The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-28
Judge wm. T. Gary's Speech.

We do not assume 10 crltlclse 30 aole d
speech, nor do we presume to know
more OF the proprieties than does the distin.
guIshed Georgian, who Is All honored native
OF the county and State where the monu-
ment was built, but 1t may be permissible In
us to suggest that We would have been glad
If be had pitched his speech on different lines.
Instead Of d TRADE against the north and
instead Of q restatement OF the causes which
led to the war. 1t seems to US, II the distin-
gushed orator had spoken more Of the valor
OF those who took up arms and braved dan.
ger, hardship and death for their country
the act would have met more grateful re-
sponse from those who had bled to
dedicate this beautiful monument to "Our
Confederate Soldiers"
From the inscription we presume that 1t
patriotism OF those who went from that par
ticular locality.
Then, why not refer to some of the notable
incidents OF the war, rather than to enlarge
on the political errors that brought on the
conflict?
Was the Confederate soldiers glorious bra.
very less notable and lessl historic than the
disturbing events which preceded the war?
Did none OF the brave 'Confederates take
part In any OF the great battles that made
Confederate valor historic?
Did the valient men In whose memory
this monument was built take no part in the
battles. OF Manassas Chancellorsville, Wilder.
ness, Spottsylvania, Sharpeburg and Chicka.
manga? II 80, no hint Of that fact is given
Of the unyelling OF this monument. A
tribute TO the the valor and the
glory OF the Confederate soldier would
have been more appropriate on this occasion
than any humlliating reference to the
wrongs which ws.suffered In Reconstruction
Is 1t not true. that the on-oommission ed
officer. e. A. G. Waller, acted with such con
spiouous.bravery at the Mine Explosion as
to make his valorous conduct historic and to
render his name synonym Of all that sol
dier holds clear?
Did not the whole course Of A. 9. Rice 10
the war become praiseworthy from every
standpoint?
Did not w. Il. Bailey. as signal officer, keep
the great army OF Con federates informed az
to the situation during the battle OF Chicka'
mauga? And did he not. with others, guide
the contending host to snodgrass Hill?
Were not Thos. F. Riley, and his two
brothers at Chanoellorsville9 Did the broth
ers not fall, and was not Thos F. Riley
wounded there?
Thos. r. Puckett, carried the flag at Chan
oellorsville. and when his flag staff was shot
in two, did he not raise the flag. after he was
wounded and had fallen to his knees?
J.L.White distinguished himselfat Chicka
mauga, and for his participation in thai
dght r. F. McCaslan was made one OF three
commissioners from this State to locate the
battlefield.
]. A. Crawford was at Chickamauga and
did his duty well.
For an lall round soldier. no man stood
higher than Samuel Hodges.
Joel W. Liaes held one Of the most trying
positions that was ever assigned to a private
soldier.
type.
w. w. Purdy was always at the post O.
duty.
ant in the znd 8. @. V. immortalized him.
self. ::
Nat. Douglass, as sharpshootsr on the out
posts. was notably brave and gallant
]. Mac. Mosely was always In line and faced
danger as only the brave can do.
Milledge B. Lipscomb was at the front, and
did his duty as patriot and as soldier.
But why mention others? That monument
was not intended to declare the persona
glory OF any particular soldier, but 1t was
intended to record our love for the organized
valor Of all those who took up arms tor
Southern rights. II was built to perpetuate
In story and in history the fame and the
valor Of those who met and fought the equally
brave and the equally, patriotic armies OF the
North. 1t was built, neither to commemor.
ate glorious Victories nor to perpetuate
legends Of honorable defeat, but 1t was erect
ed TO the immortal and glorious bravery OF
those who oompeosd .as proud an army as
ever fought for any country.
The conduct OF the men to whom this
monument was dedicated furnished sufi
clent data for the unvelling speech.
In view OF the fame and the glory OF the
Confederate soldier, and In the presence Of
those who survived the most sublime effort
in human history, was there either neces.
sity or Justification for going of
after old John Brown, who attempted insur
rection In Virginia, and who promptly met
the fate which that misguided fanatic 30
richly deserved9
Judge Gary says 1.-THE war was not waged
for slavery"
IfJudge Gary will refer to the proce edin &c
Of the South Carolina State Convention he
will find declaration of the causes which
justify the secession OF South Carolina from
the federal union." which was adopted by q
vote Of l34 to 30.
There was nothing else but slavery In that
declaration" and there lis now no good in
trying to deny that slavery was the cause,
andthe only cause OF the war. But the discns.
in hand at Green wood.
IfJodge Gary will refer to the minutes OF
the State Convention Of Georgia, he will find
interesting Information as 10 the cause OF the
war-African slavery. Let the Judge read
Alexander Stephens speech in that Conven-
tion. and then, II he can, deny that slavery
was the sole cause Of the war.
Instead Of saying mo blush OF shame will
ever come to any patriot because he nobly
followed the immortal Lee," he might have
said "Itshould be the greatest pride Of every
patriot that he nobly followed the immorta
Lee" e.
In speaking as we do. we only mean to ex.
press our regret that the distinguished speak
or did not choose different line Of thought.
New Bank.
Among the new enterprises which we are
hearing OF daily for Abbeville. none ia Of
greater importance than the new establish
capital stock has already been subscribed,
and the balance Is In sight.