Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-25
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.

The Columbia Record Of Tuesday,
gives the following synopsis Of the
speech Of Governor Blease to the Con-
federate veterans. When Governor
Blease, who was the next speaker,
arose the veterans cheered. TT Is one
Of the highest privileges" said the gov
ernor, ito stand before you and well
come you to the capital city. And why
should you not be welcomed here, to
the city for which you fought, and for
which many lives were lost in the war,
to the city which suffered so much for
being the home Of secession. When
the true history Is written, what
glorious part will be given to the Con-
federate soldiers!" Governor Blease
then spoke of the text book incident.
He said that when history Is written
1t should be true history, that IL the
books did not do this they should be
burned In bonfire. And yet" said
the governor, when saw At to crit
icise q history that did not place the
responsibility for the burning Of your
capital city, some Of the newspapers
said that was trying to dictate to the
writer. I insisted upon putting into
your histories In your schools that that
infamous scoundrel Sherman and his
army burned Columbia" The govern
or then referred to the attempt made
to have 1t said that Wade Hampton
had Columbia burned. When It was
ATTEMPTED to burn your character in
this way 1t was worse than the burning
Of your property. / won my fight and
your children and grandchildren will be
taught who did burn Columbia" Gov
ernor Blease said he would again rec
ommend to the general assembly the
erecting of q monument to Gen. Mar
tin Witherspoon Gary of Edgefieid, the
"comrade In arms of Wade Hampton"
This suggestion was received with loud
cheering by the veterans. Governor.
Blease said there ought to be more
monuments. Il long to hear the speech
In which some orator." said the gov
ernor, who is invited to speak to the
veterans will advocate the erection OF
monuments to those who lay In the
trenches. do not like to see all praise
go to the men who wore the boots and
spurs" On the question Of pensions.
Governor Blease said: Il want to see
the pension rolls cleared" The COVER
nor explained that he would like to see
the poor and afflicted veterans get
more II stand ready" said Governor
Blease, ito recommend and use my in
fiuence to have passed any bill that
will give the Confederate veterans all
assistance to make their last days
cheerful and pleasant That's what we
owe you, you don't owe us anything"
Governor Blease said he did not see
how any southerner could sit In con-
gress and hear the southern cause re-
ferred to as an Infamous cause" and
not get up and call the speaker a liar.
The trouble with many Of the south.
Governor Blease said, is that they try
to make friends with enemies. from
whom they ought to expect nothing.
1.-The south needs not to apologize"
said the governor. Governor Blease
brought down the veterans when he
told them that 1t had been attempted to
have him throw a little restriction
around their visit" The governor said
that when q negro excursion comes
here and others reach the city this Is
not asked, then why try TO restrict the
old soldiers? I'VE want you to be-
have" said the governor, and one vet
eran called out, that's what we are
going to do" II there Is any little In
fraction Of the rules, Governor Blease
said, let the old boys come down to
his Office and he would make out pa
role for them. The soldiers took this
in a jocose spirit and applauded amid
laughter. Governor Blease concluded
his remarks with tribute to the Con-
federate soldiers whom he said he
hoped would in the next world be
crowned.