The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-10-15

and though speak to an audience ma.
jority of whom were nursed and nestled
In the arms OF slaves, and were soothed &c
E infant slumbers by the grooming lullRbies
5 of black mammes, not one in the sound
OF my voice would IL able, re-establish
slavery again in this land.
Germane. however, to my theme is the
! question OF the relation OF slavery and
, It's influence upon the social and political
conditions and interests OF Alabama and
Il OF the entire South.
4 Alabama lying on the middle line of the
tier OF the extreme Southern States was
fairly typical of the South. and what was
| true of her people was equally true OF
1 those of her sister States. for she fairly and
worthily reflected the customs, habits and
sentiments OF the entire section. | shall
not attempt to analyze causes or phlioso-
phtZe upon results, but shall deal only
with the indlsputable truths OF history.
From the time of the admission OF Ala
I bama into the Union until the beginning
OF the war between the States was the
4 golden era Of the South do not desire
j 10 be understood by this statement as re-
! ferring alone 10 her increase IN wealth
and population, or 10 her marvellous agfi-
cultural development and progress. for
! such results are possible OF accomplish
ment by people. while their intellectual,
moral and social interests do not keep
pace With their purely material progress
and development.
! The true greatness and glory OF peo-
pie can never be safely measured by the
gross standard of numerical or financial
strength.
! There are other elements and Incidents
of greatness and glory incomparabiy truer
ana nobler than these.
Alabama in those palmy days las still
she does) In common with her sister
States OF which she WAS the type and eX-
ample, gloried not alone in her wealth
and the strength born of her great re-
SOURCES. but in the intelligence, culture,
courage. honor and craftsmanship OF her
sons and the matchess and manifold
graces and charms of her daughters
Weighing well my words and speaking
In the light OF familiar history, / assert
that In the land which Alabama itly typi-
fed and at which fanatics rallied and on
which self righteous Pharisees poured out
the Walls OF their wrath. humanity in that
era of which | speak. reached Its Hottest
stage of intellectual. social and moral
development, and civilization its high
water mark.
This statement will doubtless meet dis
sent at the hands OF many, but the appH- (
cation OF the true test and standard OF
civilization and social virtue viii demon I
strate Its truth beyond cayil or dispute.
The society Of Alabama was Synonymous
with all that was cultured, elegant, chiy-
anu IcHnth. anu was, llQEed, the (
type and standard OF earths highest CIV |
ilization. To this We have the testimony /
of distinguished and DISTINGUISHED w.t. |
ness
More than forty years ago there came |
to America famous English author who
was received with that honor and hospi-
tally TO which no was entitled both by
reason Of his great personal worth and hin
literary reputation.
After a protracted stay In the city OF
Philadelphia a distinguished citizen OF
that city. himself a gentleman of broad
and liberal culture, who had represented
his government as minister at an impor-
tant diplomatic post, said to his guest:
fou have now seen and studied the peo-
pie OF the North and you should now go
South and mingle in the best circles Of
Southern society. and you will meet there
the highest type OF human civilization the
world has ever seen"
Wealth was never the standard OF worth |
or money the measure OF merit under the
social system OF Alabama.
The gates of that inner circle where
grace and culture held sway opened not
10 golden keys. yet modest merit and true
refinement though poor in purse, never
knocked in vain for admission
The influences which swayed and the
which controlled that system
were based. not upon financial, but moral
wealth. not upon plethorie purse, but
upon intelligence and culture; not upon
bullion, but upon breeding; not on guilt
edged bonds, but gentle blood; not on
saudy apparel, but on genuine worth.
The primal principle in social ethics Was
that money could not purchase the iusig-
MA OF social rank or distinction.
The standard OF female virtue was
higher than in any other land under
Heaven: and in no country and in no
age of the world was ever woman treated
with such chivalric courtesy and defer
encs or her name and fame so sacrsily
guarded OF SO promptly and bravely de-
fended.
Society in that era was perhaps in the
eyes OF some who live In this day and |
generation. unprogressive. and no, up 10
the standard OF the present time.
The marriage pledge to cleaye each unto 1
the other WIS observed with fidelity uu-
equaled in any age OF the world
Men reared under that system do not, |
as have read some DO now. swap wives
as sayages trade squaws. Divorces were
most rare, and the divorced parties did
not, ere the ink dry upon the divorce de-
cree, rush 10 tho embrace OF new spouses.
In that day and time no man sought
consolation for outraged honor at tho
hands of court or jury. No juggling of
the guinea healed the hurt that honor
felt, Rarely, indeed. II ever. did a suit
FOR loss OF service of a daughter or the
alienation OF the affection of wife ever
stain and blacken the docket of court in
Alabama.
The seducer OF conhding girIhood or
the def.er OF u marriage bed had paid the
penalty with his life. and n Jury OF the /,
slayers peers, with hands upon their
hearts. executed the unwritten law OF n
lofty and chiralric social system and de-
clared him not guilty.
There may be those who call the ciyili- /,
walton which excuses, yea, demands and
lus'ihes such results. barhnric; hut II is
Infinitely nohler, purer and safer than
that so-ealled higher civilization which
hnds in sordid gold soothing for wounds
ed honor. and an emolliont Tor family pride
insuited and fair fame stained and black
ened by the lechers touch
u The prevailing scntipi,n nj Of that So
Gal system which impcratiysly forbade
mat any man should barte, marital honor
or family pride for gold was barbaric.
while that society which weighs honor
and virtue against sordid cash Is civilized.
then God grant that such harharism be
never suppianted By such civilization.
Social conditions so productive OF men
OF courage and homo. an women OF grace
and modesty and virtue. developed and
produced also orators. Statesmen. soldiers
ana men distinguished In cvry field Of high
N