The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-06-01
WAR STORIES.
Col. Grlt1ith's Address Made at Opening OF
the Annual Reunion.
News and Courier.

The annual oration before the South
~GaroliDa Division, United Confed-
crate Veterans, was delivered by Col.
II. T. Griffith, Of Cherokee. Col.
Griffith was introduced by Gen. Car
vile and spoke as follows:
1.-The years teach much which the
days never knew. So spake one of
the closest thinkers Of this country
Gfty years ago. My comrades, we
have come together again, imbucd
with the lessons Of the years. The
lurid days of our young manhood
knew much, but the years Of your
prime and Of your old age have known
Infinitely more. In the darkness that
was lit only by lurd cannon glare or
piercing rifles flash there were mo.
mentous secrets hidden, which the
slow years only could reveal. Out of
the fierce storm Of passion, out of the
black clouds Of despair. out Of the
glowing furnace of hate and the wild
whirlwind Of battle, the years have
aed US slowly along the highway tf
life, while the skies have smiled above
us and the sunlight Of peace and hope
has again shone upon our pathway,
and now the soft, mellow, peaceful
light of evening is gathering over
earth and sky.
The years have revealed phenom-
enon to the nations of the earth not
witnessed before since the dawn Of
history-that Of people overpowered
in battle, branded as rebels, plunder-
ed Of the possessions acquired by
honest toll or Inherited from q noble
ancestry, tauuted with every opprc-
brious epi,iiet passion could coin or
hate could invent, harried and hound
ed by the minions of power, their
cities wrecked, their fair lands swept
with fire and sword, patriotism and
honor, integrity and virtue tramplcd
in the dust, and the black myrmidons
Of ignorance reinforced by hordes Of
hungry miscreants from foreign lands,
chat gathered like focks Of carrion
crows scenting their prey from afcr:
marched over all that was dear and
sacred and holy to high carnival in
our State Capital, where they feasted
and fattened for ten long years on
the life blood of PROSTATE but yet
heroic people.
THE years have taught how pco-
pie thus crushed can rise up cut Of
the depths of their poverty, humili-
alton and an apparent hopelessness,
shake off the horrid nightmare, chase
the focks of vultures and harpics
back into the darkness, and stand
forth in the broad light Of heaven,
look the whole world in the face and
say: Our cause was just and right;
our principles were those which in all
ages have fred the patriots heart aud
nerved the soldiers arm; We have bap-
tized them in rivers of precious blood
and they are embalmed and sanctified
forever. We will build monuments 10
our martyred heroes; We will keep the
graves OF our fellow comrades bright
with the flowers Of spring, and cherish
their memories % sacred and holy
trust; We will teach our children and
Grandchildren that their fathers and
grandfathers went to war for prin-
oiples that were dear to the heart OF
mankind, and that for these principles
they upheld the Southern Cross
through four long years Of smoke and
fame and blood, and sacrificed all but
their sacred honor.
"'And as the story shall be told
and retold to the coming generations
it shall keep alive the fame of patriot
ism, cherish an admiration for deeds
of deathless valor, and cause the
heart Of every man worthy Of his
birthright to swell with pride at the
thought that his ancestors were fol.
lowers Of Lee and Jackson and Hamp-
ton
THAT is the speech that the surviv-
ing Veterans and the true sons and
daughters Of Veterans make to the
living world to-day, and the world no
longer replies with jeers and taunts
and vituperation, but hears with re-
spectful silence or responds with slow
aud enforced approval. The ablest
historians Of the North now are say.
ing and the ablest professors of his
Tory in the great Northern universi-
isles are teaching that the South was
legally and constitutionally right in
aSSe great struggle, but, as if unwilling
TO- abandon every plea Of justification
.ot the course Of the Federal Govern