Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-01-12
jim" 6RIGGS ON
TIE SOUTH'S LOYALTY
Weary of CeaSeIess We'll
comes to Union.
Called Halt on Fervid
Reiterations of Peace
and Patriotism
in Congress.

The sudden death of Congressman
Jim Griggs, Of the Second district, re-
calls the eloquent words which he de-
liyered in Congress ten years ago and
which contributed a large measure to
restoring the era of good feeling be-
tween the North and South. 1t was
just after the close of the Spanish
American war and at time when euIl
ogies were being delivered upon tae
loyalty of the South to the Union, Tine
speech was in excellent temeaF : and
voiced a certain feeling of f}s.tment
which was widespread in the South. 1t
was copied largely through the coun-
try and really became among the his
toric congressional speeches. He said:
No Occasion for Surprise.
There is no occasion for surprise
or thanks, MB. Speaker, for the loyal
devotion & the flag displayed by our
people. Every member of this house
who could get the opportunity to do 50
declared on this floor a year ago that
jim the event of war the sons of the
Enen who had nodded the civilization of
the Old South the sons of the men
who had fought under the Stars and
Bars, would be found standing shouI-
der to shoulder with the sons of the
men who during that soul-trying time
had defended the Stars and Stripes
all fighting for the honor of the sun
burst flag of liberty and light. Every
act of the people of the South from
AppomattoX to Santiago has been a
declaration of devotion to the Union
and nothing but the blindness of un-
belief has prevented the acknowledge
ment long ago. Surprise and thanks
have gone hand in hand here, Mr.
Speaker, and the people of the South
neither deserve the one nor expect the
other. Georgia but did her duty as
did Massachusetts, as both will always
perform it regardless of consequences.
Wanated No Fatted Calf.
Il have never been at war with my
fellow citizens, and it causes a feeling
akin to pain to hear iterated and reit-
Grated that my fellow countrymen are
now reconciled to me- I have always
been a nAmerican, and the bonds
which certain well intentioned gentle
men are continually weaving with
which to rebind me to the Union are
calling to the flesh. More than half of
us have never been unreconciled. and
we are weary of eternal welcomes to
the place which we have ALWAYS
known as home We have never left
cur fathers house, and while the prin-
ciples for which they fought and the
memory of what they suffered are dear
to us still, it is impossible for us to
ENJOY the hilarious feast and the fatted
calf of the prodigal's return. I have
no authority to speak for others, sir,
but it would seem to me equally if not
more difficult for the man who laid
down his arms in 1865 and with the
oath of allegiance fresh from his lips
and heart, turned his energies to the
rehabilitation of his home and to the
establishment of the Union, to enjoy
a prodigal's feast every day in the
week and every week in the year, at
so many of which he is made to play
the part of host and to supply the fat
ted calf as well as the prodigal.
Too Many "RecOnciIiatiOns."
Let this be the final ratification of
the treaty of peace. Too many recon
citations bespeak too many differ
ences. Let this last march thru Geor-
gia end forever the discord of half
century. Let it obliterate all traces of
that other march whose blackened trail
marked the close of actual war. Let
the hegira of 1861 be forever swallow
ed up in the pilgrimage Of 1898. Let
us turn our faces to the morning; you
of the North cherishing your memories
as we of the South shall ever cherish
ours, all passing forward in union to
of the patriots hope and
the poets dream.
" Columbia, gem Of the ocean,
The home of the brave and the free,
The shrine of each patriots devotion.
a world offers homage to thee"