Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 21.djvu/24

 16 Southern Historical Society Papers.

The world no longer measures men or principles by apparent or immediate results. Many a noble chapter of purely human story has contributed to this uplifting ; but, in highest development, this revolt against the tyranny of results, this emancipation from the wor- ship of success, this soul-homage of the absolute right, are Christian faiths, born of Gethsemane and Calvary the Cross and the Sepul- chre.

Thirty years have passed since the bodies of these men returned to dust and their spirits returned to God who gave them. Standing here to-day, a survivor of the mighty conflict in which they fell, and looking backward over the heads of a generation knowing neither those days nor these men, I have an admission to make, which I do without grudging.

The world has been more just to the Confederate soldier ; that is, it has been quicker to do him justice, than I, for one, anticipated. Who, to-day, vapors or hisses about " making treason odious," or "burying traitors in oblivion? " On the contrary, to the honor of our late enemies, the people of the Northern States, be it said, that to-day, many, if not most of them, accord honor, admiration glory, if you please to the dead or living soldier of the Confederacy who is worthy to receive them, as readily perhaps, and in as full measure, as to his gallant foe who fought or fell upon the Union side.

What has wrought this great change ?

Mainly two things and

First :

SOUNDER VIEWS AS TO THE CAUSES OF THE WAR.

Time was when men spoke of slavery as the cause of the war, or the determination of one section to dominate the Union. To-day intelligent citizens generally recognize as the real cause of the war an irreconcilable difference as to the construction of a written instru- ment, and the rights of the sovereign and independent States which ratified it. Candid men of all sections and all parties to-day admit that this difference of opinion was not only honest, but intelligent ; that the question involved was, and is, one upon which men of equal in- telligence might, and did, and do, honestly differ. May I be par- doned for advancing yet one step, and suggesting that there is at least a vague impression, in the minds of the majority of intelligent men the country over that, upon the great and burning question that divided us, the weight of the argument was with the South.

Let me not be misunderstood.