The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1905-06-09

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membered during those times how
the negroes rode al over the coun-
try outraging the whites. He re-
membered too with pleasure the
organization Of Kuklux societies,
banded for self protection.
The Northern people recognized
the mettle of the Southern soldier.
His dash, daring and courage
stand without parallels The
South mustered 100000 men alto
gether, while the Northern army
numbered 5000, 1000, enough to
surround the entire Southern army
with an equal number of men on
four sides and as many men left
over. Not only this, but the doors
of the world were closed against
the South And yet certain man
wanted to know what kind of guns
the Rebels used that there we're
forty times as many pensions
granted as there were men in the
Southern army.
The speaker referred to the ex-
aggerated stories told of the cru
city of slave owners. He said
that this was disproved by the fact
in many cases darkies were left to
protect the families of white men
enlisting in the Rebellion. He
added to the credit of these dark
les that they were true to their
charge to the extent of risking
their lives for the safety of these
homes. Is that a sample of negro
crueltyg He spoke of the heroism
of Sam Davis, of Pulaski, who
volunteered under age. He was
taken to Gen. Bragg's headquar-
ters and told of the horrors of
war, but he said that he was ready
to die for his country. So it was
that when he was tried as spy,
refusing information to Federal
authorities, that he was ordered to
be killed. Gen. Dodge offered to
pass him to Rebel linesif he would
tell what he knew of their move
ments. He replied that he would
die thousand deaths first. How
familiar is the name of the hero of
Ticonderogag How many know
of Davis heroismg And so on he
named the deeds of Southern he
roes, but the greatest of all South
ern heroes, he said, were the
wives, sweethearts and mothers of
the Confederacy. He told of the
mother who pledged her dying
husband, Southern soldier, that
she would send their boy to school
and educate him. The women se-
cured washing to pay the boys
tuition. He started to school, but
one day came home saying that he
could 90 to school no more--he
could not stand the ridicule heaped
upon him and his mother. The
woman sought her pastor and to.
gether they prayed for the boy.
When the prayer was finished the
boy said, Mother, III 90 back to
school and stay till / finish. Ina
few years he completed his studies
and during the holidays earned
enough to enter university. In
few more years there was an ora
torical contest accompanying com.
mencement of that university and
four degree men were chosen to
contest for the medal This boy
was one Of the contestantsand for
the last speaker. Before
the speaking began the form Of d
woman in black, a little bent and
nervous came walking slowly down
The aisle and sat down in one of the
front seats. The other speakers
had finished and the son arose with
some misgivings and trepidation.
but casting his eye upon the figure
IN black he took courage and it is
said that the equal of his eloquence
was never heard before or since in
hat institution. The Judges
awarded him the medal before
hey left their seats. Again he
,tood up. This time he addressed
hejudges, saying: sGentlemen. il
s usually the case in contest that
he prize shall 90 to the one who
las achieved the greatest honor.
Therefore gladly present ii TO
ler," and walking down to the
ront seats handed it to bis mother.
The speaker closed with an eulo-
sism, saying that he loved the
south where the flowers are the
,rettiest, the women the sweetest.
he men the bravest and where the
tars shine the brightest.