Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-02

tho new South, has not forgotten the
old. The methods employed by the bel
ligerent powers In the present strife
nave served to place in bright relief,
that is even recognized by Northern
newspapers. the humanity with which
the South waged war. and yet the cir
cumstances which confronted our pco-
pie were far more trying and dcsper-
ate than any which threaten the nations
of Europe now embroiled. None of
them needs fear the absolute extinction
OF nationality. no matter how the war
results, and yet this was what the
South had to expect i'm case of failure.
The Confedcracy was blockadcd along
It's whole sea line, and great armies
plundered by land, and even medical
supplies were declared contraband of
war But nothing could swerve Presi-
dent Davis and his government from the
humane and accepted principles OF in
terna tional law applied to hostilities by
land or sea.
SOUTHERN ARMIES DID
NOT DURN HOMESTEADS
When our armies invaded hostile ter
ritory, their path was not marked by
burning homesteads and devastated
fields. We did not avail ourselves of
not assume that war was hell and that
only devils could wage Ii successfully.
Comrades, there is no cleaner page in
all history than that which tells how
humancly the South sought TO carry on
the conflict. Though she fought for in
dependence. there were methods which
she would not consider even though
victory might have resulted from them.
Although she lonSed for freedom. there
was n price too high to pay even for
that boon; the price of benumbcd
conscience and n soiled soul
When the Arm- of Northern Virginia,
half-clad and half-fed. crossed the Po-
tomac into n land flowing with milk
and honey, the immortal order Of Cen
eral Lee was issued. forbidding the de-
struction of private property and re-
speeding the rights OF -combatants,
and this order was so implicitly obcycd
by his soldiers that, in the language OF
n distinguished Federal officer, II
doubt II a hostile army of equal size
ever advanced into an enemy's country
or fell back from il in retreat, leaving
behind less cause Of hate and bitterness
than did the Army Of Northern Virginia
in the memorable campaign that cul-
minated ut Gettysburg"
SEMMES FOLLOWED RULES
OF WAR At SEA
And this observance of the rules of
civilized warfare was followed wher-
ever men marched or sailed under the
stars and Bars. Admiral Raphael
Semmes roved the ocean from the Span
sh Main to the North Sea for two
years and did what he went out to do
destroyed and sunk scores of the
cnemy's ships and utterly cXtinguishcd
his comm erce-but not all the maliG
nifty Of the Federal administration,
which thirstcd for his life. denounced
him as n pirate and an outlaw, and
of
martial. could find a single blot Of inno-
cent blood on the bright record Of this
gallant seaman.
1t is, indeed. a strange commentary
ION the added culture and civilization of
the past half century, with all It's pro-
fessed altruism. that war has grown
more ruthless, more unrestraincd in its
savagery than ever before. While tho
campaigns OF Lee and Jackson are
studied in the textbooks of the war col
leges of Europe. and we often see in
the descriptions Of the battles refer
ence to the superb strategy OF our
great generals and the wonderful eff
cheney of our armies. is IL not pitiful
that the nobler lesson taught by these
heroes should be ignored, and only the
law OF the jungle. Of the red dogs OF
the Deccan, should be followed!
SOUTH DOES NOT
LACK IN IDEALISM
TIC SiiliCS VI tuiS republic nave AS
serted that the American people lack
idealism, and that sordid commercial
interests alone occupy our thoughts and
enlist our activities. But we of the
South know that this accusation does
not apply to our people. An occasion
like this disprovcs It, This splendid
city, although in the forefront Of In
dustrial progress and municipal we'll
being. is prouder OF tho renown won
for her by the sacred blood OF the