dis
gust and reprobation-but they is
sued from no Southern source.
| All things con SltCltu, We NChCui
to say that the conduct Of the South,
on the occasion to which we refer,
was the most gratifying, the most
creditable, and the most impressive
feature Of the episode. 1t demon
strated to the world, without maud,
lin cutlery or noisy protestation, that
in our Southern brethren we now
have as true patriots, as cool and
determined and sincere champions Of
the Republic as are to be found any
where within the borders of the land
We know now that if trouble comes
to us they will be among the first tc
spring to arms, and that, in the
cause of the Union, they will display
the same impetuous valor and bril-
liant dash that, thirty-tive years ago
immortalized the paladins who fol
, lowed Lee and jackson. Johnston
and Longstreet, with equal zeal tt
, victory or defeat.-Washingt Post