The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-28
THE CONFEDERATE DEAD.
Speech of Judge William L. Gary Mt
the UnveiIing Of the Greenwood
Monument.
News & Courier.)

news q COurler.)
Centuries ago the God-implanted love of
| resist oppression and to wrest from King
John, at unnymede, the Magma, or immor-
| tai bill OF rights sofliberty-loving of men.
The same spirit actuated our iorefathers
during the Revolutionary war and caused
them to resist tyranny and to lonnd for
themselves Government, the Cornerstone OF
which is liberty.
oppression caused the confederate soldiers
| to assem- BILE at Manassas 10 oppose the vio-
lation Of our rights and the invasion or the
! in the Confederate war at Fort Sumter was
| but the echo Of Runnymede and of Bunker
Hill. and 1t WAS fired In selfdeence.
The historian, Halam, has thus wen stated
the law: "The aggressor In a war CHAT Is, he
who begins itO is not the nrst VINO useo
| force, but the first who renders force neces.j
| sary." Our rights were violated and our con-
stitutional guarantees were dlsregafoed by
those who with puritanical efironlery, ad-
| mitted the existence of the constitutional
guaran tees. but claimed to be guided by a
"higher law"
Acts of Congress, the constitutionalily Of
which had been sustained by the Supreme
Court OF the United States, which were In
| vented TO protect our titles In property, which
our fathers had purchased from these high
| er faw" puritans, were set at naught and dis
regarded by fourteen OF the sixteen free
States.
| Insurrectiou was melted and our peaceful
homes were invaded. Murder was committed
| by representative Of fanatical band and
| when, after trial. under due process OF law,
| the leader expiated the crime upon a felons
gallows in Virginia, at the North the occas'
Ion was regarded as sacred. Bells were tolled,
cannon were fired; churches were draped in
| mourning; prayers were Offered; sermons
we're preached the occasion was observed rs
| II for y dead saint. and his memory was fitly
made the battle cry for the army which In
/ vaded our homes.
| Compromises we're broken by the North;
ri finn Gnnrna6 and peace
| tul separation was denied 10 us.
| 1t was not until every honorable means to
secure redress for her wrongs had been ex.
hausted that the South threw OF o: the yoke
l OF the oppressor and sought the blessings Of
constitutional liberty in the Confederate
States of America. Every effort made by US
to prevent the war was contemporary re-
jeoted; the rights guaranteed by the Consti-
Tuition were denied 10 US and we were not
permitted to go out of the Union in peace.
We were pursued by sectional hate, born of
| fanaticism, which was guided by no standard
l of right and controlled by no law. Our con-
dition was such that freemen could not to-
crate 1t and 1t was constantly growing worse.
Brave men could no longer bear 1t and the
South. as one man, threw of the yoke Of the
oppressor and struck for our liberty and our
homes, God and our native land.
| The Confederate war was waged, not for
am billion, not for glory, not for conquest,
not for power and not slavery.
| 1t was waged in self-defence and for our
homes and Tor constitutional liberty.
The South was not guided by impulse, but
the war was fought for principle In the dis
charge of duty, which we owed not only to
ourselves, but to the God who implanted
the love OF liberty In our hearts,. No sacrifice
] made in behalf of it. however great. was ever
made in vain. That principle was right then
and 1t is right today. 1t is immortal and
| Unprepared for war, without the necessary
i resources or the opportunity TO secure them,
/ without q single friend amongst the nations
/ Of the earth, and without government, In
| response to the demand OF patriotism and OF
true manhood the Confederate army sprang
into existence.
hardshps and sufferings. the prlvations and
| sacrifices such as no army has ever under.
gone. No nation ever put larger portion of
lts population into war, and no army ever
received by Confederate soldiers was greater
Il than the number OF men enlisted In that
army. By their acts OF patriotism heroism.
chivslry and bravery they beat back the In
i vaders from our homes until the army. de-
pleted by winning victories, outnumoered
II and surrounded, submitted TO the Inevitable.
but not until 1t had forced from the world lls
unwilling admiration.
Our cause was just and 1t still lives.
| No blush of shame will ever come to any
patriot because he nobly followed the immor.
tai Lee. His character was sublime and
i pure, and bis cause and the banner OF his
army was as spotless as bis own character
Comrades: You, and each of you, may
| sincerely thank God that you were worthy
OF the cause and OF the noble Confederate
army, and our people may thank God that
you live among them.
| The world thought that the zenith Of glory
was reached by the onfederate soldier IN
| war, but he was even grander in peace. He
returned to the desolated spot which had
once been his happy home and. without i, a
out money, without friends and without a
country, by the grandeur OF his glory and
the splendor OF his manhood he challenged
the admiration Of the armed INVADERS OF his
home, overawed the cdrpet-bagger, redeemed
his State and forced the enemies of constilu
tional liberty to recognize the principle for
| which be fought.
The Confederate States OF America was
| short-lived, but, like q brilliant meteor, IT
took It's place in the armament OF nations
and illumina the world with the light Of!
liberty. We know that Its influence Is now
felt and that 1t will continue 10 perpetuate
the cause of human liberty so long as Anglo
Saxon civilization survives. Who may say
that It's influence will be thus confined
Nations and communities and generations,
| like individuals, have missions. We know
| that the mission of the Jew was to reveal
holiness to the world. The Greek reminded
| the world OF eternal beauty. The Roman i'm.
pressed upon the minds OF mankind the ideas
OF law, govern ment and order. Who can now
declare what was the mission ofthe Confeder-
ate States Of America?
We know that God works In q mysterious
way, His wonders to perform. We know
| that no nation ever rose more pure and fair,
and none was ever more free from crime;
w
| bravery were never fully illustrated until
| the Confederate soldier made the name Of
| Robert E. Lee immortal.
We know that Christian civilization has
successfully penetrated hhe Jungles OF Africa,
and the descendants Of many of the savages
who were transported TO the South have been
taught to know God. We know that the
highest type OF Anglo-Saxon manhood and OF
| Anglo-Saxon civilization may be found In
1.-THE States OF the South. We know that might
does not make right, but Its jurisdiction Is
| limited to the effect OF strategy and the
powers Of numbers. Are we not justifed in
believing that 1t Is the destiny OF Christian
lcivilization TO proclaim liberty to the world,
reveal the religion Of love, and inspire iD
mankind respect for tho laws OF God?
Are we not justified In believing that our
people are chosen instruments In the hands
Of an all-wise Providence?
Are we not justified In believing that the
blood of our sanity dead was poured out as
q libation upon the altar OF liberty, and that
the Confederate flag vas furled because It's
success could not be achieved by human
effort, for the reason that 1t was not In har-
mony with the mission OF our people, and the |
DEGREES OF an all wise and over.ruling God?.
Ladies Of the Memorial Association, l am
grateful for the distinguished honor Of ap-
pearing as your representative upon this
most sacred occasion. A heart which has
always been filled with love for you is deeply |
touched by your kind remembrance. am l.
glad that am living, and that those amongst |
represent them on this occasion. l am CRATE. |
full TO you for the opportunity 10 raise my |
voice In a cause which is most dear to us all. |
History viii erect monument to the pat.
riotism, the heroism, the obilvary and BRAY
cry OF the Confederate soldier, but how can
gratitude sufficiently honor the noble wo.
men OF the South who made that unequal
war possible?
No nation can be truly great which is not
nation of noble mothers.
There was but one mother OF the Grachi;