The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-03


 convulsion and conflict of the force of ideas and arms that 'eventuated in the name Confederate Veteran, the most august and thrilling appellation that has ever been the glory of men to enjoy. l shall be respectful and considerate of [ the opinions of others. but at the same time I shall be. firm and unambiguous, charitable yet unapologetic to anyone for the thoughts and facts shall express and the conclusions I shall announce.
 It is appropriate that should state just here that I do not appreciate, and 1 am not in sympathy with that gush and syeophancy of some fatterers and para sites that are given to speaking of the present south on festival occasions at the north as being the New South. . thereby desiring to convey and impress the world that the instincts, the intelli- gence the efforts, the material elements, social conditions, physical and material development of the antebellum with its glorious manhood and womanhood. an august and elevated civilization, have been failure. My comrades this is the same old south of Calhoun, McDuffie Preston of Gaston and Ruffin, of the Lees and Masons; of the Taneys and Johnstons, of the Jacksons the Cobbs the Toombs and Stephens; of the Bibbs, of the Saffods, the Gayles, of the Fitspat- ricks, and, last but not least. the Yanceys, and that long roster of glorious and august and fascinating womanhood, that has left it's impress of religion and social grandeur upon their unfortunate and im- poverished sons and daughters
 We cannot forget or ignore the examples and teachings of these immortelles Search the pages of history, investigate the annals of the human family, and tell me, ye students of the past in what volume, on what record, in what manu- script, and where is there recorded such illustrious deeds such matchless states manship. such invincible courage, such masterful politics. and such devotion and adherence to exalted patriotism and to truth and justice?
 Aye, 1t can be said of the people of the south, of her institutions and devo- ton to principle, as Pericles said of his Athenian countrymen. we are the only people of our times who have been found greater by experience than by report
 If to adore, to reverence and love the teachings and institutions of our ances- tors is Bourbonism, then I am the most Bourbon among the Bourbons; if this is rebellion, then I am the greatest rebel among the rebels
 No, there is no new south that has sprung from an oblivion of the past There is no Lethe that winds it's course through our section that brings forget fitness of the teachings and inspirations of southern ancestry and southern pa triotism and valor; there is no new south that exists because of the injection of different brains. different inspirations and different impulses. There Is no new south because of a changed manhood and womanhood; there is no new south be-
 
 fanes and our temples. and set up a new religion with new gods and new creeds. Here is the same old religion of the humble Nazarene: here are the same old church organizations that gave a place of worship to, our ancestors and inspired their heroism and chivalry; here are the old churchyards; here are the same sweet cancellations in the teachings and lessons of our mothers, as they presided over the family altars. as opulent and splen- did in their piety as the gifted prophecies of the Israel of old.
 1t is true that by the ruthless devasta- tions of barbarous war our homes were destroyed. our property consumed and the billions of wealth that for more than l. d hundred years our ancestors had &C., quired. and which was so clearly, ex- plicitly and as sacredly protected by the Federal constitution as any species of property of the man of the north, was expunged from the tax assessments and the ownership of the master forever de- nied by one stroke of the pen.
 The dark pail of poverty want and dis tress hovered over our land. The weep ing and lamentations of the widow and the orphan 'in their voiceless woe" cast their unhappy wailings throughout our l coasts.
 The thieves. the rogues and robbers. | camp followers of victorious army. bent | on booty and pillage. were turned loose 1 upon defenseless. helpless and impover- 1 ished community; obedience to law was | forgotten, social law was in allowance | but thank God, amid the horrors. the ] pilage robbery and plunder, the pas sions. the cruel barbarity of this horde !, of hyenas and vultures, to the honor, te the glory. and unspeakable suhlimity oi the chastity and virtue of southern wom- l anhood. not one ever yielded the spotless ] purity and hallowed sanctty of her sacred