The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1901-05-15
A WARM WELDON E
Ex ended tho Old yatet ans 10
Columbia by Her
LEADING NEW sPAPER.
An Aric'o that srings 20 Mind
the Nc bic Sacrifics Made by
Csroiinas Sens and
Daughters.
Daughters.

"eo 'he IeaulnB eul-
torial 10 The State on last Wednesday,.
which was the first day Of the Con
iedorste reunion ir Columbis:
1t is almost waste of words to well
come Confe derate soldiers to Co.
lumbis. There can be no shadow of
doubt that every man who wore the
gray is Welcome to that city to which
tho wearing of the gray has always
meant so much.
This is the city in which the War Be-
tween the States may be Justly said to
have originated. 1t was here that half
century ago the representative men of
South Carolina used, as now, TO meet
and counsel together. Then, as now,
there were differences of opinion on
political matters. Few doubted the
right TO sc cede but many considered it
folly to do 60. AT length the seces-
sionists prevailed. The convention
which first asse mbled in Columbia, as
the body representing sovereign
State, settled that. Afterwards there
was no more division. Seoessionists
and their former opponents were united
In resistance TO the attempt that was
made on State sovereignty and local
self-government The cxpt diency OF
secession was DO longer the issue. Pol
10y had given place TO principle, aud
when principle is at stake the men of
South Carolina have until this day
been true.
War having supplanted debate. Co
lnmkla ha ho
OF Carolina activity. 1t was here at
the capital that the first regiments
were assembled and from here that
they went on to the fields of Virgins;
some there to die, some to suffer
wounds and sickness and others to re-
turn unhsrmed TO fight other battles
for their State. What days those first
days of war must have been in Co
lumbial We 1Annot dwell upon the
topic now and here. Olher hands more
worthy have written of those times.
Then came four years of carnage,
four years of fighting and daring, of en-
DURANGO and sscrifice-foL Nyears that
seemed century when IL. Ssured by
accomplishments and yet W. e all too
Short to do what Southern hea. g dared
All this time, Columbi was still q
centre of activity. Hero wers stores
and factories, foundries and anany a
minor INDUSTRY, ell oTEiIg day 5y DAY
to send to the soldiers the aims, the
clothing and the equipments that were
so badly needed. Here were hospitals
and here were homes ever ready to re-.
ceive the sick and wounded returning
from fields Of battle, near and far.
The end began to drawn near. Sher
mans mighty host approached nearer
and nearer. Defended by an insult
ficient bapd-than which none has ever
been more true-the capital of South
Carolina must finally fall into the
hands of vaudal enemy. Columbis
must be abandoned to her fate-aban-
doned by one who loved her as his own
and whom she has always loved as we'll
Wade Hampton. Retreating btf ore
vast odds he saw his neig hbors' homes
first shot at and then set afre. And
soon Columbia WAS in ruins.
The next ten yeaIs-What Of them
Columbia was made the scene of the
widest political deviltry and the rank
est debauchery that ever disgrscaed ar
American commonwealth-pun
for the part South Carolina had takeI
In the defense of rights guaranteed By
the American constitution. But these
things could not long be endured. The
day of revolt came, the hour Of the
white mans emancipation was at hand
And the leader, who was he? Non,
other than than same old Co
lumbar, the one who had led his mel
in many fearful charge; had lost hi
all and more; had stood as Columbia'
defender until defense was folly ant
had surrendered only when his chic
and friend, the noble Lee, sad: Nv
cannot fight lOnger!'
Today Columbias welcome is extend
ed to the survivors of lost cause an
it is extended by Wade Hampton! In
vincible In war and incorruptible i
peace! When he speaks the words tina
tell his Old comrades his home city j
glad 10 have them here, he speaks tn
sentiments of every citizen whose pulls
beats time to Co!umbias heart throbe
With an energy, an enthusiasm and
will never equallCd In this city, our eli
izens have gone TO work to prepare fc
the veterans coming. They have trle
to provide plans for them to sleep con
fOrtably, with plenty to eat and littl
something to drink. There will be quit
enough to keep them interested in tn,
conventions and their re receptions, and
ls Coiumbla's earnest desire that q
shall be pleased. If any veteran doe
not see what he wants, let him ask f
it
Then there arc tie ladies. The wiVe
who are still the sWeeLh osrts-of tn
boys who left homo In 81 '65. The VI
men who knit stockings aud shed tear
praying and hoping, while The me
were fighting. They aud their dsugl
ters-the sponsoTs-will be here, to-
AS long rs Carolina is Carolina the
will be the chief attraction on every O
casion they may grace with their pre-
ence.
The Sons Of Veterans are scarce
less welcome. Theirs IS a great her
tsge And to preserve the history
their fathers deeds, to protect the ia
name of their native land and to che
lsh the lessons it teaches is saoTt
duty. The war was long since ever, Y
are united people and there should
not one remnant Of bitterness betWet
north and south, yet men would be le
than humn who did not want to tell
the daring and the devotion to du
which their fathers made immoIta
The "story Of the glory of the men wi
wore the gray'-thIs is story wor
telling.
This is no mean city which welcom
you today, veterans. 1t is city tn
has lain prostrSte under the cCnque