The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-25
THE STARS. AND STRIPES.
The South and the Union.

% BY JOHN G. EDWARDS. .+tsa4
tBeIossthe Palmetto Literary Society, Nay; ty
It is with no ordinary pride tha. raise my
when I affirm that the union never made war
upon the South. It was not the U nion my
fellow-countrymen that slew your chtidren,
1t was not the union that burned your citiess
It was not the union that laid waste yo1r
country. In nvaded your homes, and mockeda at
your calamity, II was not the union thatTe-
constructed your States. 1t was not the nnt0n
that disfranchised your citizens and denied
them the participation In their own govern
ment. 49,. !Ecs 40.
o.Inion OF our fathers! Every one OF these
wrongs were inflicted BY diabolical sections
alism, in the very teeth OF every principle OF
the American union. SO equally, say that
the South never made war upon the uuion.7
There has not been AN hour when nine out
OF ten Of US would not have given our lives
for this union. " r.,. -
We did not leave the union because we
were dissatisfied with II, We did not leave the
union TO make war upon 1t, but we LETT the
union because sectional party had seized IL,
and wehoped thereby TO avoid conflict, but
II the war must come we intended TO hghta
sectional party and not the union. There.
fore the late war with all It's disastrous conse-
quences. was the direct result of sectionalism
In the North, and sectionalism In the South,
and none, l repeat Of these disasters can be
charged TO the union.
There was nothing In slavery which could
Justify the North In forming sectional party
TO cripple or destroy 1t. There was nothing
in slavery which could Justify the south IN
leaving the union to maintain 1t. There was
no right in freedom contrary TO the oonstitu-
tion, and there was no safety for slavery out
of the union. The whole African race, wheth-
or enslaved or free, were not worth the Amer
lean union One hour Of the American union
has done more for human progress than all
the governments formed by the negro race In
SIX and %h
fell In the civil var Staying each other for the
negro, were worth more to civilization and
human happiness than the whole African
race of the world.
But we will do justice to the colored man.
We are under the very highest obligations OF
brave manhood to do justice to the negro.
He Is not our equal, he is In our power and
cowardice takes no meaner shape than hen
power oppresses weak ness.
But in the name OF civilization, IN the
name OF our fathers, in the name OF forty
millions Of living whites and OF hundreds OF
millions of their coming children In the
name OF every principle represented by that
banner above Us. do protest, 10 night, that
there is nothing IN statesmansnlp, mp noiniag IN
rights and liberties OF the white race In
wrangling over the rights and liberties OF the
black race;
wears over the liberties OF the negroes in
these States, than the entire negro race of the
world has shed for their own liberties in all
Inc ages OIL tue WOTlui duu all dt ibC oiNuib 3
OF sectional denagogues who still cry for
more, and there are yet hundreds OF lhese
demagogues now harapguing the honest de-
luded masses of the North, seeking TO keep
sions OF sectional hate, arthe hazard OF right
and principle intended TO be preserved and
protected by the American union.
God of our fathers! How long, oh, how
long shall this madness continue and success
fully usurp the places TO disgrace the func-
tions Of elevated statesmanship.
Above all the din Of sectional grovelings
would raise my voice and proclaim to all our
people that there Is no right or liberty for any
race in America rave In the preservation OF
that great American union according TO the
principles syn mboli2ed by that flag.
MY countrymen! have you studied this
wonderful American system of free govern
ment? Haveyou compared IT with other sys-
TENS apd noted how our iorefathers sought 10
avoid their defects? Let me commend this
study TO every American citizen here tonight.
TO him who loves liberty 1t Ia more enchant.
ing than romance, more bewitchipg than
love, and more elevatipg than any other sci.
ence. Our fathers adopted this plan with i'm
provements in the details which cannot be
found In any other system. With what no
from different States and Joined their coun.
sels 10 perfect this system. thenceforward 70
be known as the American system Of free
constitutional government.
The snow which falls on Mt. Washington
are not purer than the motives which begat
it, The fresh dew laden zephyrs from the or
auge groves OF the south are not sweeter than
the hopes It's (ardenD inspires.
Have the motives which 30 Inspired our "a
tners become all corrupt In their children
Are the hopes that sustained them all poison
ed in uso Is that high expected destiny al
eclipsed and before Its noon?
No. no, forever no! Patriots North: Pat
riots South! Patriots everywhere let's hallow
this year of jubilee by burying all our sec
tional animosities. Let's cleave our ears tt
the men and parties that teach us 10 hatt
each other. Raise high that flag of our IA
theirs. Let Southern breezes kiss It, LIE
Southern skies reflect II. southern patriot.
will love it! Southern sons will die Tor II
and as its furls unfold beneath the heaven
let our voices unite and swell the loud invo
cation! Flag OF our union wave on! WaV'
ever But wave over free men, not subjects
wave over States. not provinces; wave over
land of love, liberty and peace, ana not owe
anarchy, oppression and strife.