The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-13

this generation think of the men who
fought the battles OF that confiict?' In
the course Of his remarks he paid a
high tribute to the men who fought
with Lee and Jackson, and said I'VE
honor you for the motives that inspired
you. 1t was not lust Of bloodshed that
inspired you. 1t was not for greed OF
gain o faced death. 1t was not to
conquer other states you shed your
blood. It was not to preserve slavery
you fought the great fight. Half of
those who fought had no interest in the
institution. 1t was pure patriotism hat
called you forth. o saw the black
| cloud OF civilization threatening the
freedom Of our nation. For local self
government, a principle coming from
our Teutonic ancestors M flowing in
your land, you cast all into the balance.
They called you rebels. Then a thous-
and fold more was Washington a rebel.
We honor you for your ndu Men
| OF the south, ii was hard to tell at what
stage Of the conflict your conduct was
most admirable. Whether Ill those days
Of ante hellum splendor and honor.
when you kept untarnished the honor
Of a united nation and passed il over
with escutcheon. untarnished, unsoiled
into other hands. Whether in those
days that tried mems souls, when you
Were the worthy equals OF your immor-
tai commanders, or, whether in the
Aliic VI uCAto1 aliu IL Soo
took up without a murmur the crushing
burdens aid pom o ana bore them
like men through the darkest days OF
reconstruction. We, your successors.
look back upon your course and say in
all earnestness, w glory in your con-
fict." He paid an elegant tribute to
the honor, courage, devotion TO duty
and heroism Of the confederate soldier
and their mortal commanders and ex-
claimed: 1T is our glory to be the sons
of such men"
DR.. Wells said in discussing another
question::
VIVA Of our Of conducting
the conflict? does your genera
ton think az to that. Such a question
is timely. For the veil is being lifted
on the conduct of the var in the Philip
| pines. And an infamy, black enough to
forever stain the name of America Is
being revealed. We hear Of the 1nfam-
Gus water cure. We read of an offclal
| order permitting the atrocious murder
| Of all in a certain territory over ten
years of age. And the horrible record
of murder, arson,. rape, plllage that Is
being dragged from reluctant witnesses,
will brand us, however much of white
| washing may be done. as unworthy the
name Of a Christian nation, unless II
meets with universal d~isapproVal ana
punishment.
Did we wage such a war? Was the
pathway of our armies marked with
such a trail of ashes ind blood, OF
shame and suffering? Can the officers
of the army in the trace
back their ground for savage barbar1sm
to Davis's Order No. 100 or Lees order
of July 20, 1862? You ask.
Thank God we can say no. Though
you had provocation rarely to be met
in the annals Of war. Though Colonel
McNiell and that fiend Strachan mad
been guilty in Missouri OF crimes OF
murder and of lust that makes the
blood run cold at this far day. Though
Milroy (who afterwards made Stone
wall Jackson acqua:ntance) had Is
sued an order worthy Of an Ava
Though General E. A. Wild INDUCED In
Georgia in a saturnlia Of crime tha'
would have disgraceo an Apache Indian
Though Pope gave that OF,
der against uon-combatantS that lee
General Lee 70 brand him and Stein
wehr as robbers and murderers and
not entitled, if captured, to be treated
as prisoners of war;" IAN order that mac
doubtless much to do with his remark
able speed as he left the field of SECOND
Rull Run and made for Washington.
Though Sherman, the s~eif-confessed
vandal, who burned Atlanta. who burn
cd Columbia and who coined the phrase
war is aell,' and richly deserves the
title OF his satanic majesty (wltl
apologies to the latter, and charged Il
to Hampton, and confesses IN ms me
moirs that he lied thus in order Il
shake the faith of the people of South
Carolina in him. Though Sher1daI
desolated the fair valley Of Virginia
disregarding every principal OF 1alr ahe
humane warfare.
hou Buffers infamous order No
% IS New Orleans has won for him for-
49, -1Ar;-,,nt Of sRaaG
Though your blood was fired ano
YOUR hearts wrung at these infamies
Still you were men.
You were led by men Of honor anc
there was as much n in the RAM
and file as at headquarters. Your nahu'
are clean. -,
Contrast Lees noble Order 73 with
the one of Pope. Compare
the march of Lees troops througf
Pennsylvania with the march OF Sher'
man through Georgia.
individual ruffianism there was
Among 900. 200 men such u occur
Bands of outlaws there were along INT
borders. ready to fight under elIne'
flag and generally under no flag, seek
ing only plumber. But compare the or
ders of our officers; especially gen.
erals. Scan the official records. Anf
it fills my heart with JOY to say
There is not an order from first TO las
that you cannot aHoro 10 let lne "olt
read: or history to blazon forth .
its pages.
In conclusion DR.. Wells paid the fol
lowing tribute to the women or me
south: -,
.Time fails also to tell when we thin
of the southern women Of 61-65. VINE
time writes in living letters on the scrot
Of history the prominent skill OF ou
leaders and the sublime courage OF ou'
soldiers, it cannot forget these herolnes
Gently nurtured, shielded by southern
homage from every storm before tn
struggle. When il came, how marNeA
Gus the transformation, All over tn
.outh fair hands took charge of the oil
rection of the plantations and fed tn
soldiers at the front. Angels of merc!
ministered in the great hospital GU
whole land became Courage led then
10 push every man to the front. al
though they dropped a tear upon tn,
sword as they buckled it on WIT
hope undimmed. with confidence un
sbakan tbev toiled and suffered. Go,