The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-07-04

uo'0 ooon en0 AiSus VI WIVnS VI tne
contention in 1861, we have admit.
ted since 1865 that tho Union is in.
dissoluble, and that the allegiance oi
all tho people of this great republic
is due primarily and fully to the
United States of America. But
while admitting this, we do not and
never will admit that the result oi
the great strife was due to q wrong
Interpretation of the Constitution on
our part. The force OF arms may
be such as to set a controversy at
rest by precluding its further agita-
ton, and that, as to the power of q
State to secede, was undoubtedly
terminated by the triumph Of. the
Union armies, it by no means carries
with it the conviction that we were
wrong.
have simply attempted to pre-
vent the evidence that at the begin
ming of our government State rights
was commonly entertained and that
it was in no sense sectional-that it
had not been contrived in secret or
expressed in whispers; it was openly
proclaimed upon the house tops at
all times and under all circumstances.
The Judgment of the impartial his
torian can never be that in contend
ing for our Interpretation of the Con-
stitution, even to the extent of main
tanning it by force of arms, We made
ourselves rebels and traitors.
When the present generation shall
have passed away and when calm,
dispassionate and impartial inquiry
is made into the cause which led up
to it, l have an abiding faith that
this stigma will be taken from our
heroic and devoted people. No man
can now be heard to impugn the 10y
atty of the South. There has never
been a moment since the surrender
at Appomattox when there was the
slightest ground for questioning it.
We knew, but for long time it
seemed that others could not under
stand, that the result had been ac>
cepted by us as final and irrevocable.
We knew that our destiny was to be
the same as our brethren of the
North; and we had no ambition left
save to preserve our honor unfair
nished; to build up the waste places;
to restore law and order; to help
bind up the nations wounds and to
contribute what We could to its great
ness and grandeur. We cherished
no malice against the men whose
armies had been triumphant.
We have not come together here
to excite anew the fierce patriotic
passions which once filled the breast
Of every true Southern man and
woman. Nor is it our intention to
say ought that is disloyal to the great
Union which now protects US all.
Thank God, the day has come when
a part Of the sad memories and bitter
animosities of the past are being ab-
sorbed in the quickened public sense
of the Importance of business rela-
tions between North and South; but
the day has not come and will never
come when We can forget the brave
men who died the death of martyrs
in fighting for their convictions. In
all time and ages he who has been
willing to offer his life as an evidence
of the faith that was in him has been
deemed worthy of a place among the
heroes of history. Without the fear
of successful contradiction we assert
that this position should be ac-
corded to every man who wore the
gray.
The beautiful flowers We 80 ten
derly and lovingly place upon the
graves of our Confederate dead on
this memorial day give forth their
fragrance for while and then, like
many Of the Joys Of earth, wither
and are gone forever.
But tho tender, loving, thought
full deed remains and the seeds sown
from which a bountiful harvest of
8owers bloom forth upon these graves
for here you have SO thoughtfully
inaugurate. custom to annually
decorate the graves Of our honored
dead.
This time honored custom is beau
tiful indeed, for in this coming here
amid the flowers of May to pay
tribute to the heroes Of tho past VIC
ara mot only thinkino Goa,s thon5htS