The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-04
GLAD THE SOUTH LOST.

The survivors Of an Illinois regiment
reunion at Quincy. Ill, the other day.
Among the guests was Captain ]. H.
Mcdowell, an ex-confcdarats soldier of
Nashville, Tenn. In fact he was the
guest of honor. He had come to return
a carbine he had captured from a SOL
der of that regiment during a battle.
The weapon was delivered to a son or
its former owner, h later having beea
killed in battle. A special Gisratch 10
The Chicago Tribune giving an account
Of the presentation of the wal relic
says:
Captain Mcdowell was dressed in the
gray uniform he wore In the confederate
army. He captured the carbine at the
battle of Holly Springs. taking 1t from
Isaiah Wiedman. who was KILLED in that
battle. Captain Mcdowell presented
the carbine to Mr.. L.. w. wiedman, Of
Farmers City, ILL.,. d son IF the man
from whom he took it nearly forty years
ago. We of the south Thought we were
right said Captain Mcdowell, as he
handed the old carbine 1" Mr. We'd
man, but. thank God! We LOST, Provi-
dence decided the wa right, n we
are now glad you won"
Few men who followed Lee and Jack
son will say Amen" to the sentiments
expressed by Captain Mcdowell on this
occasion. No southern nan V no holds
the Southern C~onfedela"y in sacrel
memory can endorse them. We do not
believe any survivor OF the Lost Cause
can put his and on his heart. carry
his thoughts back to the days Of 61-65
and truthfully sa: Thank God. we
lost" There is no use IN saying anything
about it one way or the ether. We
struggled for four long weary years
against overwhelming odds and we lost
whether for good or for uad God
alone is the Judge, as it wos His de-
cree that we should lose. AL we nave
to do, and what is our plain uuly to
do, is to make the best OF Of the situa-
ton we can. The war has been over
for thirty-seven years Tn the people
who were loyal to the federal and to
the confederate governments are now
united in striving to make this the
grandest nation on earth. AS between
SAS SNpt$ "a NAN y" W. 80 ~ "oA
incidents should be let pass. We want
no more shaking of fists across the
bloody chasm" and this ostentatious
shaking of hands across the abysis that
once divided the people OF the north
and the south is bout as foolish as the
other. The latter is almost as great a
means in keeping up the memory of
<~4N~
Especially do we oppose this handshak-
ing when it is accompahied with such
declarations as that made by Captain
Mcdowell. If it was Gecraed that we
should fail we can TAX our defeat like
men and we will win more respect and
regard from the other side than by
joining them in their celebration Of
victory over us and telling them we are
glad we were defeated: for no matter
how r~econciled we maT be to the pres
ent state of affairs we are not glad that
the thousands of brave men OF the south
lost their lives in a fruitiass effort. The
war is over. Put it and ali it's conse-
quent disappointments. t-burnings
and animosities aside. Let the dead
past bury it's dead: ac- in the living
present, heart within ano God DER
head.
We do not mean thac the southern
men and women should ever put from
their memories OF cease 20 honor those
who gave up their lives fol the cause
so dear to them. God forbid this time
should ever come. But let the surviv-
ors of the northern army and their
friends nave their memorial services
and exercises in honor Of their dead
and let us of the southern states keep
up among ourselves our established
custom of doing honor to our beloved
dead. Their memoir should be kept
green in the hearts of tue future gene
rations of the south, but this SHOULD
be done by us and by us Alone. We
dc not like this so-called fraternizing
over the successes and defeats of the war
between the states. The two sides IAN
live in harmony and peace without it.
With us the Lest CAUSE the men,-
cries of those feaTfIi days AMI tho sac
r:fioe OF blood We MA 1e hould be too
sacred a memory to De shared with
others, and we should let hose OF the
other side observe their commemorative
ceremonies without forcing ourselves
upon them. While we OF the south con-
tinue to commemorate the deeds of our
soldiers. to hon the mennor ot those
who died and to care for the survivors
n the people of the north do likewise
FIN ancient Foe