Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-10

said the Sorrowful voice. Have we not
had enough Of bloodshed? Is not Coos
vengeance enough? When Shermans
army swept to the sea, before him lay
the Garden Of Eden, behind him stretch
ed a desert! A hundred years cannot
give back to the wasted south her
wealth, or two hundred years restore
to her the lost seed treasures OF her
young manhood"
1.-The imbecility Of policy Of mercy
In this crisis can only mean the reign
Of treason and violence" persisted the
old man, ignoring the presidents
words.
"I leave my policy before the judg-
ment bar of time, content with its yer,
dict. In my place, radicaiism Wouia
have driven the border states into the
Confederacy, every southern man back
to his kinsman, and divided the north
itself into civil conflict have sought
to guide and control public opinion In
to the ways on which depended our
life. This rational fexibility of policy
you and your fellow radicals have been
pleased to call my vacillating imbe-
cility"
And what is your message for the
south?"
Simply this: Abolish slavery, come
back home, and behave YOURSELF Lee
surrendered to our offers Of peace ana
amnesty. In my last message to con-
gress, told the southern people they
could have peace at any moment by
simply laying down their arms and
submitting to National authority. Now
that they have taken me at my word,
shall betray them by an ignoble re-
venge? Vengeance cannot heal ana
purify; it can only brutalise and de-
stroy."
Stoneman shufied to his feet with
impatience.
II see 1t Is useless to argue with you.
I'll not waste my breath. I give you
an ultimatum. The south Is conquered
soil. l mean to blot 1t from the map.
Rather than admit one traitor to the
halls Of congress from these so-called
states, l will shatter the Union itself
into ten thousand fragments! I will
not sit beside men whose clothes smell
Of the blood of my kindred. At least
dry them before they come In. Four
years ago, with yells and curses, these
traitors left the halls Of congress to
join the armies Of Catiline. Shall they
return to rule?"
II repeat" said the president, "you
cannot indict people. Treason Is an
easy word to speak. A traitor Is one
who fights and loses. Washington was
and Washington Is immortal. Treason
Is a word that victors hurl at those
who fail"
Listen to me-" Stoneman interrupt
ed with vehemence. "The life of our
party demands that the negro be CIV
en- the ballot and made the ruler OF
the south. This can be done only by
the determination of its landed aristo-
cracy, that their mothers shall not
breed another race Of traitors. This Is
not vengeance. 1t Is justice 1t Is pa
triotism it is the highest wisdom and
humanity. Nature, at times, blots out
whole communities and races that OBJ
struct progress. Such Is the political
genius Of these people that, unless
you make the negro the ruler, the
south will yet reconquer the north and
undo the work of this war"
"If the south In poverty and ruin can
do this. we deserve to be ruled! the
north is rich and powerful-the south,
a land Of wreck and tomb. l greet
with wonder, shame. and scorn such
ignoble fear! The Nation cannot be
healed until the south is healed. Let
the gulf be closed in which we bury
slavery, sectional anlmosity, and all
strife and hatreds. The good sense or
our people will never consent to your
"The people have no sense. A TOOL
Is born every second. They are ruled
by impulse and passion"
"I have trusted them before, and
they have not failed me. The day
left for Gettysburg to dedicate the
battlefield. you were so sure or my de-
feat in the approaching convention
that you shouted across the street to
a friend as / passed. Let the dead
bury the dead!' 1t was brilliant sal.
ly of wit. I laughed at 1t myself. And
yet the people unanimously called me
again to lead them to victory.
Yes In the past" said Stoneman,
bitterly, "you have triumphed, but
mark my word: from this hour your
star grows dim. The slumbering fires
of passion will be kindled. In the
fight we join today, I'll break your
back and wiring the neck Of every das-
tard and time-server who fawns at
your feet"
The president broke into a laugh
that only increased the old mans
wrath.
81 protest against the insult Of your
buffoonery!"
Excuse me, Stoneman; have to
laugh or die beneath the burdens |
bear, surrounded by such supporters"
Mark my word" growled the old
leader, from the moment you publish
that North Carolina proclamation,
your name will be a by-word In con-
gress."
There are higher powers"
You will need them"
I'll have help" was the calm reply,
as the dreaminess of the poet and
mystic stole over the rugged face. Il
would be a presumptuous fool, indeed,
if thought that for day could dis
charge the duties Of this great office
without the aid Of One who Is wiser
and stronger than all others"
You'll need the help Of Almighty
God in the course you've mapped out!'
Some ships come into port that
are not steered," went on the dreamy
voice Suppose Pickett had charged
one hour earlier at Gettysburg? Sup
pose the Monitor had arrived one
hour later at Hampton Roads? l had
dream last night that always pres
ages great events. I saw a white ship
passing swiftly under full sail. have
often seen her before. l have never
known her port of entry or her desti-
ration, but l have always known her
Pilot"
The cynic's lips curled with scorn.
He leaned heavily on his cane, and
took a shambling step toward the
door.
"You refuse to heed the wishes Of
congress?'
IF your words voice them yes
Force your scheme of revenge on the
south, and you sow the wind to reap
the whirlwind."
Indeed! and from what secret cave
will this whirlwind Gomez"
THE despair Of a mighty race OF
world -conquering men, even in defeat,
is still a force that statesmen reckon
with"
Il defy them," growled the old
Commoner.
Again the dreamy look returned to
Lincoln's face, and he spoke as If re-
peating a message of the soul caught
in the clouds in an hour Of transfigu-
ration:
"And I'll trust the honor Of Lee and
| his people. The mystic chords OF
memory. stretching from every battle
field and patriot grave to every living
heart and hearthstone all over this
broad land will yet swell the chorus
of the Union, when touched again, as
they surely will be. by the better an
gels of our nature"
You'll be lucky to live to hear that
chorus"
ITO dream it Is enough. If I fall