The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-07-11

'ohA iN di DOuCnprn
State. But 'the great consuming
tide that bore aloit that mighty move.
ment for self-government was born
OF two great impulses, one political.
the other social, one the cherished
outgrowth of American freedom, the
other q plant Of heavier growth, of
deeper root, one the love Of State,
the other the love of home, and this
loyaly to the State, fed the steady
consuming flames of battle from Ma
masses to Appomattox,"
The organic law of this country.
declares that tue Federal Govern.
ment is one Of limited powers, and
the powers not expressly delegated
to it are reserved to the States
Thus, my dead comrades, a wreath
is laid upon your humble graves, and
u vindication IS offered TO your mem,
ories unconscicusly by the hand of
the enemy, No, my friends, it was
for higher, holicr purpose than the
lust of gain or the greed of power,
that we yieldel up our lives. Whom
men forsakc all that life holds dear
and sweet, for the cold, bitter cx-
periences of war-when they leave
behind them their beautiful homes.
flourishing cities and devoted loved
ores, for the trying scenes of death
and carnage, when the fond mother
plants the farewell kiss upon the
lips Of her boy, and willingly sacri-
fees him upon the altar OF his coun-
try, | say when men and women are
moved by such heroic self sacrificing
devotion to cause, within their
bosOms is the burning conviction
that that cause is Il holy cause, those
opinions which impel them are hon
est opinions.
We arc told that since the fortunes
OF war were against US, it follows
that our cause was an unjust one; do
not my comrades be deceived by the
unwarranted conclusion. \ great
principle never dies, and while it is
true our swords are shcathed. and
the war cry is over, yet even now if
our honor were insultcd, and our
sacred constitutional rights were
trampled upon, the sword Of Lee,
a jackson or Hampton would leap
from its scabbard to resent the offered
Insult to their country and punish
the "maligners of her honor.
Were it all to do over again, with
the fearful issues of life and death
involved, with all of the consequences
which have followed in its train, |
believe ! utter the sentiment of nv
old comrades when [ say that they
would again, if their country called
them, rally arowd the old flag like
wall of fire, in defense of home, of
honor and of constitutional rights,
and receive anew their baptism of
fire and blood.
Style it rebellion if you please,
and call us Rebels if you will. If
Robert &. Lee and Stonewall jackson
were Rebels [ glory in the name, for
Warren and Hamilton who gave their
love and service to this young Re
public in oyerthrowing the yoke Of
British oppression and resisting
EsltiSh tyranny were also Rebels.
If Johnson, Stuart and Hamilton
were Rebels, Franklin was u Rebel,
and the impcrishablo words of
Patrick Henry when he raised his
voice in the assembly of Virginia and
proclaimed that immortal utterance,
Give me liberty, or give me death,
were the sentiments of rebellion
uttered by a Rebel. If Jefferson
Davis was Rebel; George Washing
ton who broke the oath of allegiance
to the tyrannical government Of Eng
land and waved the stars and stripes
cover the land of the free and the
home of the brave was the "Arch
Rebel of the eighteenth century.
1t was the love of country and of
home that moved the immortal three
hundred at Thcrmopylae to bar with
their living bodies the Persian march
on trembling Sparta 1t was the
love Of country and home that held
alooG the heaven given barrier under
which Constantine strove to stay the
flood of ROme's decline. 1t was the
love of country and hcmo that bore
along in wondrous triumph that ban
ncr Of crimson silk which noatcd
beneath the imperial eagles Of France.
1t was love of country and home that
impcIlcd Joan of Arc to march at the