The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-11
rHr oLn cHIYALRY.

Portland oregonian Is just the reverse on some occasions In a recent edito- rial on The New South" it says:
 This New South which has suddenly Sprung into existence seems possessed of all of the energy and dash that has made the West famous: Of tne free- feature of the Old South, and lastly and by no means least, capifaiistic element with enough wealth to admit of the accomplishment of any project that is undertaken. In the way of Legitimate industrial exploitation this New South has made many sensational bids for public notice, and for several years past has been attracting increas- ing attention.
 All this is essentially true. The South has made the most wonderful advance. considering all the circum- stances. ever made by any section of the American Union. It has taken on some things from the North that might better have been left of, but in all industrial and commercial lines noth- ing like 1t has before been known. The South has good cause to feel proud, both as to what has been accomplished and as to what is promised for the fu- ture.
 We are proud that much of "the free-handed chivalry" still remains to us. Nowhere on Gods green earth was there a nobler race of men and women than were those of the old South. This country will never see its like again, for the conditions which made 1t have departed forever. Yet, in spite of the fact that we have imbibed a leaven of commercialism, there Is yet much of the old spirit In the South. The pur- suit of the dollar has not driven out the high sense of honor and the chiv- alric spirit which made the men and women of the ante-bellum South a model of latter-day civilization, and type of all that is best in humanity. l There are those who yet find a ma licious pleasure in decrying the old slavery system and the people who upheld 1t, but that system was the foundation of a civilization never sur passed. And in this good condition the negroes themselves were participants. We may decry the system of African slavery as much as we please, but as a race the coIored people were better and more contented then than now. In the words of The Richmond Times-Dis- patch:
 | The negro children were brought up with the white children, and affection I Al. tot. easily be broken, and which In most instances continued long after the ne- groes were emancipated. The simple | fact Is that, as rule, negro slavery of love. It Is no wonder to those who understand that relationship that the | negroes did not rebel. It is no wonder that they were in the main satisfied with their condition. It Is no wonder that they were true and loyal to the l families to which they belonged, and protected the white women and chill dren who suffered privation with them in the days of their distress and de- | fenselessness. It is no wonder that In those days such a thing as a criminal l assault upon a white woman by a negro man was unknown, although opportun- tiles were abundant, for the negro men were members of honorable families and 1 had absorbed much of the chivalry for which their white masters were fla nous.
 That is true as Gospel, and all over the South there are men and womer Mzho bear witness to 1t. They remem.
 the kindly feelings which existed Detween master and slave. and they know the care and protection which the slaves received. There are yet liv. ing thousands of men who look back | to the oId na1ro ''r,a n, m ,,,I as tho I,ast friend they ever had. She sympathized with their troubles, listened to theil complaints and soothed their childish sorrows. She 1t was who brought sol. ace to their hearts when parental hands had inflicted necessary punish, ment. In the old-time ''mammy's' heart there was always sympathy, anc In her cupboard was apt to be found something more substantial.
 How many thousands of gray-hairec with something of regret to. the day. when they and the colored boys were loyal playmates. They hunted. fished and bathed together. They played and romped and wrestled with each other on equal terms. They were compan. ions, playmates and friends. With them in the hours of relaxation there was no question of master and slave It was the joyous camaraderie of free and boisterous boyhood.
 And all over this Southland of our: will be found women whose gray hair, testify to the fact that they were part and parcel of that glorious civilization of which we are speaking. Not for one moment do they forget the nanny who soothed and petted them, nor the old cook whose skill at preparing goot things was a triumph of culinary art Nor do they forget the colored maid who waited on them with unswervinR loyalty and who looked on young mistis" as the most perfect work oi Gods formative power.
 Yes, there still remains some of tn, old "free-handed chivalry" which wa. in and of the South and of no other country. We glory in 1t and pray that 1t may never entirely depart from the descendants of those who formed anC nurtured it. If the relentless steps oi old Time leaves us nothing else but Il spare us at least a remnant of the ole civilization and It's effects.
 S-e-O
 mWr