The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-05-03

veloped our mines OF iron, coal and
marble; more than this, upon every
hillside and in every valley we have
erected churches and schools for our
children, and maintained colleges
and universities in every State.
or Southern men it may be truly
said that they have always been
makers OF history, rather than
writers OF history. They were con-
tent to perform well their partr
in every epoch, bus were loath to
herald their achievements to the
world. A short retrospect will be
helpful. The Government OF tht
United States Is largely the hsndi
work of Southern men. 1t was
George Washington, a Southern
man, who beat back the Indian tribes
In Colonial days. 1t was Patrick
Henry, the matchless orator and
fearless patriot, who fret hurled de-
Hance at the British crown.
Il was Thomas Jefferson, OF Vir
ginia, who wrote thatimmortal doc
ument, the Declaration Of Indepen.
dence. 1t was 10 Charlotte, N. c {,
In ITS, that other great declara-
ton, the Mecklenburg Declaration,
was promulgated by Southern men.
And when GeorgeIII sent bis armies
TO repress the colonies, It was George
Was hington, Of Virginia, who com.
manded the American armies and
secured q recognition Of the indepen-
dence Of the thirteen original States.
While the Confederate soldiers
must forever stand pre.sminent for
dauntless courage In battle and un-
murmuring patience and iortitude
on the march and In camp, the true
historian will record hos bravely
the daughters Of the South bore
with sublime faith the dssolation OF
their homes, the burning Of their
cities the loss OF their husbands,
hrothers and kinsmen and smothered
every sob OF despair and anguish
lest it weaken the nerves OF our tat
tered legions In the aeld.
Women OF gentle birth, who had
never known what hardship was,
brsvely endured every privation
that was entailed by thas war.
With their own hands they cut and
made uniforms for their husbands
and fathers and encouraged them to
go forth to battle for their homes
and loved ones. Their letters teem-
ed with love and courage, and 1t was
this incentive that nerved the hearts
and arms OF our soldiers to cheerful
ly undergo all the dangers OF that
unparalleled struggle. But when at
last the end came, when our match.
less leader, Robert E. Lee, was forced
by overwhelming numbers to sur
render his little army Of devoted pa
triots and when the men OF the
South were brought face to face
with the great problem Of restoring
their State governments under a
new order OF things, the splendid
character of our women was demon
strated.
Bereft OF property, their homes
made desolate by. a relentless foe,
their servants taught to distrust
them, the problem seemed absolutely
hopeless. Then 1t was that they
proved themselves worthy Of their
high ancestry.
We returned to our ruined homes
and desolated fields In ragged old
uniforms, and when the iron entered
our very souls, and the heavens
above US were as brass, and nowhere
In all the earth was word Of SYM
pathy extended TO us, then 1t was
that the mothers and daughters Of
our Switzerland showed In a gu.
pernal light. 1t mattered not to
them that our fortunes we're gone,
our uniforms In rags and our bodies
crippled and emaciated. With
open arms they met Us and their
words Of sweet sympathy, hope and
confidence kindled anew our hearts
within Us. Without q murmur they
shared with us all the privations OF
that wretched period.
Not only did they sustain Us with
their loving ministrations, but Il
was their unconuuered hearts that