Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-04-29
MEMORIAL DAY ADDRESS
FOR U. D. c. TUESDAY
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Thus we see it is our solemn and
sacred duty to remove this erroneous
idea that has permeared throughout
the world We. owe to ourselves and
to the ones who fought for the noble
cause.
Who could ever read about The
gentle, yet soldierly Lee, and the
true Christian, but unyielding Jack
son and believe that these men were
actuated by other than the highest of
motives. Yes, the Lee who, when he
saw his native his state was in dan
ger of invasion, refused command of
the entire Federal army, resigned his
commission in the United States
army and offered his services to his
native state. No indeed the cause of
the south was not wrong and these
men were all fighting for the old
Anglo-Saxon idea of self-govern-
ment.
The South does not question the
motives of the North and She does
not take for herself or claim that
she alone was brave-for il takes
brave men to conquer brave men.
But the South does say and she will
ever say that she had but one mo-
tive in fighting the War Between the
States and that was in defense of an
inherent principle-the principle of
liberty and of self-government. Lis
ten to what Lee said when he took
the sword in defense of Virginia and
refused the chief command OF the
Union army.
IF | owned the four million slaves
in the South l would give them all
up to save the Union; but how can
| draw my sword upon virginia."
Does this, hearers, seem like we
were fighting to preserve slavery or
espousing an unholy cause? No we
had holier reason to fight than that
The thought of the bravery dis
played during the war is beautiful.
but more beautiful indeed is the
thought that though these veterans
were beaten and their homes burned,
they still had the fortitude and cour-
age to begin anew their life and
rebuild what was once the Eden of
the World.
And | can not go further without
taking time to pay tribute to those
dear women Of the Old South-the
mothers, the sisters, the wives and
the sweethearts of the soldiers who
while, they fought with gun powder
and shell, these noble heroines fought
the wolf from the door back home
Yes, indeed fought more than that
They fought suspense, anxiety and
many is the night that they spent
sleepless, thinking of their dear one
on the battle front. Yes these same
women suffered their homes to be
burned and they worked tireIessly
night and day knitting, sewing, cook
ing, aye even blowing, to furnish the
men in gray provisions. Yes | love
the memory of. these silent heroines
And today the memory of my own
Southern Grandmother, a true daugh.
ter OF the Old South is with me.
know that these beloved daughters
must take their places on the immor
tai roll of those who have lived ;
lie OF valor on this earth.
The women of the South hav,
been ever ready to do their. duty to-
wards their country and / honor anc
love you United Daughters of the
Confederacy for the work that yor
are carrying ont is noble one.
And | know you are with me wher
say; Sons and Daughters of tho
Ola oouth-we, your sons and daugh-
tiers OF the New South, we salute YOU
You are inscribed in our hearts with
ball of fire written by a golden
rod. There you shall ever remain in
the hearts of true son and daughter
OF the new South and we shall sing
with the angels your praises for ever
more
The South has not broken faith
with the tryst of Appomattox, not
once since the peace was signed has
she done more than try to gather up
the fragments of what was once the
richest country in the world. It is
well to repeat what Ben Hill said in
the senate chamber of the United
States Congress after Georgia had
been readmitted to the Union.
There are no Confederates in this
house; there are no confederate