The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-26
SOUTHERNERS FIRST
Of ALL AME ERICANS
Loyal to the Army and to
the Flag.
p0lIiS Gel EMNIn A0NpECC
POU'SSPLENDID ADDRESS
Ready to Die For the Republics Honor
Whenever Called.
THE soUTH'S MAGNIFICENT RECORD
The Dead Heroes of Carolina Who Fought I'm
der the Stars and Stripes in Cuba
tlquently Answer Charges
Against us,
Against Us.
Especial to News and observer)


Washington, D. c., June 25.-Represen-
tative Pou today delivered a short speech
which has ELECTED a great deal of favor
able comment from both Democrats and
Republicans. During it's delivery the
house was full, and frequent outbursts
of applause greeted the telling points of
the speech. When he concluded. round
after round of applause and cheers came
from both sides of the chamber. Repub-
licans and Democrats crowded around
him with congratulations The speech
was decidedly the lit of the Philippine
debate.
Mr.. Pou said: "Mr. Chairman. shall
trepass upon the time of the House for
lew moments only. The charge has
been made that the party to which be-
long and the section from which | come
have in this debate attacked the army
OF the United States. We, who have
heard this great debate know now utterly
unfounded this charge is, and l believe
that the people of TIE country know that
the charge is without foundation.
Mr.. Chairman. l am Southern man.
proud of ny section and proud of it's
PEOPLE, but l declare to you and to the
world that the people of the South are
first of all Americans. We contemplate
the part our ancestors tooh in achieving
the independence of this republic with
great pride. We are proud of our record
in every war this country has ever waged.
We are hopeful of our countrys future.
We are as loyal to the army. as Ioyal
flag c IN ho nj
people can be.
The United States army Mr.. Chair
nan, is not a Republican army; it is
not a Democratic army. 1t is the Amer
ioan army. Our flag is not a Democratic
flag, nor Republican flag; it is the
American flag, ard the South stands
ready at any moment to offer IN the
flower of its young manhood whenever
the flag or the honor of the republic is
sssailed
Now let us see for a moment what
has been our record in the past-in the
Revolutionary War there were enlisted,
from first to last, 394 ,302 men. The South
furnished 142,095 of the soldiers of that
immortal army-more than 81 per cent
In the war of 1912 there were enlisted
471,622 men, of which 246,66 (more than
80 per cent? were furnished by the South
But, Mr.. Chairman, listen at these
figures In the Mexican War the voIun-
teer army numbered 1916, of whom Al
649 were furnished by the Southern
States, together with the State of Mis-
sCuri.
What record; the Southern States
Democratic States-furnished moro than
Ga per cent of the army which fought the
battles of our country in that war.
In the Spanish American War. lately
ended, the total enlistment was 23O.-
SS1. The Sutho was ready to furnish
every man it was allowed to furnish. and
several States offered troops which the
government could not accept. Our men
numbered 60,479-more than 25 per cent
OF the entire enlistment know in nv
own town a young captain who raised
company of brave young men and ten
dercd them to his country but owing to
the fact that my State had furnished its
full allotment the company this young
man raised could not find a place in the
ranks of the army.
"The War for Independence could not
have been won but for the men of the
South. You men of the North should
MT loIEbI tHlS. IL GU owe your 1ndopenQ-
ence, you owe the liberty you enjoy to-
day as much to the soldiers of the South
as YOU do and as we do to the heroes
of Concord and Lexington.
when Republicans charge us with at
tacking the army you simply charge that
We are attacking ourselves. We cannot
attack the army. if we were so mean
without attacking our own flesh and
blood. The charge is vain impotent
defence. The army does not stand for
cruelty. treachery and dishonor We de-
fend the brave, the true, the humane
soldiers who refuse to do these things
You put yourselves in the position of de-
Tending the men who disgrace the army.
We are willing to appeal to the country
en- the issue thus raised.
'Mr. Chairman. there are few names
which spring uD unhidden as the history
of The Spanish-American War passes
through the mind: Victor Blue, a North
Carolina boy, was the soldier who, at
the peril of his life, climbed the hills
around Santiago and located the Spanish
feet; Richmond Hcbson, ar Alabama
boy, faced Spanish bullets and sunk the
Merrimac. General Joseph Wheeler, a
Confederal general stIbborniy refused
10 yield tho ridge at San Juan Hill, and
I robably saved the day for American
arms. And another Southern man, the
hero of much suffering and persecution,