University reporter; (Athens) 18??-current, December 20, 1889, Image 17

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University Reporter. 15 nor the sorrow of our women, can answer to God and mankind in the place of righteousness and truth. It may be that Seces sion was not the wisest course of action at the time. So thought Mr. Stephens and many true men among us. That is simply a question of expediency. But the questions involved in our relations to the Africans, and in our allegiance to the Federal Government are not mat ters of expediency As to these we held with our fathers and acted as they did. They succeeded. We failed from, lack of physical force. What is the difference. I anticipate the cry of fools and cowards, “You are promoting sectionalism.” I’m doing nothing of the kind. Was your Ste vens a narrow-minded bigot? Was he uncharitable towards others, because he spent years of his life in composing that mas terly defense of his people? Was Lee narrow-minded because to his last breath he cherished his convictions? Did not our unbending chieftain who now lies in his coffin advise us again and again to enter heartily into our duties as citizens of the United States? And have not the newspapers been telling of late how he received into Beauvoirthe Federal trooper who first laid hands on him when arrested, talked kindly with him, and sent him away with a purse of money to supply his wants a beautiful example of that commandment “Love your enemies,” When General Garfield lay dying did not your Legislature set apart a day for special prayer in behalf of the Federal officer and his afflicted family? And when Gen. Graut was wasting away inch by inch, did not the South speak tenderly of him J Did she not stand with uncovered head before the dead soldier? So may it ever be with us! Let others be ruffians to insult the living by reviling the dead. Again I charge my young friends to cherish the courteous manners of the “Old South.” Gentlemen bred in the courts of Europe admired the courtly manners of the Old South. I have heard learned Professors from great European Universities ad mit the charm of Southern courtesy, and praise the charm of our lovely women. Do not, I beg, lose sight of the courtesies of life. There is danger ahead of you, candor compels n\e to say Strangers with brusque ways are coming among us. The race for money is becoming more and more heated. These things are not friendly to gentle manners.