The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-30
HISTORICAL SKETCH
co. G., 18TH S. G. V.
Continued from Page 81

was caught by his fathers arms and
laid on Virginia s soil, and life was
extinct. I thought Of him, as he press
ed the last kiss on the brow of this
gallant soldier boy, and, mounting his
dashing horse, rode bravely forward
in the fight. I admired the great
courage it took to do this. l thought
Of him, when the smoke Of battle had
cleared away, and arms had been
stacked at Appomattox, and when he
returned to his beloved Palmetto
State, to find fortunes wrecked and
everything gone, and when the hand
Of the "Carpetbaggers" had been
ruthlessly laid upon US, and when the
days Of reconstruction came on. l
thought of him when he was elected
governor Of South Carolina, because
the people trusted him. I thought OF
him when he was electer governor,
and aliens were wont to cheat South
Carolina out of his service. He said,
II have been elected Governor OF
South Carolina, and by the eternal
god, intend to be governor Of South
Carolina.'' thought Of him, when, in
those trying days, his safe and sound
Judgment restored this great state to
quiet and peaceful conditions. l
thought Of him, when elected to the
United States senate, and his manly
bearing he helped, in great measure,
to break down the feeling Of enmlty
between the north and the south, and
we we're restored to normal cnodl-
lions again. I thought Of him when he
had settled down to private life, and
when he came to die, he said Good
bless. my people, both white and
black, love them ALL I thought it
takes great man to do this, ana 1t
did. And this monument is but fit
ting tribute to your noble deeds and
worth." "
But, old veterans, no man can. be
great general in war, who has not the
men Of courage and soldierly bearing
to back him. him It was the bravery OF
his men that gave him the opportun-
ity to show his strength and worth,
and you are entitled to your just
share Of reward and praise.
The north today is glad to shake
hands with US across the bloody chasm
of our past differences, and to say to
Us, "We are your friends And
why? They delight to come down to
our balmy and health giving climate.
They see we have risen above the
begging position and in the reAks Of
Gods approval, we no longer ask
their help in any way, ana they see
the evidence of our prosperity on
every hand. They see our vast re-
sources, both agricultural and com
mercial They see our civic and IN
dustrial improvement, our cotton mills
on every hill or in the valley, run by
our magnificent water powers -
and by modern electric shafts. They
see our educational improvements and
are watching our schools and colleges:
They see the south lit up with electric
force, to meet them on all occasions:
We come now to where sectional feel
ings have been: obiterated. and our
bows are willing to tramp side by side
in battle, as did Joe Wheeler, Hob
son, and Victor Blue. These Won
derful results are but the active achl-
evenents of your hands and We re-
-ioice in the fact that we are permit
ted to meet with you and commend
YOU for it. After the tocsin Of war no
longer sounded and all battle had
cleared away, you, accompanied by
YOUR faithful wives and children set
about to replenish your houses and
YOUR fortunes. You furnished the
brain and the muscle and you were
the impetus to all this progress and
achievement. And this country owes
it to you AMI to "our women in the
war; We think our offspring are to
be congratulated, when we hear you
now ezclaim, 'FWe have fought a
good fight, we have mastered the sit
uation and we are all proud to say,
"We will dwell in peace and pros
perity under the one flag Of our
country" But we claim the right to
meet together and celebrate the days
Of our achievements. Yet ready to