Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-06-07
lave were broken. Under the old

ma DIT, was the only lype poSSiule ulucI
slavery. Thus was gathered in the
hands Of a splendid and chivalric OIL
garchy the substance that should have
been diffused among: the people as the
rich blood, under certain artificial con-,
dltlons, is gathered:'at the heart. fill
ing that with ;affuent rapture but
leaving the body chill and colorless.
The old south rested everything on
slavery. and agriculture. unconscious
that these could neither give nor
maintain healthy growth. The new
south presents! q perfect democracy,
the oligarchs leading in the popular
movements social system compact
land. closely knitted less splendid on,
the surface, but stronger at the core
hundred farms for: every plantation.
fifty homes for every palace-and a
diversified industry that meets the
complex need of this complex age.
The new south is enamored of her
new work. The south Is stirred with
the breath of new life. The light Of
grander day Is falling fair on her
face. She is thrilling with the con-
seriousness of growing power and pros
perity. AS she stands upright, full
statured and equal among the people Of
the earth, breathing. the keen air and
looking out upon the expanded horizon
she understands that her, emancipa-
ton came because through the in
sorutable wisdom of God her honest
purpose was crossed, ;and: her brave
armies were beaten. -
This Is said in no spirit OF time
serving or apology. The south has
nothing for which to apologize. She be-
lieyes that the late. struggle between
the states was war nnd not rebellion;
revolution and, not conspiracy and that
her convictions werei'sas honest as
yours. :, I should be- unjust to the
dauntless spirit of. the. south and to my
own convictions IL + did, not make this
plain, in. this presenee..|The south has
nothing to take back: In':,my native
town Of Athens Is a monument that
crowns it's central hill--a plain, white
shaft. Deep cut into Its shining side
ia a name dear to me above the names
of men--that Of a brave and simple
man who died In braye and simple
faith. Not for all thesglories Of New
England, from Plymouth Rock all the
way, would I exchange the heritage. he
left me In. his soldiers death. TO the
foot .of that L shall send my children's
children to-" reverenceI;:h him who en-
nobled their name with his: heroic
blood. But, sir: speaking from the
shadow of:that memory (which l honor
as. I do nothing. else on earth l'say
that these things WHICH he suffered
and for which he gave his life was ao-
Judged by higher andy fuller wisdom
than his or mine.l and I am glad that
the omniscient God held the balance
of battle in His Almighty hand and
that human .slayery fwaa swept forever
from American :soilf the American un-
lion was saved from the wreck OF war,
This message, Mr.. President: comes
"a vou from 'consecrated ground: Every
foot of soil; about the city in: which I
live Is as sacred as a battle-ground OF
the republic. Every hill that invests
II. is ballowed to you by the blood OF
vour brothers; who died for your vic"
torv. and doubly. hallowed to US by the
blow Of those who died hopeless ont
nndaunted in defeat-sacred soil 70 all
OF. us-wtth- memories that make US
purer and stronger and better-sileht
hut staunch witnesses. in its red DESC
lation of the matchless yalor OF Amer
;oan hearts and the deathless' glory OF
American arms-speaking an eloquent
witness in It's white peace and pros
nerty TO the indissoluble union OF
American states and; the imperishanie
brotherhood, of the American people.
Now. what answer has New Englana
to this message? Will-she permit the
nreiudice of war to remain in the
hearts Of the; conauerors, when 1t has
died in the heart of the con-.
uuered? viii she transmit this pre-
;udice to the next generation, that
in their hearts which never felt the
generous ardor of. conflict 1t may per-
netuate Itself? Will, she withhold save
IN strained courtesy. the hand which
STRAIGHT from his soldiers heart Grant
Eoetered to Lee at Appomattox? VIII
she make the vision OF q restored ano
happy people, which gathered above
the couch Of your dying captain, hlhng
his heart with grace: touching his lips
with praise, and glolyfying his path to
the erave-wil! she make this vision
on which the last sigh Of his expiring
soul brea thed a benedlction, cheat
and delusion? If she does, the south,
never abIect in asking comradeship
must accept with dignity its refusal;
but If she does not refuse TO accept in
frankness and sincerity this message
of good will and friendship. then will
the prophecy of Webster, delivered, In
this very society forty years ago amid
tremendous applause, become true, be;
verified in it's fullest sense. when he
said: "Standlng hand to hand. and
T.