Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/359

Rh itary park by the law of Congress. The liberal legislation in this work, in putting Federal and Confederate conditions on an equality, in erecting out of the public treasury monuments, similar in every respect, over spots where Union and Confederate generals lost their lives, and equally honoring the valor of both as American soldiers rather than as former foes, had a wonderful effect. Then, too, cabinet officers, statesmen of all political parties, soldiers of the Union and of the Confederacy, assembled on the field and commingled in friendly intercourse, fighting the battle over again. Soldier organizations, North and South, held reunions and even reunions in common, attesting a new era of good feeling; indeed, all were now satisfied to be covered by the common flag of a common country. The addresses delivered were also of a marked character, breathing that free atmosphere of equality natural to American citizenship. No principle was sacrificed by either side in the maintenance that each side believed that it had been right in the advocacy of the principles for which men had fought on the great field.

The Atlanta exposition occurred also in 1895, and showed with what vigor the Southern people were progressing in their material development in every line. It gave the people who visited that great Southern city new life, new aspirations. They discovered in that great display that they were once more a rich people and had made great strides. All went to their homes feeling that they need not again have a return of despondency, but with renewed effort they could equal any section of the country in wealth and real prosperity.

The South is now really at the very beginning of her industrial development. Her great advantages in the extent of her resources, incident to her mild climate and wonderful natural proximity of ores, and demonstrated