The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-09
THE SOUTH's HEROES.
Eloquent Tribute by Judge Speer in
His Court.

his court in Macon the other day Is
regarded by many persons as a reply
to recent structures upon the President:
And shall Americans of this day and
time, at once the trustees of that
mighty trust for humanity our fathers
created, and the beneficiaries of their
benevolence, shall we be faithless or
ungrateful? In the presence of our
happy millions, of our stupendous ma
terial and physical power, of the moral
influence of American opinion, the
practical equivalent of international
law, shall we question the wisdom of
the constitution which make these pos
sible? Rather shall we not gratefully
thank the Giver of all good gifts that,
despite the inexora BILE differences of
the past, the storm and stress of polit
zeal antagonism, and the devastating
power of war, ours is now at last, and
for all time, in deed and in truth, in
the language of the preamble to the
constitution "a more perfect union,
an ''indissoluble union of indestructible
states" And shall we not religiously
enforce the laws of our common coun-
try? Without law and obedience to
law, liberty is but license and govern
and injurious sham. And more, in adj
dition to the impartial and rigorous
enforcement of those laws bestowing
as they daily do counties blessings up
on this people, is it not the duty of the
Christian patriot to turn from the bit
terness and animosity of the past, and
ever lift up his eyes to that benignant
and golden radiance which under the
province of God will glorify all the
years to come. The past with all of
its cherished lessons of heroism, and
constancy, and devotion to duty, is
gone The future is ours. In the
language of our President:
''At the opening of this new century
all of us, the children of a reunited
country, have a right to glory in the
countless deeds of valor done alike by
the men of the North and the men of
the South. Now there is none left
North or South who does not take joy
and pride in the nation, and when but
recently we had to face a foreign en-
emy the heart of every true American
thrilled with pride to see veterans who
had fought in the Confederate uniform
once more appear under Uncle Sam s
colors, side by side with their former
foes, and lead to victory under the IA
nous old flag the sons of both of those
who had worn the blue and those who
had worn the gray
Nor is this thrilling sentiment new.
Nor are these the sentiments alone of
Northern men. Who more devoted or
constant to the red cross flag of the
South than Nathan Bedford Forrest
What force withstood the rush of his
stark riders where his laundering onset
led? What column swept the crest of
battle when with rifle and revolver his
heroes stood at bay? In simple but
earnest phrase to the soldiers of his
renowned Seventh Tennessee Cavalry,
two years after the war had ended, this
great Confederate soldier said:
Comrades, through the years of
bloodshed and weary marches, we were
tried and true soldiers, so during the
years of peace you have been good citi-
zens. Now that we are again united
under the old flag, l love it as l did in
the days of my youth. 1 feel sure that
you love it also. Yes, l love and honor
the old flag as much as those who fol-
lowed it on the other side, and I am
sure that : but express your feelings
when 1 say should occasion offer and
our country demand our services, you
would as eagerly follow my lead to
battle under that proud banner as
ever you followed me in our late
great war"
There is another, the idol of every
Southron, the pride of every American
heart
Great in council and great in war,
Foremost captain of his time.
Rich ~ saving common sense,
And as the greatest only are,
In his simplicity, sublime
Need 1 name him, Robert Edward
Lee. Writing to Gen. Beauregard after
the surrender, he declared:
Il think the South requires the aid
of her sons now more than at any pc
riod of her history. After the surren-
der Of the Southern armies in April,
1866 it became in my opinion the duty
of every citizen to cease opposition and
place himself in a position to serve the
country"
To Governor Letcher of his own state
he also wrote: THE interests of the
state are therefore the same as those
of the United States. It's prosperity
will rise or fall with the welfare of the
country. All should unite in honest
efforts to obliterate the effects of war
and to restore the blessings of peace.
1 have invariably recommended this
course since the cessation of HOSTILE
ties and have endeavored to practice
it myself"
May / be pardoned if call especial
d
chieftain to Gen. Early who purposed
to write a military history In approx
ing the purpose Gen. Lee wrote: Il
would recommend, however, that while
giving the facts which you think nee
essary for your vindication you omit all
epithets or remarks calculated to excite
bitterness or animosity between diff
ferent sections of the country" Thus
spoke the patriot and Christian, the
man of whom communicative chief of
the British army has declared: II have
met many of the great men of my time,
but Lee alone impressed me with the
feeling that l was in the presence of a
man who was cast in a grander mold
and made of different and finer metal
than all other men" Thus spoke he of
whom Stonewall Jackson declared, He
is the only man l ever saw whom 1
would follow blindfold" Cannot we
then follow him, not blindfold. but in
the clear light of our country's rehabil-
itation, of it's gigantic progress toward
a higher and nobler destiny, of the
realization of that prophetic forecast
made on the 4th day of March, 1861:
THE mystic chords of memory.
stretching from every battlefield and
patriot grave to every living heart and
hearthstone all over this broad land,
will yet swell the chorus of the Union
when again touched as surely they
will he by the better angels of our ma
ture."
Thus spoke the prophetic soul of
Abraham Lincoln. Soon were his NOR
tai eyes to be closed to the concerns
of this transitory life. but his country
survived to see the realization, and
the ennoblng patriotism of the
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