The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1904-07-27

seen the "Ondeflui progress you Lave
MADE. 10 less than forty years the
hand CT war has been removed and
our land is dotted with happy BONES
surrounded with blooming, smiling
fields, with great soil, climate and
environment aud the possibilities Of
the brightest future uncircumscribed;
and you stand today with unbounded
and inexhaustible heritage to hand
down to your children through a
good feeling between the two Sec
tiors. All sectional feelings have
been obliterated S I'd we stand today
where we can command the respect
and appreciation of our brothers at
the north. He is glad to shake hands
with Us across the bloody chasm #
our past differences, and to say to us.
we are your friends, and why is this?
The whole world is ready to answer
wh,a Because he is always glad to
come down south to our unequalled
climate to get whiff of our health
giving breezes that acts like a heal
ing balm to his northern bleached
physical form, and he is renewed to
health again. And, further, because
that be sees today that We have risen
above begging position, and In the
smile of Gods approval, We no long
er ask his help in any way and he
sees the evidence of prosperity on
every side.
he looks on this hillside and hefnds
there giant cotton mill humming
with thousands of looms and spin
dies by a magnificent water power.
He looks upon our towns-shose
famed by the gentle breezes OF our
mountain air, and catches up the tide
of progress as it comes sweeping
down to tho wave washed beach OF
the ocean, where he sees in our high
lands, our midlands and our low
lands, our towns and our communi-
ties illuminied by our vast manufac-
turing enterprises driven by steam
ing electricity, and he goes into our
valleys and there he observes the
same. He goes into our cotton fields,
where King Cotton is grown, and in
the same fields he sees our cotton
mills built to manufacture our feecy
staple that he once thought none but
q northern man could do.
He sees our school houses and our
churches, our colleges and our uni
versites, and again he admires our
educational attainments; and he sees
our vast stores and mercantile inter-
ests, and he is amszed at the wonder
full progress in our agricultural re-
sources, as we'll as in all our manu-
featuring enterprises, civic and in.
dust-ial improvements. He sees our
land producing abundant crops, not
only of cotton, but of grain and
fruits and be knows that We have q
land that smiles with her wonderful
achievements and resources and
blooms and blossoms as the rose
planted by the river side and famed
| by our gentle breezes and climate.
We come now to period were all
| sectional feeling are obliterated. This
was made manifest when our Pal
metto boys volunteered under the
| flag Of the Union and went to the
Cuban war. This canbe vouched for,
when you see our boys of Southern
grey tramp side by side in arms with
| the boys of northern blue, or when
you see our boys as they scale the
heights of Santiago; or if there is
still any doubt in the minds, look at
"Old Joe Wheeler" perched in that
tree on the heights of Santiago to
see the battle well done, or when you
think of the matchless courage of
Hobscn and Victor Blue. These are
grand achievements and We delight
to welcome you here to day, and ex.
tend to you the generous hand of our
hospitality, regardless of any ex-
pense, ard to say to you that these
wonderful results have all eminated
from you.
After the toxin OF war had been
sounded and the battle had cleared
away, you, accompanied by your
faithful wives and your children, set
about to replenish your homes, your
hopes and your fortunes. You furn-
ishea the brain and the muscle, and
you were the impetus to all this
progress and achievement, and this
country owes it all to you and our
women in the war and we think that
your offspring should be congratu.
lated when We hear you exclaim, we
have fought good ight and We have
today mastered the situation, and We
are proud to say that we dwell in
peace and prosperity under the flag
of our country: but We claim the
right to meet together and celebrate
the days Of our achievements yet
ready to fight under the fsg of the