The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1912-04-26
BOB TAYLOU'S LAST SPEECH

I ''-~@HS Stc15 Pm ~. AN AOtAO0
ing speech, in which Senator R. l.. Tay
lor defended the South against bitter
remarks by Senator Hepburn, is the
last that he delivered in the United
States Senate
Mr. Taylor-Mr, President, l do not
propose to speak with reference to the
pending bill, but with reference to the
remarks OF the distinguished Senator
from Idaho (Mr Heyburn.) | think
it rather late in the day for Senators OF
the United States to stand upon this
floor and reopen the wounds Of the civil
war. Like the Senator from Idaho,
belonged to the infantry" during the
war.
Mr. Heyburn-Will ask if the Sena-
tor is asking me a question.
Mr.. Taylor / did not ask the Sena,
tor any question.
Mr.. Heyburn-It was merely pas
sing remark9
Mr.. Taylor decline 10 ask the SEN
ator a question l think all informed
men know that the civil war did not be-
gin in 1861 1t began when this Re-
public was born It was fought out
for sixty years in every forum, in the
columns Of the press, and everywhere,
until it finally eliminated in the clash
OF arms. 1t was struggle between the
doctrine Of Federal supremacy on the
one hand and the doctrine Of State SOW
ereignty on the other. It eliminated
at last in 1861. 1t was the conflict
that Webster foresaw when he exclaim-
ed upon this floor:
When my eyes shall be turned to
behold for the last time the sun in the
heaven. may not see him shining on
the broken and dishonored fragments Of
a once glorious Union; on States dissev-
cred, discordant, belligerent; on land
parched with civil feuds. or drenched,
it may be. in fraternal bloodl"
It was the struggle that Clay put off
for a quarter Of century with his great
measures 1t was the
struggle that Andrew Jackson delayed
when he held up his bony hand toward !
heaven and swore
by the Eternal the Union must and
shall be preserved
But neither Webster, nor Clay, nor
Jackson, nor any other power under
he sun could prevent it. It finally
broke upon the land, and death stood |
grim and terrible on hundred battle
ields, beckoning million men to tire
opening grave.
The North came out Of the war the
'ictor, but the men who wore the gray
lid not sulk. They laid down their
nusket and canteen and entered in good
aith all the armies Of industry.
do not believe that a man can be a
ood citizen who will now stand any
here under the flag and attempt to
eep the sections OF this Union apart
Mr.. President, / am an American
believe in American ideals and Amer
an institutions. Every State in the
inion is as much my State as Tennes-
se is my State, and the deeds Of every /,
reat American soldier in that war are !,
" heritage and the heritage of my
lildren.
Many times ! have stood out there :,
the rotunda before the statue Of I
Iysses S. Grant, the leader OF the /,
MON Armies, and my heart thrilled !,
ith pride that he was an American
I'd / admired him for his genius in !.
ar and his generosity to the South in a
,ace, and when | have turned away :,
ON him and looked upon the statue !,
another great American soldier, !,
anding there silent in the Hall OF !.
ame in his Confederate uniform,
I'VE wondered how any American,
neither in the North o. in the South,
uld be SO oblivious to those noble
d God-like qualities Of brain and
art which make men truly great as to
eer at the name Of Lee.
Mr. President, the war is over. Time
IS pulled down the forts and lcveled
4 trenches. Time has healed and
mforted, until now there i nothing
I but precious memories. The hoen
% wore the gray delight to honor
Q brave men who wore the blue and
10 met them ID battle for the settle
mt of controversy that began with
) Republic. But they do not love
! men who never smelt gunpowder
q who now fight the war over again
4 unlimber their batteries Of bitter
S on the cemeteries OF the South and