The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-05-25

one of the incidents and results Of the
war; Thank God it is gone forever, ana
that We have reunited country under
| one flag, The emblem of a free people
| in an inseparable union of co-equal
states. and never destined, we pray Goa,
to become the emblem of imperial power
at home or abroad. or to float over
| Vassal states and subject peoples any
where against their VIII.
I'VE are here that mankind may not
| forget nor fasehood nor calunny cloud
| or tarnish the calm judgment OF pos
! terity as to the sincerity of the motives
| and the honorable conduct OF the con-
| federate soldiers. We affirm our desire
| that our children may understand these
| things that they may the more reverence
| their ancestry, that they may know OF
| their suffering and sacrifices ana be aple
! to defend their good names and proud
| of their achievements, emulate, In the
| great struggles of the future If such
await our country the fidelity patrlotlSh'
| love of home and country attested py
| the veterans of 1861 on an hunufed ploouy
ba tile fields
who would have them forget the Lees,
the Johnstons. the Jacksons and the
Hills? Who would have them forget
Bragg Beaureeard. Hardee, Price, PoIK
and Hood? Who would have them for
get that great wizard Of the saddle. Bed
ford Forrest, and our own little Joe
Wheeler, Pat Cleburn, the lamented
WalthaIl and innumerable others? VINO
would have us forget the grand Old man.
General John b. Gordon, yet with u.s.
and others still spared. and the hosts
who made for them names that can
never perish from tho earth az long
ae genius and courage and patriotism
challenge the admiration OF MANKIND!
The South and Adversely.
did any other people ever face and
overcome adversely as did the southern
people? The same spirit which gave her
armies unity. power and endurance fol-
lowed the survivors back into civil life
TO point the way Of q new birth such
as no other country has ever expert
enced. But as the south had fought for
the principal Of local self-government
and lost, so In the disjointed logic OF
the time she was to be denied it's april
cation in the reestablishment of her state
government. The great north sent the
carpetba gger. who aided by those VINO
had never exercised the simplest rights
of citizenship, were expected to set up
and administer sucn governments as were
tit for a people who, for nearly three
quarters oil a century had. in the man,
guided AMI directed the splendid prog
ress and development OF the great repuD-
ltr The riGtOus and debauched condi-
non into which q helpless and defense
less people were plunged by this char
aCterleSs horde OF Unsuitable coTmoranlS
who assembled q our state capitals TO
blaSpheme the very name OF clYll gov
eminent and plot schemes to Cypress a
fallen foe that they might pfolong lhelf
opportunities for peCuaulon, must be lett
to the future historian, IN the interest
Of truth and as u lesson to posterIty, and
as a warning to us all that there is no
freedom where one man is permitted TO
govern others against their wills, to drag
away the sheet that covers the rotten
corpse of reconstruction 1t fell as in
the nature of things it could not en-
dure
with the south's overwhelming prob
lem still uusolVed she has, nevertheless.
under the auspices of her own people,
fallen and safe and peaceful, If not happy
and prosperous times. Her sons and
daughters have resumed their rightful
station. and whatever the future has in
store IF good Tor her. must rest upon
the trains and characteristics If her peo-
pie She win be patient; she will be pru-
dent To all the knightly and queenly
virtues she viii hold fast trusting IN COD
ana the future for the noble and the
good The south viii not despair
First Confederate Flag.
Editor Constitution: Apropos Of the
confederate reunion now on in New Or
leans. IT might be of interest to the vet
Grams and their friends who attend the re
Fairburn. through which they viii pass
going and coming via the West Point
Route, claims the honor and distinction
Of being Che place where the inst con
federate flag was unfurled
1t happened this way: On the day the
design OF the flag was adopted ~ the
confederate congress, then sitting at
Mont gomery. the first confederate cap
itaI. Engineer Jeff Robinson, then S now
one Of The most competent and trusted
engineers in the service of tins railroad
pulled q passenger train out from Mont
gornery on his regular run Aboard the
train were Alec Stephens. Toombs, Cobo
and other notables OF those stormy times.
There were also many ladies aboard
whose patriotic impulses were aroused py
the war talk among the passengers.
BY the time the train had reached La
GRANGE The ladies asked that the train
ne aeli long enough to send up town and
get material to make a HAS II was cA-
blamed TO them. however, that the stores
at Granville were much nearer the De
non. SO arriving at the latter place En-
.iueer Robinson himself ran to nearby
store and procured the necessary goods
threads needles. etc, and soon the ldlr
hands of these patriotic women were
tGftIy converting the material into the
first emblem of states rights that ever
hurled defiance at foe.
Bv tho time the train reached Fair
burn the nag was finished and willing
b4nde procured a temporary flag pole,
which was placed on the rear end of the
train, and the immortal symbol OF free
Q0fn was uufurIed 10 the soft, southern
breeze and the train resumed its run to
Atlanta where the nag at once become
the center of attraction aud patriotic ad-
miratiOn Today Engineer Robinson, stun
i'm the prime Of splendid manhood, has
his HAND on the throttle of a beautiful