The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-06-04
PRINTED ON RED PAPER.
BEN Hill IS SPEECH IN OLD DAVIS HALL

GERS and Judge Advocate General Dunn.
sent by General Pope to make report
Facing these alien spies. Mr.. Hill used
such mild phrases as "hellish dynasty,
rioters in sacred things, per1ured as
sassins of liberty" "Dlasphemou5 con-
clave of a congress" and many similar ex-
DressionS. showing the violence Oh the
time and the fury and force of the orator
In denouncing the southerners who had
Joined the Union League. Mr.. Hill drew
wonderfully graphic picture of the work
of such an organization. aided by I'M
friendly bayonets and lesions of ignorant
blacks.
He advised the social ostracism of such
men by all good citizens. and even went
so far as to advise their wives to leave
them.
Judge Advocate General Dunn was a
timid precise old gentleman. lie had
never heard such a speech. and he was
startled and nervous ali the way through.
The other federal officers showed tnat
they We're profoundly impressed ana I'M
der the spell of the speakers thunoerous
eloqUenCe.
The whole address was a magnificent
plea for the constitution of our fathers
and a burning arraisnment of its enemies
and wOuld-be destroyers.
Before the conclusion of the speech
most of the republicans and Union
The citizens were about to disperse in
GREATNESS silence. with thoughtful faces.
when Colonel Bob Cowart mounted
bench. He was a man of gigantic stature.
and at once attracted attention. when in
stentoriau tones he roared:
Il move that Ben Hill do now proceed to
stump the world,'
The vast crowd felt that the orator de-
served this tribute and the cheering al
most lifted the roof.
General Pope in his report recommend
ed freedom or speech and OF the press,
but at the same time he said that Mr..
HilPS violent language would justify his
acknowledgements.
But the great Georgian had said the
right thing at the right time and more
pointedly and forcibly than any other man
could have said II.
The Union League melted away and
only few white republicans were left.
Other public men were encouraged TO
speak on the same line, but not one
equaled the Davis hall speech. Howell
COBB was wise. but too conservative 10
suit the maddened people. Toombs was
too extravaGant and scattering Stephens
was colby aTgumentative. Herschell Y.
Johnson was 100 pOnderOuS.
MIR. Hill raised a storm which spread
with increasing fury until the people We're
perfectly desperate and ready to risk any
thing 70 re-establish white rule.
The work of restoring democra tic SUI
premacy occupied several years. but finai-
~ the federal garrisons disappeared and
after a brief period OF republican rule the
democrats regained power.
Under all the circumstances. when I
think of Mr.. Hilrs great peril at the
time and the proba bility that his utter
ances would cause him TO be sent To 4
federal military prison. It strikes me that
his speech. for eloquence. searching in
and laT1r .7,.
greatest ever delivered in Atlanta, or in
Georgia.
have heard many great orators during
the past forty years. but l never heard
one who equa!ed that splendid epoch
making Grafton at the old Davis hail
Others NAV differ with me. but I have
held this opinion for a generation
WALLACE PUTNAM REED.