The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-04-03

er OF MS 1Ormer master. Some of
our ablest men were cast into Federal
prisons, while negro soldiers, arrayed
in the United States army uniforms,
were placed in control of the affairs
Of our commonwealth.
President Johnson, a southern man
himself, sought to bring relief to the
state by appointing Benjamin F. Per-
ry, of Greenville, as provisional gov
ernor on June 13, 1865. With the help
of other citizens, Gov. Perry attempt
ed to set up a government in our state,
but this failed on account of the in
terference Of Federal soldiers, and it
was then that affairs rapidly passed
from bad to worse, resulting in tie
condition l have alluded to previous
ly.
Daniel H. Chamberlain, although a
man not to be admired, was the first to
bring any real relief, and he pointed
out to the people that it would be i'm
possible to have a desirable, or even
bearable, government with the ma
jority of the voters negroes.
1t required Gen. Wade Hampton to
teach the negro his place in southern
politics. With his election in 1876,
and not till then, did the people real
ize any permanent relief. He brought
the state entirely under the control
of white voters.
oil
the part of this noble gentleman to
take up this work. I'll was forced up
on him by the people of his state and
when he realized that duty and patri-
otism called him, he forgot self, and
considered only the welfare of his fell
lowmen.
And thus it was with a number of
others, who were asked to be loyal to
their country after the fight had end
ed. This country did not float the
same flag over their heads as the
one they had so recently lost, but
have you ever heard of a single in
stance where one of our fore-fathers
was guilty of loathing that flag? Did
not the red in those stars and stripes
represent the identical virtue as por
trayed in the stars and bars? Was
not the white of one as pure as the
other? And as a common bond of
Fellowship and sympathy we insert
the blue, and combine the red and
white of the other two.
Doubtless there were tears in many
strong mans eyes as he folded away
the tattered flag that floated the stars
and bars, but there were patriotism
and heroism in his heart when he un-
folded the bright banner of red, white
and blue, and acknowledged it as his
own. His blood has obliterated Mason
and Divons line. There is no north
or south now. We belong to one coun
try, and we are proud of this great
land of ours.
Now We realize that in union alone
have we accomplished more than anv
other country in the same length of
time.
There are still few who allow their
prejudice to overrule them, and cher
lsh resentment toward the north of
our country for the acts of some of
their most unprincipled representa-
tlVes during those dark days of re-
construction. They should know that
the north was mortified because of
these same acts, and if the natural
state of confusion that necessarily
follows war, had not existed. these
fearful affairs might have been pre-
vented.
NOW the majority Of our people
know that we raise the cotton and the
north manufactures it-that is, our
surplus, for the south is fast grow
ing in the manufacturing industry.
our fertile lands do not furnish food
LOT our people alone but our brother
farther north as well.
We are gathered together daughters
to perpetuate the noble lives of those
who fought for the southern causo
ana this we shall always do; for these
are worthy the emulation of our broth
ers, sons, and husbands; but all have
also learned the value and beauty of
true patriotism, and far be it from us
TO plant one seed of prejudice in
the mind of any one who loves his
own, his native land"