The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-10-27
A NOTABLE SPEECH.

CONCENTRATE veterans, q ale
Valley by Hon. g. d. Stands
has attracted as much attention
as any public deliverance mad
in this State says the Clarion
Ledger For four years a Confed
crate soldier, eight years Lieutenant
Governor, and for a longer time Pro
lessor Of Law in the State University
? and whose record on the field and il
ciyic life is without blot or blemish
Gov. Stands felt that he had thu
right to speak to the veterans as one
Confederate soldier would speak IL
another, and the thoughts he pre-.
sented and ideas discussed will re,
vertebrate around the whole State.
He objected to and deprecated the
practice that has grown so common
among the public men in appealing
to the Confederate sentiment" say
ing:
1--WE are yet so near the late war
between the States that elections to
Offices are most easily obtained by
securing the soldier vote and in
ilyence.
"I sometimes feel hal we are be-
ing worked, if | may be permitted
to use that most expressive slang
word, and that we are not, at times,
careful to distinguish between the
tributes of praise which springs
from a heart which loves us because
Of our suffering and yalor, and those
lnsldious and insinuating appeals
which means votes. However this
may be, some of our public men
pile tlattery upon us and arouse our
prejudices by inhammatory speech
until we become incautious. We
are made intensely provincial by
this narrow and selfish treatment at
the hands of those who should lead
us along higher paths, The thought
is engendered that it is enough if we
keep Mississippi solidly Democratic,
without regard to what may be our
relations to, and what is thought of
us by, the other States of the Union,
and by the Government at Washing
ton.
Comrades, this is unfortunate. to
say the least Of it; yea, more, it is
foolish and suicidal. We ought to
be broader and stronger, and ought
not to be led by our prejudices, We
are sometimes made to walk I'D and
deliver our votes for the man who
uses the strongest language denun-
clatory Of the other sections of the
Union, Of the unfortunate and often
vicious race by which we are sur
rounded and by causing the censure
Of high officials Of the Government
Comrades, | was delighted when
read on Tuesday that the Confed-
crate camps at Birmingham were Or
ganlzing to meet and escort the
Of the United States when
ne shall come there next week on
MS Southern tour, and that the
granddaughter Of Admiral Raphael
Semmes of Confederate renown is to
Din upon him a badge, in expression
If Confederate esteem for our high
'st public servant. How much bet
.er is this than to be, as we are, in
state, in a hide-bound frame of
mind which is supposed to exist in
Mississippi, and which does exist, if
he utterances of some of our most
honored public servants are
test Of our feelings. For myself,
Confederate soldier and private
of this Commonwealth, to
whose advancement | have given all
he mature years Of my life, | say
lay, verify,
Can it be true that Featherston
Of Confederate Veterans is
,lad that the President of the United
is not to touch Mississippi;
ga, more, is designedly, it may be,
around it to avoid touching
{, because we have made no show
hospitality to him? Should we
efuse to the occupant of this high
the respect and honor due it,
imply because the incumbent may,
orsooth, in times past, have said {
ONE unklnd word of us or those /;
Vhom we loved and honored in the /,
and whose place in our hearts :
an never be shaken by the misguid-
d ~utterances Or any man?
What is to be gained by this pol
of sectionalism and hate, save Of {
.ces for those who promulgate these I
angerous doctrines? Whom do we ,
.urt but ourselves in thus shutting :
p in our shells?" {
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