Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-28
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
TRIUMPH In DEFEAT.
Upon the failure to convict the pres
ident, Edwin M. Stanton resigned, sank
secretary of war opened the prison
doors.
Ben Cameron and his father hurried
southwark to a home and land passing
under a cloud darker than the dust
and smoke of blood-soaked battlefields
the Black Plague of Reconstruction.
For two weeks the old Commoner
wrestled in silence with death. When
at last he spoke, 1t was to the stalwart
negroes who had called to see him and
were standing by his bedside.
Turning his deep-sunken eyes on
them a moment he said slowly:
II wonder whom I'll get to carry me
when you boys die!"
Elsie hurried to his side and kissed
him tenderly. For a week his mind
hovered In the twilight that lies be-
tween time and eternity. He seemed
to forget the passions and fury of his
fierce career and live over the memo
ries of his youth, recalling pathetically
it's bitter poverty and its fair dreams.
He would lie for hours and hold Ell
sizes hand, pressing 1t gently.
In one of his lucid moments he said:
How beautiful you are, my child!
You shall be a queen. I've dreamed OF
My plans are Napoleonic-and l shall
not fail-never fear-aye, beyond the
dreams of avarice!"
"I wish no wealth save the heart
treasure Of those love, father" was
the soft answer.
"Of course, little day-dreamer. But
the old cynic who has outived himself
and knows the mockery Of time and
things will be wisdom for your fool
ishness. You shall keep your toys.
What pleases you shall please me. Yet
[ will be wise for us both"
She laid her hand upon his lips, and
he kissed the warm little fingers.
In these days of soul-nearness the
iron heart softened as never before In
love toward his children. Phil had
hurried home from the west and secur-
ed his release from the remaining
weeks of his term Of service.
AS the father lay watching them
move about the room, the cold light In
his deep-set wonderful eyes would melt
into a soft glow.
AS he grew stronger, the old fierce
spirit of the unconquered leader began
to assert itself. He would take up the
fight where he left 1t off and carry 1t
to victory.
Elsie and Phil sent the doctor to tell
him ,he truth and beg him to quit pol
itics.
Your work is done; you have but
three months to live ua'tSs yor go
south and find new life" was the ver-
dict
'In either event l go to a warmer
climate, eh, doctor?" said the cynic.
Perhaps" was the laughing reply.
Good. 1t suits me better. I've had
the move in mind. l can do more eff
fective work in the south for the next
two years. Your decision is fate. I'll
go at once"
The doctor was taken aback
Come now." he said persuasively.
Let disinterested Englishman give
you some advice. You've never taken
any before l give it as medicine. and
won't put 1t on your bill. Slow down
on politics. Your recent defeat should
teach you a lesson in conservatism"
The old Commoner's powerful mouth
became rigid, and the lower lip bulged:
"Conservatism-foss putrefaction!'
But defeat?"
"Defeat?" cried the old man. who
said I was defeated? The south lies In
her proud states blotted from history
The supreme court awaits my nod
True. there's a man boarding in the
White House. and I vote to pay his
bills; but the page who answers my
beck and call has more power. Every
measure on which I've set my heart is
law. save oNe-my Confiscation Act
and this hut waits the fulness Of time
The doctor, who was walking back
and forth with his hands folded behind
him. paused and said
II marvel that man of your person.
al integrity could conceive such a
measure: you. who refuse to accept the
legal release of your debts until the last
farthing was paid-you. whose cruelty
of the lip is hideous. and yet beneath
it so gentle personality, I've seen the
pages in the house stand at your back
and mimic you while speaking. secure
in the smile with which you turned to
greet their fun. And yet you press this
crime upon a brave and generous foe?"
"A wrong can have no right" said
Stoneman. calmly. Slavery will not
be dead until the landed aristocracy on
which 1t rested is destroyed. I am rot
cruel or unjust. 7 am but fulfilling
the largest vision Of universal Demo-
cracy that ever stirred the soul of man
rich nor poor. bond nor free white nor
black. If l use the wild pulse beat OF
the rage of millions. It IS only a means
to an end-this grander vision of the
soul"
"Then why not begin at home this
vision. and give the stricken south
moment to rise?"
mo. The north is impervious to
change rich, proud. ard unscathed
| by war. The south Is in chaos and
cannot resist. 1t is but the justice and
wisdom of Heaven that the negro shall
rule the land of his bondage. 1t Is the
only solution Of the race problem.
Lincoln's contention that we could not
live half white and half black Is sound
AZ the core. Wien we proclaim equal
~ social. political. aid economic for
the negro, we mean always to enforce
It in the south. The negro will never be
treated as an equal in the north. We
are simply a set Of cold -blooded liars
on that subject, and always have been.
To the Yankee the very physical touch
of a Negro Is pollution"
Then you don't believe this twaddle
about equality?" asked the doctor.
Yes and no. Mankind in the large
Is herd of mercenary gudgeons or
fools AS a lawyer in Pennsylvania |
have defended fifty murderers on trial
for their lives. Forty-nine of them
were guilty. All these I succeeded In
acquitting. One Of them was innocent.
This one they hung. Can a man keep
! his face straight In such world