The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-05-15
Ex ended the Old Veterans 10
Columbia by Her
LEADING NEWSPAPER.
An Article that srinss to Mind
the Noble Sacrifice Made BY
Carolinss Sens and
Daughters.
Daughters.

which was the first day Of the Con.
federate reunion in Columbia:
It is almost waste Of words to vel
cone Confe derate soldiers to Co.
lumbis. There csn be no shadow Of
doubt that every man who wore the
gray is welcome to that city to which
the wearing Of the gray has always
meant so much.
This is the city in which the War Be-
tween the States msy be justly said to
hsve originated. 1t was here that half
q century ago the representative men Of
South Carolina used, IS now, to meet
and counsel together. Then, as now,
there were differences Of opinion on
political matters. Few doubted the
right 10 sccede but many considered it
folly to do so. At length the seces-
sionists prevailed. The convention
which first assembled in Columhis, a.
the body representing a sovereign
State, settled that. Afterwards there
was no more division. Secessionists
and their former opponents were united
in Resistance to the attempt that wss
made on State sovereignty and local
self-governnent. The expediency OF
secession Was no longer the issue. Poi
icy had given place to principle, srd
when principle is st stake the msn Of
South Carolina have until this day
been true.
War having suppIanted debate. Co.
lumbis once more became the centre
Of Carolins activity. 1t was here at
the capital that the first regiments
were assembled and from here that
they went on to the fields Of Virginia;
some there to die, some to suffer
wounds and sickness and others to re-
t1rn unharmed to fight other battles
for their State. What days those first
days Of war must have been in Co.
lumbia! We csnnot dwell upon the
topic now and here. O;her hands more
worldly have written CT those times.
Then came four years of carnage,
four years of fighting aud daring, Of en-
oulsnce and sacrifce-four years that
seemed century when measured oy
accomplishments and yet were all too
short TO do what Southern hearts dared
All this time, Columois was still s
centre Of activity. Here were stores
and factories, foundries and many a
minor industry, all working day By day
to send to the soldiers the aims, the
clothing snd the equipments that we're
so badly needed. Here were hospitals
and nere were homes ever ready to re-
cei7e 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 insuf
6cient bard-than which none has ever
been more t1ue-the capital Of South
Carolina must finally fall into the
hands Of vandal 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 well
Wade Hampton. Retreating before
vast odds he saw his neighbors' homes
first shot at and then set s6re. And
soon Columbia vas in ruins.
The next ten yea1s-What Of them?
Columbis was made the scene Of the
widest political deviltry and the rank
est debauchery that ever disgracsed an
American conmonweslth-punishment
for the part South Carolina had taken
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 st hand.
And the lea6er,-Eho was he? None
other than than same old Co.
lumbian, the one who had led his men
in many fearful charge; had lost his
all and more; had stood as Cclumbis's
defender until defense was folly and
hal surrendered only when his chief
and friend, the noble Lee, sad: "We
cannot fight longer!'
Today Columbis's welcome is extend
ed to the survivors Of lost cause and
it is extended By Wade Hampton! In
yincible in war and incorruptible in
peace! When he speaks the words that
tell his cd comrades his home city is
glad 10 have them here, he speaks the
sentiments Of every citizen whose pulse
beats time to Colunbia's heart throbs.
With an energy, an enthusiasm and a
will never eeualIe6 in this city, our cit
izsns have gone to work to prepare for
the veterans coming. They have tried
to provide plans for them to sleep COM
forrsbly, with plenty to eat and little
something to drink. There will be quite
enough to keep them interested in their
conventions and their receptions, and it
is Columbia's earnest desire that all
shall be pleased. If any veteran does
not see what be wants, let him ask for
it
Tken there are tie ladies. The wives
who are still the sWeetbesrts-of the
bcys who left home in ,6l- -'65. The wo-
men who koit stockings ard shed tears,
praying snd hoping, while the men
we're fighting. They and their daugh-
ters-the spcn: ors-Rill be here, too.
AS long IS Carolil is CsroliDs they
vii! be the chief attraction on every oc
cssion they may grace with their pres
ence.
The Sons Of Veterans are scarcely
less welcome. Theirs is a great he1i-
tsce. And to preserve the history Of
their fsther's deeds, to protect the fair
name Of their native land and to cher
ISL the lessons it teaches is ssoreo
duty. The war was loog slE,e over, we
are united people and there should be
not one remnant Of bitterness between
north and south, yet men would be less
than humr who did not want to tel! OF
the daring and the devotion to duty
which their fathers made immortal.
The STORY Of the glory Of the men who
wore the gray"-thIs is q story worth