Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1909-06-01

! Hoy many lives might have been saw
| ed; how much misery averted If they
of the South had known him then, as
they came to know him later
The first cannon shot fired against
the walls of Sumter was the bugle call
to arms, the drums long roll for volun-
teers, which was heard and needed IN
every town and hamlet in the North.
Lifelong prejudices were forgotten, the
whole nation rallied practically as one
man in defense of the flag of their
country. Mr.. Lincoln called for $4,000
volunteers.and this action determined
| the course of the then hesitating bor-
der states They, too, passed ordinances
of secession, and Joined with their more
southern sisters to prevent what they
believed was a nattempt to subjugate
them by unconstitutional means. Each
side cried havoc, and let slip the dogs
of war.
Our civil war practically closed on
the 9Th day of April, 1865. On that
day at McLean's house, on the Apo
mattoX, to my mind. took place one
of the most impressive scenes which
historian has ever been called upon to
record. General Grant allowed every
Confederate soldier who claimed to
own a horse or mule to take it to his
home. Grant then gave orders for the
issuance of rations to Lees starving
troops. and in addition directed that
salute of one hundred guns then being
fired should at once be discontinued,
saying. The Confederates were now
our prisoners and we did not want to
exult in their downfall General Lee
remarked that these liberal terms
would have very happy effect on the
South, and then the interview termi-
mated, Lee going to announce to his
faithful old guard that they were pris-
oners of war and no longer under his
command. and Grant to communicate
the welcome news to his chief in Wash
ington.
with the surrender of Johnston to
Sherman hOstilites ceased, the two
armies dispersed and returned to their
respective homes.
Fellow soldiers. you alone can ap-
preciate the difference in our home
coming. We OF the North marched
through the streets of Washington be-
fore the grand stand, in front of the
presidential mansion, reviewed by the
great commanders. and greeted by the
patriotic and well deserved plaudits of
our countrymen. Our banners were
borne as symbols of success: our
brows were bound with victorious
wreaths, chaplets woven by fair hands,
which we richly deserved to wear. The
review over, we were discharged and
returned to our peaceful homes which
had-scarcely heard the red mouthed
orators of war, the deadly lannon's
awful roar Our fields were well titled
our commerce had increased: the
wheels of industry were revolving
more actively than when we went forth
at our country's call to arms. The ex-
Confederates also returned to the
homes they so dearly loved, and still
love; only to find a different picture.
Their fertile fields were desolate waste
places, made so largely by the steady
tramp of contending armies; many Of
their dwellings had been destroyed;
their labor system had been destroyed;
the blockade and devastation OF war
had paralyzed their industries and
their people were suffering for the
bare necessaries of life; medicines
were not obtained for the sick and
an tlcIHdi VI
de rkness seemed to have settled over
their grief-stricken land. Many Of the |
who were without en-
cumbrances expatriated themselves and |
took up life's burdens anew in alien |
lands
The Southern women, God bless |
them. greeted their returning heroes |
as if they had been the victors instead |
of the vanquished. They were the last |
to be reconstructed. and their proudest |
boast today is that they never surren- |
dered This. in sense. is true.
Though never vanquished in battle, |
many of them. both during and since |
the war. have been bested in the Court |
OF Love, and the offsprings Of our |
victorious veterans and their uncon-
querable women will produce a race of |
soldiers whose martial deeds will put
to blush the proudest feats of the
warriors described in
Greek or Roman story.
Events Immediately following the
close of the hostilities seemed to be
more disastrous to the Southern peo-
pie than even the accumulated horrors
Of actual war.
hand OF an assassin fired the fatal
shot which removed from the world
one of the greatest, kindest, most
characters who ever enact
ed leading par on the worlds historic
stage. The bullet that sent the mes
senger of death to the soul of Lincoln,
darkly clOuded, almost eclipsed the re-
viving hopes of the Southern people.
Had Lincoln lived to complete the term
for which he had been elected, had he
been spared to carry out the plans
which he proposed for the restoration
of the Union--one of the darkest pages
in our history would never have been
written. For four years after the
final surrender, the helpless. broken
hearted and almost hopeless people of
the South suffered hardships greater
than those which they had borne with
so much fortitude. even whilst engaged
in actual strife. But l draw the veil
over these melancholy days.
Looking back, yellow soldiers. near
" fifty-eigh years, who can say, see
ing the changes that have been
By time, that the blood so
spilled then was poured out
in vain. Then the opinion could be
honestly entertained that a severance
Of the Union upon geographical lines,
and for purely sectional reasons, was
l. al.