The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1902-05-16

tion for happiness and prosperity from
that upon which we build our own,
that we must live ard struggle side by
side, all doing Their best to work out a
just solution of the roblelns which con
front us; and that ills can never be ac-
complished in a way which would
bring the best results, except by the
steady and persistent cultivation of
peaceable and kindly relations.
Let us esteem ourselves fortunate that
we have survived long enough to wit
ness the tctal banishment of those as
perities which so long
Reunions existed between the diff
Aftermath. ferent sections of our
country. The mellow
ing influence of time has softened
and cleared the vision Of us all. We
now see things clearly which once we
could not see at all. We now know
that good people are the same every
where: that no section has a monopo-
lY of patriotism or virtue; that our
people, no matter whence they come,
are flesh of one flesh, bone of one bone
and inspired by the same lofty cour-
age and noble purpose.
The Christening of the great war
has but strengthened the American
people for the work which this NIGH
ty nation must do through all the
coning ages, for the advancement of
civilization and the uplifting Of man
kind, No human perception is keen
enough to forsee the greatness and
splendor which will surely come to
US, if we will but be true to the fun
damental principles of the Declara-
tiOn of Independence which consti-
tutes the basis of our institutions. 1t
is given to us in the province of God,
to solve the question long pondered
over and debated, as TO whether the
people are capable of governing them
selves. If those whom we intrust
with official power are honest and pa
triotic, if they recognize that they
are trustees charged with great re-
sponsibllities and that there can be
no excess of devotion to public duty,
the Republic will stand. The solu-
tion of the problem rests with the
people themselves, and they can not
be too yigilant and persistent in ex-
acting from their public servants
that they shall measure up to Une
highest standard of official life. We
of the South can not escape our just
share Of the responsibilities of the
future, and we should not do so if we
could. we are fast passing from un-
der the cloud of suspicion and dis.
trust which has so long cast its cruel
shadow upon US. Southern men in
the future may justly aspire to the
highest positions Of public office and
trust.
Let us so conduct ourselves that
we may win anew the sympathetic
Of all the people of this
great republic. Just pride in the
splendid deeds of the Southern states
men of thy past should stimulate US
to emulate their example. Prosperi-
ty and disorder cannot dwell togeth-
er. We should therefore never grow
weary in teaching this great and es-
sential truth. If we would Danish
disorder, we must reverentially up
hold the law. 1t is far better that
wrong doing should go unwhipped OF
Justice, through the weakness Of law
than that lawleSsness should be pun
ished by the strength Of lawlessness,
We must educate our children, Ig-
norance is the everlasting foe to pro-
gress, and we should make ceaseless
war upon it, if we should secure for
them fair measure of the fruits Of
modern enlightenment. We must
not forget that calm judgment and
conservative action are the SureSt
safeguards of peace and safety for
without them we can not expect a
a just observance Of the rights and
privileges CT all.
In conclusion let me remind you
that while contending for the purity
Of the motives which governed our