The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-02-04
THE INSCRIPTION AT ARLINGTON.
The Unjust Picture of Southern Life by
Col. Bob lngersoll.

time since the civil war when you
could not with truthfulness assert
that the Mason and Dixon line is OBJ
liberated; that there was time when
it was necessary to repeat the state
ment often to believe it true, but that
today as it is an assured fact it is
time that We imply the truth and
cease making reference to it.
A noted scholar prior to this time
while visiting the same historic city
during the convention Of the National
Education Associational uttered the
sentiment that the day is at hand
when We have reunited counry, when
Davis, Lee, Jackson, Stuart, Gordon,
Hampton and the leaders OF the Con-
federacy belong to the north, and
when Lincoln, Grant, Sherman,
Sheridan and the northren leaders
belong to the south.
AS southerner, and I trust pat
riot, I love the traditions and the
principles of my section. Without
this love first 1 do not believe would
be capable of comprising the love of
the republic As the son Of Con-
federate soldier l grant that President
Roosevelt was conscientious when he
urged that we have realized complete
reconciliation and, allowing this, l
appreciate his generosity, yet while
sectionlism is dead with it's train of
evils in the sense that we hate the
north, the traditions and principles of
our fathers are not dead, but fresh
with life, blooming as the Rose of
Sharon and the lily of the valley as
the sons and daughters of the Con-
federacy water them with the dews OF
Heaven. The standard of the little
republic was never furled in dishonor
but was carried by an angel to the
God of Truth, and its star has had
no setting but has melted away into
the brightness of heaven.
Mr.. Ward in his recent article which
has attracted much attention through
out the country maintains that In all
the ages of civilized man the ethics
of combat have contemplated that
when individuals, parties or govern
ment appeal their issues to the arbl-
trament of physical forces, the van
quished should accept in good faith
the terms of the victor, but the
''Olive Branch" of courtesy and con-
citation should always be first extend
ed to fallen foe, by the magnanimity
of his triumphant antagonist. 1t carries
with it then the aroma Of true valor;
but when these amenities come ever
unsolicited and always unrequired
from the weaker party they reek with
the odor of sycophancy and chill like
the cold clammy hand Of insincerlty.
/ grant that the northern represent
ative of the National Educational as
sociation was conscientious when he
accepted our leaders as his own and
presented to US the leaders Of the
north. We feel that in giving south
ern heroes to the north we are giving
men who, in the language of the gifted
Trescott, true to the instincts of
their birth, faithful to the teachings
of their fathers, constant in their
love for the State died in the perform
ance of their duty: who have glorifed
fallen cause by the simple manhood
of their lives, the patient endurance
of suffering and the heroism of death,
and who in the dark hour Of imprison-
ment, in the hoplessness of the
hospital, in the short sharp agonies OF
the field found support and consolation
in the belief that at home they would
not be forgotten" Men whom power
could not corrupt, whom death could
not terrify, whom defeat could not
dishonor, teaching all who may claim
the same birth-right that truth,
courage and patriotism endure for
ever" But when we receive the
leaders of the north, with Mr.. Ward
we think of Lincoln as being strong,
conscientious, illiterate, dogmatic,
narrow and sctional, who issued his
emancip patton proclamation for he be-
lieved "the time has arrived when
we must know whether the slave
element is for US or against u.s."
We think Of Grant, disregarding the
emancipation proclamation and retain
ing his slaves to the end of the war,
and still waited to Immortality on the
wings of victory, as the victorious ex-
ponent of the Union cause, the cause
that sought to establish the proclama-
tion.
1 believe that the Mason and Dixon
line has been obliterated in the sense
that we are united for the establish
ment of justice, for the common de-
fence, the general welfare and for the
purpose of securing the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and to our posterl-
ty; yet we can never wipe out the
memory Of our principles, the love for
our heros, the tears Of the widows and
orphans and the blood that was shed.
As the north admits the heroism and
the generalship Of our leaders we grant
them all the glory the magnanimous
admission carries with it. Winfield
Scott was magnanimous when he said
in explaining the cause of his defeat
at First Manassas that the men who
opposed him were those who had fol-
lowed him over the walls Of the
Montezumas. In exchanging the glory
of our men we feel that We give more
than we receive. In taking Grant
and Sherman for Lee and Jackson the
world know what We give and we re-
ceiye the one who would fight it out
along this line if it takes all summer, !"
the other whose followers carried the
torch through the unprotected villages
and cities of South Carolina. I shall
agree with Mr.. Ward and allow the
amenities to come from the victorious,