The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1905-10-28
A Remarkable Address by Ex-0ov-
ernor Stands.

hon. y. ~. Olduus, cx-Lleut. COFern -
or, delivered the following address re-
Gently at a reunion of confederate vet
Grams. No public utterance delivered in
this State for years has attracted more
attention than this address:
"Comrades! We are confronted with
some conditions as citizens of Missis-
sippi, which called me from the retire.
ment of my study to speak to you today.
What I shall cay is said in loving re-
proof of friends, and not in caustic criti-
cism of enemies.
"The predominance of Confederate
sentiment is acknowledged by all of our
public men in their earnest and eloquent
appeals to that history which most stirs
the imagination and fires the passions OF
the old soldier. This practice no more
prevails South than North.
"We are yet SO near the late war be-
tween the States that elections to Office
are most easily won by securing the SOL
dier vote and influence.
| 'T sometimes feel that we are being
worked, if may be permitted to use
that very expressive slang word, and
that we are not, at all times, careful to
distinguish between the tribute of praise
which springs from heart that loves us
because of our suffering and valor, and
those insidious and insinuating appeals
which mean votes. However this may
be, some of our public men pile fattery
upon us and arouse our preiudices by
inflammatory speech until we become
incautious. We are made intensely pro-
vincial by this narrow and selfish treat
ment 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 Demo-
cratic, 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 Washington.
"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 up and deliver our votes for the
man who uses the strongest langu age
denunciatory of the other sections of the
Union, of the unfortunate and often
vicious race by which we are surr ounded
and by caustic censure of high officials
of the Government.
"Comrades, was delighted when
read on Tuesday that the Confederate
camps at Birmingham were organizing
to meet and escort the President of the
| United States when he shall come there
next week on his Southern tour, and
that the granddaughter CT Admiral
Raphael Semmes of Confederate renown
is to pin upon him badge, in express
sion of Confederate esteem for our high
est public servant. How much better is
this than to be, as we are, in state, in
that hide bound frame of mind which
is supposed to exist in Mississippi, and
which does exist, if the utterances OF
some of our most highly honored public
servants are test of our feelings. For
myself, Confederate soldier and a pri-
Yate citizen of this commonwealth, to
whose advancement have given all the
mature years of my life, / say nay,
verify.
Scan it be true that Featherston Camp
of Confederate Veterans is glad that
the President of the United States is
not to touch Mississippi; yea, more, is
designedly, it may be, skirting around
it to avoid touching it, because we have
made no show of hospitality to him
Should we refuse to the occupant OF
this high office the honor and respect
due to it, simply because the incumbent
may, forsooth, in tunes past, have said
some unkind words of US or those whom
we loved and honored in the past, and
whose place in our hearts can never be
shaken by the misguided urterances OF
any man?
"What is to be gained by this policy
of sectionalism and hate, save Offices fol-
those who promulgate these dangerous
doctrines Whom do we hurt but our
selves in thus shutting up in our shells ?
"Comrades, it is high time that some
thing should be said to go out to the
world testifying that some voices which
ring loud and clear do not ring alto
gether true. We are not so stupid as
the balance of the world believes. Vet
erans of Alabama are our comrades,
bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh
With us, side by side, they breasted the
enemy's works at Manassas, Fredericks-
burg, Gettysburg. Franklin and on a
thousand other fields. AS they feel, we
feel, if we only are given chance te
give utterance to our pent up emotions.
They are not wiser nor more patriotic
than we. We are patriotic not for Mis-
sissippi alone. We are loyal not only
to our State Government of our own i'm
mediate choice and election, but also tc
the General Government, even though
its officers are not the men we voted for
and are not of our political faith.
81 appeal for broader patriotism
than that which would limit me to Mis-
sissippi alone want love Of country
and people which is strong and serene
enough to make me do right myself