Evening star., 1909-05-31
Dickinson Says Confederacy
Was Foredo0med to Failure


tually was decided the sanguinary con-
f1ict between the north and south. Secre-
tary of. War ]. NJ Dickinson, a southern
man by birth. today turned over to the
Gettysburg national park commission on
behalf of the people of the United States
the handsome monument erected here by
Congress to commemorate heroic services
of the Union soldiers who surrendered
their lives on this spot that the Union
might be preserved.
The overthrow of the south as al
ways occurs after fierce war. when
the defeated are helpless and the more
conservative of the vctorS for a
while dominated by the fiercest and most
aggressive leaders," said Mr.. Dickinson,
was Immediately followed by sufferings
and humiliations that for a long time
admitted of nothing but lamentation over
a result that could bring such woes.
Keen and bitter as they were, time
and a manifestation of a more generous
sentiment brought mitigation Of sorrow
and a clearer vision of the tremendous
evils to all the states which would GER
tainly and Immediately have followed
upon the establishment of the Southern
Confederacy.
What Might Have Been.
Its very corner stone was laminae pre-
ordained to disintegration. Commercial
and other conditions would as sure as
fate have bhought about dissolving Con-
federacy.
What would have come from this we
can only conjecture. But it is well with
in the bounds Of reason to assert that the
good would have been dwarfed in COM
pariSOn with the evil
There would have been hate and RI
valry between the north and south as
intense as that between France and Ger
many. with a border line far more eX-
tended. people less amenable to control
and causes for friction more numerous.
"A Gordon of forts would have stretched
from the Atlantic to the western border OF
Texas. Army and naval establishments
would have devoured the substance of the
people. and militarism would have dom-
mated civil government The civilization
of all the states would have developed on
different and morescritical lines.
1T may be that in the logic of events
the war had to cOme-that it was the
fierce, cruel and inevitable crucible which
was to fulfill destiny-that of making
us, as it did. stronger and harmonious
people, united with solid front to meet
the great problems that now confront our
race.
We are no wiser or more patriotic than
were the men who were conspicuous I'm
that great drama. We look backward
our vision is not obscured by the tenn
pestuous atmosphere which surrounded
them, and we stand upon different pin
nacle in the march of history. They
passed through the valley of the shadow
of death, and we by their trials have at
tanned to a mount of wider vision than
was permitted to them.
None Would Change Result.
God grant that in the great national
drama which, act by act, "a blend of
mirth and Sadness comedy and tragedy.
is always in progress, developing day by
day those things which will shape the
destiny of our country. we may enact
our part with the grandeur. heroism and
patriotism which they illustrated.
AT this day there are but few, il any,
dispassionate thinkers in the north who
question the patriotism of those of the
south who on this stricken field gave an
example of American valor that will for
ever thrill the minds and hearts of man.
kind in all countries and all ages.
And this day there are in the south
but few if any. who would not turn
swiftly with sentiments of abhorrence
been better for the south if it had sue
ceeded in establishing an independent
government. And this is true even of the
survivors of those who on this very
ground
Saw gray gigantic ghost
Receding through the battle crowd.
And heard across the tempest loud
The death-cry OF a nation lost.
With one mind and heart the people
of this country" said Mr.. Dickinson in
conclusion, looking to the future with no
rivalry but in generous patriotism. and
cherishinS no hate, but only the glorious
memories of this bloody field, can with
nearly accord proclaim in the language
of a southern poet commemorative of this
very struggle,
Fold up the banners. smelt the guns:
Love rules, her gentler purpose runs.
4 mighty mother turns i'll tears
The pages Of her battle years
Lamenting all her fallen sons