The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-21

ask ex-Confederates to admit that they
were wrong or traitors in the service they
honestly rendered the Southern Confed-
eracy. l know of no higher test of love
of country than that of periling ones life
for his ideals of law, justice and liberty.
Under this view il would follow that a
final settlement of our sad and bloody diff
ference should forever end, alb harsh re-
ordinations regarding the great war.
Touching Incident.
II shall never forget the thrill that one
ex-Confederate speech sent through my
soul. He said that he served in the Con-
federate army all through the war, and
at its close his heart nearly broke under
the burden of final defeat He almost
doubted the Providence of God, as in tears
and agony he laid down his arms But the
travail of soul passed and he communed
thus to himself: i have done my duty as
! understood it, have periled all and lost
all in the conflict. and now under the
laws and fate and of war, fully accept
the new destiny l have a Confederate
flag followed in the war, and once a year
| bring il out and display it in my home
/ have made provisions in my will that
when my time comes TO 80, three ex-COn-
federates and three ex-Union veterans
shall bear my body to the tomb. and
, have directed that my Stars and Bars
shall be wrapped about my body so that
/ may sleep the sleep that knows no wax
ing within the folds of the banner | fol-
lowed SO often in battle, and this is to be
the disposition of the emblem of our Lost
Cause in my family-buried out of sight
forever. And he closed one of the most
eloquent speeches to which l have ever
listened, as follows: Now sir, / am an
American citizen, as loyal as you can be
to the stars and Stripes. and to the new
destiny of this Union, / would willingly
peril my life in It's defense, and my chill
dren ere taught to live in the
present and for the future, jealous
for the fullest realization Of the fruits OF
the victory won by the armies Of the
North and faithful in all that inspires
sentiments Of loyalty and strength in the
institutions Of our now happy reunited
nation.
This Is the spirit of wisdom as IL seems
to me, which should dominate all Ameri-
can hearts in the living present Of this
closing year of the greatest century in
the life of man. Let us cherish our coun-
try, and labor to secure che raising OF
the Stars and Stripes over every school
house in the nation, and TO place common
textbooks Within them in every way
worthy of a great nation, as the only
safeguard of future national development
and glory. IL cost the lives Of million
men, and untold sacrificing In suffering
and treasure as abe price paid for not
wisely understanding each other. South
and North in The COS. and now the lamp
Of the Lord should be our guide along
the ways OF right and righteousness with
in the circle OF our great country, so as
TO be worthy OF our birthrght, bought
with such a price, and where a union
OF hearts and a union of hands. and the
flag Of our Union may be our wafchword
and defence forever.
Return OF Captured Flags
Much that was wise with much irree-
want has been said In the past as well
as in the present about the return Of cap
tured battle flags. l do not see what real
service agitation over this question will
render the living veterans either OF the
South or the North. They are a part Of
the dead past and Of an issue forever
closed. Many OF the heroes who won or
! lost the colors OF troops, battery or regi-
ment. are beyond the reach Of any action
proposed with these relies Of brutal war,
| and / do not know that there has been any