The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-06-14

age.
The new South is cnamorcd Of her
new work The South is stirred with
the breath of q new life. The light Of
q @rander day is falling fair on her
face. She is thrilling with the con-
sciousness Of growing power and
prosperity. 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 the emancipation came because
through the inscrutable 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
believes that the late struggle be-
tween the States was war and not re-
bellion; revolution and not consplra-
CIV, and that her convictions were as
horest as yours. l should be unjust
to the dauntless spirit Of the South
and to my own convictions if | did
not make this plain in this presence.
The South has nothing TO take back.
In my native town Of Athens IS
monument that crowns its central
hill-a plain, white shaft. Deep cut
into it's shining side is a name dear to
me above the names of men-that of
a brave and simple man who died in
brave and simple faith. Not for all
the glory of New England, from Ply
mouth Rock all the way, would l eX-
change the heritage ne left me in his
soldiers death. To the foot of that
I shall send my children's children to
reverence him who enno'bled their
name with his heroic blood. But, sir,
speaking from the shadow of that
memory which l honor. as | do moth
ing else on earth, say that these
things which he suffered and for
which he gave mis- life was adjudged
bv higher and fuller wisdom than his
or mine, and am glad that the om-
niscient God held the balance of bat
tie in His Almighty hand and that
human slavery was swept forever
frcm American soil, the American
Union was saved from the wreck of
war.
This message, Mr.. President, comes
to you from consecrated ground. Ev-
cry foot of soil about the city in
which | live is as sacred as a battle
ground of the republic. Every hill
that invests it is hallowed to you by,
the blood of those who died hopeless,
but undaunted, in defeat-sacred
soil to all of ns-with memories that
make his purer and stronger and bet
ter-sient but staunch witnesses in
its red desolation of the matehless
valor of American hearts ard the
deathless glory of American arms
speaking an eloquent witness in its
white peace and prosperity to the in
dissoluble union of American States
and the imperishable brotherhood of
tho A o,oricap neoo1a
Now, what message has New Eng
land to this message? Will she per-
nit the prejudice of war to remain
in the hearts of conquerors, when it
has died in the hearts of the con-
quered? Will she transmit this pre-
judce to the next generation, that
in their hearts which never felt the
generous ardor of conflict it may per-
petuate itself? Will she withhold
save in strained courtesy, the hand
which straight from his soldiers
heart Grant offered to Lee at Apo
mattox? Will she make the vision Of
a restored and happy people, which
gathered above the couch of your
dying captain, filing his heart with
grace, touching his lips with praise,
and glorifying his path to the grave
will she make this vision on which the
last sigh of the expiring soul breathcd
a benedction, a cheat and delusion?
If she does, the South, next abject
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 40 years ago amid
tremendous applause become true, be
verified in its fullest sense, when he
said: standing hand to hand and
i ]