The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-22


Irierson OF the law department Of
the University of South Carolina spoke
last evening at the Founders Day
celebration on Southern Leadership
in National Affairs"
Prof Frierson said in part:
After wandering for more than half
a century in the wilderness OF political
ostracism, the South appears to be on
the eve OF regaining her former po-
sition OF leadership in the nation. That
her influence I'm national affairs was
predominant prior to 1860 can not
be successfully denied. OF the Is
presidents beginning with Washington
and ending with Buchanan. nine were
men OF Southern birth, while the
South exercised great influence upon
the administrations Of the other six
Since 1850 we have ceased to bear the
scepter. and the cause for this loss
OF leadership Is well known. Our
country for long "a house divided
against itself over the slavery ques-
ton. and all attempts at compr omise
having proved futile. we were finally
IorcOd by "the irropressible conflict" to
submit the matter to the final arbi-
trament OF arms" with what disas-
trous results Is known TO all. After
the war came reconstruction, when we
built again the fabric OF our social
structure. fighting desperately mean
while to prevent the overthrow OF our
very civilization itself. The problem
OF mere existence was then a very
pressing one-our all having been
swpt away by the war and by the
lean years which followed 1t. Finally,
however, light began to appear out
OF the darkness and order to emerge
from chaos. A necessary readjustment
OF the relations between the master
and his former slave was reached,
and slowly and after much painful ef-
fort we began to bring our domestic
Affairs once more into a semblance Of
orier. Then, having settled (forever.
We hope) the question OF the ascen-
dancy OF the negro in our politics. by
the revision OF our fundamental law,
the South settled down to a period Of
recuperetion and development.
Tie signs Of the times point to the
int 81
erai decades after the close Of the war
our representatives in congress were
engaged. as IL were. in a purely de-
fensive warfare. The clash OF arms
had indeed ceased on the battlefield.
but the surrender at Appomattox was
but the signal for the civil onslaught
TO begin. Not only was The slave
freed but the suffrage was conferred
upon him. he became a full-hedged
citizen. and the attempt was made to
protect and enforce his newborn po-
iitical and civil rights through the
military forces OF the federal govern
ment. Our Southern leaders realized
that the inevitable result OF the sue
cess OF such a policy would be the de-
struction OF our civilization. and des-
perately did they struggle TO prevent
such catastrophe. Their defensive
tactics were unavai'ing, however, and
the horrors of reconstruction ensued.
Finally. the North began To perceive
the unwisdom OF its course and TO
realize that AN experiment Of ten
years In the employment Of federal
authority and military force, to up
hold the weaker race against the
stronger In ~ States OF the Union, had
encouraged Little hope OF good to
either race from persistence in that
line" The result was that the mill
tary forces were withdrawn and the
South was left 10 bind up her wounds
and recover her strength after the ex-
hausting struggle. Nevertheless, while
this section ceased TO be the object
Of direct attack. We were still viewed
with suspicion and alarm, and our
representatives In congress. i'm place of
being active leaders in the affairs OF
the nation. were rather passive on
lockers. watchfully cndeavoring To
ward off legislation adverse To their
section. Now. however. all this has
- changed. The feeling OF distrust and
hostility on the part ~ the North has
given away for the most part, To
feeling OF confidence ana genuine
friendship. The Northern people
have come to know our Southern prob
lens from first hand acquaintance
with them. brought about largely
through the medium of travel and