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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION, ATLANTA. SX.. TUESDAY DECEMBER 28 S88f
GREETING GRADY.
THE OVATION WHICH MET HIM ON
HIS RETURN. m
Tbs Bcat Dartlag Hu tfrv York Onun Dssorihsd
- Brilliant Contrails Batvaan Victory and
Datoat-Tha Osntrsl Vsrdlct of Approval
-Those Pretent'What was Bald. (
Hew Yobk, December 23,1838.—[Special
Correspondence.]—Both press and public 'em-
phaalie this morning the triumph won by Ur.
Grady at the Hew England banquet last night
The Son compliments it in the highest terms in
its news columns, and heads its editorial col
umns, which it guards with great caret wiih
these remarkable words:
"The grand feature of the New England dinner
last night was the speechof Editor Grady, of The
Atlanta Constitution. It was the best speech
that has been delivered In this city in many years.
Itisdoubtfolif the Son ever gave higher
editorial indorsement to a speech. The Times,
quite as cautious in giving its editorial sanc
tion as the 8nn, and even more critical, says in
a leading editorial:
There were three noteworthy speeches, and only
three, at the New England dinner. The Bov. Dr.
Talmage's speech was fanny, and, really.lt is a
great gilt to make men laugh without asking why.
General Sherman's speech was crowded wish rem
iniscence and with the experience or the man, and
it is well that the Now England society and the
country should not thrget why General Sherman Is
a hero and a popular Idol. But the speech or the
evening was Mr. ltcnry \v. arady'supon the new
south. It was eloquent. It swept the whole range
or emotion, of sentiment, and of patriotism, it
was an “American" speech in a sense that those
magnetic statesmen who boast of being American
to their Unger tips can never equal though they
have the days of Methnaaleh. mall Its fourscore
years the society of Plymouth Bock worshippers
never heard a speech that was belter worth its
while to hear and think about
In its news columns the Times says: “Ho
speech on any recent occasion has arousod such
enthusiasm in this city—and it aroused bound,
lets enthusiasm, bringing every man In the
room to his feet with waving handkerchief
and sonorons cheers.”
The Evening Tost, the most scholarly of our
papers, says in its leading editorial:
The feature of the New England society's dinner
on Forefathers' night waa the apecclt of. Mr. Henry
TV. Grady, of Atlanta, Ga., on 'The New South."
It was In every way a most notable eddrow-foll
of an eloquence which 'stands the severe telt of
pcrutal In print the following morning: lightened
by a humor which Is well sampled la the delicious
allusion to General Sherman as one “who is consid
ered an able man In our parts, though some people
think he laa kind of a careless man about lire:" In-
atinct with a patriotic spirit which stirs the blood
of the reader lnhised with tho vital qualities of
that oratory that touches the heart because there
la sincere feeling behind the speaker's words. It
was tho perfect expression of what hat hitherto
never been adequately ret forth by any southern
man or hilly undarstoodlby the north.
Among the scores of dispatches and letters of
congratulation which reached Ur. Grady today,
the lint ho opened was this:
Nxw Yosk Horn, December 23,-Mr. H. W.
Grady: I sincerely congratulate yon, and with all
my heart I thank you for year speech.
, J. F. HASSON.
Be appreciated deeply this generous message,
coining from ono with whom he had so often
been in political oppoiicion. Ur. Algernon S.
Sullivan, president of the Southern society of
Hew York, sent an oloqnent letter of thanks in
behalf of that society, of which Ur. Grady was
made the drat honorary member. The speech
is tho topic of tho day In NawYork and re
ceives from all classes tho unstinted appiauso
it won'in delivery, and the snperlaUvo praise
It has from the press.
BKTOBE TUB AUDIENCE.
Ur. Grady will not print the speech in Toe
Constitution until ho has secured a full and
accurate copy, but I select a few extracts, from
what appear to be the beat reports, that yonr
readers may get some Idea of it and Its recop
tion. To begin with tho clean, shaved boyish
looking face of the speaker, conspicuous among
tho grlszied faces of tho veterans on tho plat
form, bespoke tho sympathy of tho audience,
as instantly the crowd aroao and added a sec
ond and heartier round of cheers to tho formal
greeting with which hit namo waa
received. It waa a trying moment. Gen
eral Sherman had Just taken hla teat
amid wild applause, and tba hand had just fin
ished playing “Marching Through Georgia,"
the audience accompanying with ringing tong,
and refraining when tho young Georgian aroao
to address tho audience of strangers and late
enemies. He waa pale from excitement, and
without addressing President Hassell, leaned
forward, and in a clear, slow voice, delivered
then words:
“There was a south of slavery and secession-th it
tooth ts dead. There is a south of nnlon and free
dom—that south, thank God, la living, breathing,
growing every hour." Thcso words, delivered
from tho immortal lips or Benjamin IL Hill, at
Tammany Hall, In IIM, true then and truer now, I
shall make my text tonight.
Every sentence caught applaum — the
last sentence, as Ur. Grady paused,
with ringing cheers. With easy grace
Ur. Grady then turned to the president and
said:
Mb. Pxemuekt and Gbn7lkmxx: Lot me express
to yon my appreciation of tho kindness by which 1
am permitted to address yon. I make this ab
rupt acknowledgment advisedly, Ibr I feel that If,
when I raise my provincial voice In this ancient
and august presence, I could find courage for no
more than the opening sentence, It would be well
If,In Ihst sentence,! bad met in arongh sense my ob
ligation aa a guest, and had perished, ao to speak,
with courtesy on my Bps and grace In my heart,
(Laughter.] Permitted, through yonr kindness,
to catch my second wind, let me say that I appre
ciate the significance of being the first southerner
to speak at this hoard, which bean the rebalance
if It rerpaaMO the semblance, of original hew
England hospitality [applause], and honors the
sentiment that In turn honors yon, bat In which
my personality is lost end the compliment to my
people made plain. [Laughter.]
1 bespeak the utmost stretch of yonr courtesy
tonight. I am not troubled about those from
whom I come. Yon remember the man whoso .'wife
sent him to a neighbor with a pitcher of milk,
and who, tripping on the top step, fell with such
cereal Interruption aa the landings afforded, Into
thp basement, and, while picking himself up, had
the pleasure of hearing bis wife call out: "John,
did you brt*k the pitcher: ”
“No, I dld'nt." raid John, "but I be dinged HI
don't." [Loud laughter.]
So, whllothoco who call tome from behind may
Inspire me with energy If not with courage, I ask
an Indulgent hearing from you. I beg that you
still bring yonr futl (kith In Amartcan fairness and
Dankness to Judgment upon what I shall aay
Thera waa an old preacher eon who told some
keys of Bible the lemon he was going to wad
In the morning. Tho boys finding the plana
glued together the connecting pages. [ Iauiti
ter.] The next morning ho mad on tho bot
tom of one page: “When Noah wat at
hundred and twenty yean old he took unto him
self a wide, who waa"-ihen Diming the page-
"ICO cubits long—(laughter)—to cubits wide, bul.t
of gopher wood—(laughter)—and covered with
pltrh Inside and out." tLoud and continued
laughter:. Ha waa naturally puxtled at this. He
read It again, verified It, and than laid: "Vy
friends, this la the lint lima I ever met this In the
Bible, but I accept It aa an evidence of the assertion
that wo are fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Im
mense laughter). If 1 could gel you to hold such
faith tonight 1 could proceed cheerfully to the la-k
I otherwise approach with a sense of consecration.
Tint Pl'EITA* AND TUB CATAUBB.
The speaker then gave a moment to consid
eration of the Puritan and Cavalier as follows:
Pardon me one srord.ltr. President, spoken for
the sole purpose of catring Into the vdumaa that go
out annually freighted with the rich eloquence of
jroor speakers—the fact that tba Cavalier aa wall aa
the Puritan was on the continent m las early dags,
and that he was "up and able t» be shoot,",
ILantbtcr.) I have read you hooka earalUly and
I Cal no mention of that fact, which teems to me-
an Important ono for preserving a sort of historical
equilibrium if ibr nothing else,
-_L C * *“• rpnj,nd Jou that the Virginia caralier
urn challenged France on thii cominent-that
cavalier John Smith, gate New England its very
name, and was so pleased with the Job that he has
been handing hie own name aroundeTer line©—
and that while Miles Blandish was cutting off
men a ear* for courting a girl without her parent’s
consent, and forbade men to kin their wives on
Sunday, the cavalier was courting everything in
eight, and that the Almighty had rouch-
wed great increase: to the cavalier colonies, the
huts in the wilderness being as full as tho nests in
the woods.
nut having incorporated the Cavalier as a fact
in your charming little books I shall let him work
out bis own salratlon, as he has always done • with
engaging gallantry, and we will hold no contro-
tersy as to hla merits. Why should we? Neither
Puritan or Cavalier long survired si such. The vir
tues and traditions of both happily stlU live for the
Inspiration of their sons and the saving of the old
fashion. [Applause.] But both Puritan and Cav
alier were lost In the storm of the first revolution,
and the American citizen, supplanting both and
stronger than either, took pomesslon of the repub*
lie bought by their commou blood and fashioned to
wisdom, and charged himself with teaching men
government and establishing the voice of tho p
pie as the voice of God. [Applause.]
My friend, Dr. Talmage has told yon that the
typical American has yet to come. Let me tell you
that he has already come-a pause.-Great types
like valuable plants are slow to flower and fruit.
But from the union of these colonist, Puritans and
Cavaliers, from the straighRming of their purposes
and the crossing of tholr blood, slow perfecting
through a century, came he who stands, as the flnt
yptcal American, the first who comprehended
within himself all the strength and gentleness, a’l
the majesty and grace of this republic - Abraham
Llncolu. [Loud and long continued applause.] He
was the sum of Puritan and Cavalier, for In hla ar
dent nature were fused the virtues or both, and lu
the depths of his great soul the fhults of both were
lest [Renewed applause.] He was greater than
Puritan,greater than Cavalier,In that he waa Ameri
can [renewed app1au»)-and that in his homely
form were first gathered the vast and thrilling forces
of his ideal government-charging it with such tre
mendous meaning and so elevating it above human
suffering that martyrdom, though infamously
aimed, came as a fitting crown to a life consecrated
from the cradle to human liberty. [Load and pro
longed cheering.] Let us, each cherishing the tradi
tions and honoring Ms fathers, build with reverent
hands to the type of this simple but sublime life.
In which all types are honored, and In our com
mon glory as Americans there will be plenty and
to spare for your forefathers and for mine. [Re
newed chcoriug.]
THE NEW SOUTH.
In these few monies ts of introduction, Mr.
Grady had completely captured his audieucc.
Ifo Jwd them smiling, laughing, cheering,
thrilling ps they sat breathless, or on their feet
rearing with applause. He - then
addressed himself to bis subject, ‘‘The New
South," hastening to it, he said, "lest it should
grow old before ho got there." On this poiut
he said:
In speaking to tho toast with which you have
honored me, I accept tho term, "Tho New
South," ns in no sense disparaging to theold. Deor
to me, sir, is the home of my childhood and tho
traditions of my people. I would not, If I could,
dim the glory they won in peace and war, or by
word or deed take aught from the splendor and
grace of their civilization—neror equalled and,
perhaps, never to be equallod in its chivalric
strength and grace. There is a new south, not
through protest against the old, but because ofuew
conditions, new adjustments and, if you please,
new ideas and aspirations. It is to this that I ad
dicts myself.
A CONTRAST WITII TALMADGE.
Then came the most dramatic part of tho
speech. Dr. Talmage, who spoko first, closed
his speech with a dramatic picture of the rc:
view of Sherman's army in Washington after
the war had dosed. Iqnote his words, that
the frill situation may bo understood. Dr, Tal-
mage said:
But of all the past, and of all the. present, and of
all the future, nothing will over be witnessed
equal to the iceno which blazed before my eyes the
first time I aaw General Sherman. It was the great
est day 1 ever aaw. The like was never witnessed
in (his world, and never will be again. It was the
day when the armies camo back from tho south
and marched In review before tho president at
Washicgton. God knew that tho day was stupen
dous, and He cleared the heavens of clouds - and
mist and chill, and strung tho blue sky as a tri
umphal arch for the returning warriors to pass
under. From Arlingtou Heights the spring foliage
shook out its welcome as the hosts came over the
hills, and the sparkling waters of the Potomac
tossed their gold to greet the battallonsas they came
over the Long Bridge In almost interminable lines.
The capltol never seemed so majestic os
that morning, snowy while, looking upon tho tide
of men that came surging down, billow after bil
low, poising in sllencs; yeti heard In every step
those conflicts through which they hod waded, and
seemed to see dripping from their smoky flags tho
blood of our country's martyrs. ,
For the best part oftwo days wo stood and watch-
od the filing on of tho same endless battalions;
brigade after brigade; division after division; hoit
alter host; ever moving, ever passing: marching,
marching. Tramp, tramp, tramp! Thousands
after thousands. Battery front! A rou shouldered!
Columns solid! Shoulder to shoulder! Wheel to
st heel! Charger to charger! Nostril to nostril
Commanders on horses, with their reins entwined
with rose*. their necks enchained
with garlands—hundreds of thousands of heroes
marching on! Huzza! Huzza! Shall I ever for
get the day?
THE BETURNINO CONFEDERATE.
Stupendous cheering greeted this pic
ture. As the cheering subsided, Gener.il
Sherman was introduced and received
with three times three aud and a tiger. Re
futing to this episode, Mr. Grady, after a pause,
in which he seemed to be consider! ug what ho
should say, lifted his head and said:
"Dr. Talmage has drawn for you, with a master’s
hind the picture of your returning amici. He
has fold yon how In the pomp and circumstance of
war, they came back to you, marching with proud
and victorious tread, reading their glory In a na
tion’s eyes! Will you bear with me while I tell you
of another army that sought lta home at the clow
of the late war-%n army that marched homo in
defeat and not In victory—In pathos
and not In splendor, bnt in glory
that equaled yours, and to hearts as
loving as ever welcomed heroes home. Let me pic
ture to you the footsore confederate soldier, as
buttoning up In his faded gray Jacket the parole
which was to bear testimony to hla children of his
fidelity and foith, turned bis face southward from
Appcmatox In April, 1K3. Think of him as ragged,
half starred, heavy-hearted, enfeebled by want and
wounds; having fought to exhaustion, he surma-
deni his gun, wrings the bands of his comrades in
silence, and lifting his tear-stained and pallid face
for- the last time to tho graves that
old Virginia hills, pulls his
gray cap over bis brow and begins
the slow and painful Journey. What does he AM -
let me ask you,who went to yonr homes eager 10 nud,
in the welcome you had Justly earned, frill payment
for four years' sacrifice?—what does he find when,
having followed the battle-stained crom against
overwhelming odds, dreading death not half so
much ci surrender, he reaches the home he left so
prosperous and besutlfol? He finds his
bourn In ruins, his form devasta
ted, his slaves free, his stock killed, his
banw empty, bis trade destroyed, bis money worth
less, Ms coclal system, feudal In lta magnificence,
swept away, bis people without law or legal statu*
his comrades slain, and the hardens of
others heavyon his shoulder*. Crushed by defeat
his very traditions are gone. Without money,
credit, employment, material, or training—and,
fcwidc all this, confronted with tbejpavest problem
that ever met human intelligence—the establishing
of a itstus for the vast body of his liberated slaves
no* AMU I. TO JCXK.
What does be do—this hero la gray with a
heart of geld? Does he stt down in wiltounes*
and dcipsir? Not for a day. Sorely God, who
bad stripped him of bis prosperity, Inspired him
In his Adversity, As min was never baforeso
met whelming- never was remoratkm swifter. The
voldier stepped from tbs tmcchss Into the futrow;
hoiK> that had charged federal gun* marched be-
fo?e U>. plow. red fields that ran rod kyan
blood In April weregreen «**;_*» Jg** j»
Jofoe; woman reared l» luxury J0ZJ5.
dresses and made bsraehufor theirhtObaudA sod.
with a pad*®** •“*
killed aa many of them as they did of me, aud now
1 am going to work." [Laughter and applause.]
Or the soldier, returning home after defeat aud
roasting some corn on the roadside, who made thd
remark to his comrades: "You may leave the
south if you wrantto, but I am going to Sanders-
vllle, kiss my wife and raise a crop, and if tho
yfehkees fool with me any morel will whip ’em
••Siu." [Renewed applause.] I want to say
to General Sherman—who Is considered on able
man in our parts, though some
people think he fs a kind of earetc
about fire—that from the ashes tie left us in ISM we
have railed a brave aud beautiful city;
that somehow or other we hare caught
the sunshine In the bricks and mortar of
our homes and hare bnllded therein not one
ignoble prejudice or memory. [Applause.]
It is impossible to describe the scenes that
witnessed the delivery of this. As the
audience began to understand what the cam
paign was to be, that the confederate, return
ing to his ruined home was to stand in oontr wt
with Dr. Talmage's picture of tho union armies
return, the interest deepened, and cries of
"good," “good,” encouraged the speaker. The
allusions to the gray soldiers' hero!sm,provoked
ringing cheers, and when the speaker dwelt
on the bravery with which he took np his
hopeless and unaccustomed work, tho andienco
again aroso to its feet, and throe times
three cheers were given with
a vim that made the roof shake.
THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
The speaker hurried on to a sum
mary of what the sooth had accomplished uu
der the lead of her returned soldiers, of which
the following is a scanty accouut:
"But w hat Is the sum of our work? Wo have fouud
out that in the general summing up the free negro
counts more than he did as a slave.
We have planted the schoolhonsc on tho hilltop
and made it free to white and black. We have
sowed towns and cities in the place of theories and
put business above politics [Applause.] We have
challenged your spinners In Mawachnsotts aud
your lronmakcrs In Pennsylvania. Wo havo
learned that the 1400,010,000 annually receivcl
from our cotton crop will make us rich, thou the
supplies that make It are home railed. We havo
reduced the commercial rate of interest from 21 to
6 per cent, and arc floating 4 per cent bonds We
have learned that one northern immigrant ts worth
fifty foreigners, and have smoothed the path to
southward, wiped out the place where Mason and
Dixon’s line tued to be, and hung our latchvtrlnt;
to you and yours. [Prolonged cheers]
have reached tho poiut that marks per
fect harmony in every household, when
tho hnsband confesses that tho pics
which his wife cooks are as good as those his moth
er used to bake; and we admit that.the sun shine*
os brightly and the moon as softly & it did "before
the war." [Laughtcr.[ We hare established thrift
In city and country. Wc have fallen in love with
work. We have restored comfort to homes from
which culture and clcgauce never deputed,
have let economy take root aud spread among us
as rank as the crab grass which sprang from Biter-
roan's cavalry camps until we are ready to lay
odds on tho Georgia yankee as ho manufactures
relics of the battle field in a one-story shanty and
squeezes pure olive oil ont of his cotton seed,
against any down-castor that ever swapped wooden
nutmegs for flannel sausages In tho valleys of Ver
mont, [Loud aud continuous laughter.} Abovo
all, wo know that wo have achieved in these
piping times of peace" a fuller Independence for
the south than that which our fethers sought to win
In the forum by their eloquence or compel on the
field by their swords [Loud applause.]
It Is a rare privilege, sir, to have had part, how
ever humble, in this work. Novcr was nobler duty
confided to human hands than the uplifting and
upbulldingjof tho prostrate, and bleeding south,
misguided, perhaps, but beautiful In her suffering,
and honest, brave and generous always. [Ap
plause.] In the record of her social, Industrial and
political illustration we await with confidence tho
verdict of the world.
T1 IK NEGRO QUESTION.
On the subject of the negro Mr. Grady spoko
briefly bnt to the point, IIe showed that the
south had kept foith with the negro in the
fullest, and his denunciation as calumnious
all assertions to tho contrary, was received with
tho heartiest applause:
But what of the negro? Hare we solved the
problem he presents or progressed In honor end
equity towards the solution? Let the rcoord speak
to the point. No section shows a more prosperous
laboring population than the negroes of the south;
none lu fUUer sympathy with the employing and
land-owning class. He shares our school foud, has
tho fullest protection of oi.r laws and tho (Head
ship of our people. Belf-lnterest, as well as honor,
demand that ho should have this. Our future, mtr
very existence depend upon our working out this
problem In full and exact Justice. We understand
that when Lincoln signed the emancipation pro
clamatlon, yonr victory was assured; for he then
ccmmittcd you to the cause of human liberty,
against which the arms of man cannot prevail—
[Applause]—while those of our statesmen who trust
to make slavery the corner-stone of the confederacy
doomed us to defeat as for as they could, commit*
ting ns to a cause that reason could not dcfen l oi
as sword maintain In the sight of advancing civil
zation. [Renewed applanae.J Had Mr. Toombs
said, which be did not say, that be would oall the
roll of his slaves at the foot of Bunker UIll.be
w ould have been foolish, for he might hare kuowu
that whenever slavery became entangled In war it
mu>t perish, and that the chattle in human flesh
ended forever In New Koglaod when yonr fathers
—not to bo blamed for parting with what didn't
pey—reld their slaves to our fathers—not to bo
praised for knowing a paying thing when they
•aw It. [Laughter.J The relations of tho southom
people with the negro are close and cordial. We
remember with what fidelity for four years
he guarded our defenceless women and
children, whose husbands and fothora were
fighting against hIs freedom. To h(s eternal credit
be It said that whenever he struck a Mow for^hls
own liberty he fooght In open battle, and when at
last he raised his black and humble hands that the
shackles might be struck off, those hands were in
nocent of wrong against his hslpless charges, aud
worthy to be taken In loving grasp by every man
wbo honors loyalty and devotion. lAppUuso.]
Ruffian* have maltreated him, rascals have misled
him, philanthropists established a bank for him,
but the south, with the north, protests against
Injustice to this simple and sincere people. To
liberty and enfranchisement Isas for as law can
carry the negro. The rest must be left to con
science and common sense. It should be left to
these among whom bis lot Is cast, with whom he
Is lndlSMlnbly connected and whose prosperity de
pends upon their poasatng his intelligent sympa
thy and confidence. Faith has been kept with him
In spite of calumnious assertions to the contrary
by those wbo assume to speak lor ns or by frank
opponents. Faith will be kept with him In the
future, if the south holds her reason and integrity.
[ Applause.)
THE SOUTH HAS KEPT FAITH.
I cannot hope to report the charming run of
humorous allusions and anecdotes with which
Mr. ( rudy kept bis audience laugh lag when
the; were not cheering. 8o I proceed to his
iiroutfoo, which was elegant and effective,
and which is pretty accurately reported as fol*
lows. The speaker said:
But have we kept foith with you? In the fullest
sense, yes. When Lee surrendered—I don’t say
alien Johnson surrendered, because I understand
be still sllndes to the time when he met General
Sherman last as the time when he "determined to
abandon any further prosecution of the straggle"—
when Lee surrendered, 1 say, ami Johnston quit,
tbe south became, and has since been, loyal to this
union. We fought hard enough to know that we
were whipped, and in perfect frankness accepted
as final the arbitrament of the sword to which we
had appealed. Tbe MUth found her Jewel In the
toad's bead of defeat The shackles that bad held
ber in narrow limitations fell forever when the
vbsrkles of the negro slave were broken.
|ArpUu»e.] Under tbe old regime tbe negroes
wnrslaves to tbe south, tbe south was asUve
to the system. Tbe old plan tadon, with Its sim
ple police regulation and Its feudal habit was that
only type possible under slavery. Thus was gath
ered lu the bonds of a splendid and cbftralric oli
garchy the roUtance that should bare been dlf-
froedsmoog tbe people, as tbe rich Mood, under
certain artificial conditions, is gathered at the
heart, filling that with affluent rapture but leaving
tbe body chill and colorlea. [Applause.]
Tbe old sooth rested everything as slarsry and
agriculture, nneooacioo* that tbssa coold neither
give aor auintain healthy growth. Tbe new south
its a perfect democracy, tbe oligarchs loading
a m mjM9 as a garment, gave thfir j toUm popolar mpvemeat-a eorial system com-
?to wa£ Thesewasliul. MUONVlntll | iectudeleseIykhUud.lerespleodMaath.OT-
^S^^reMfcanlraOTprevtltadJ-Mll I Sr.UtOTBuUll.UB-. (roudrodfcns.br
Arp" struck the keynue when he saU: "Weil, I
sldivenlficd Industry’ that meets the complex needs
of this complex age.
The new south is enamored of her new work.
Her soul is stirred with the breath of a new life.
The light of a grander day is foiling fair on her face.
She is thrilling with the consciousness ot growing
power and prosperity. As she stands upright,
fUU-statured and equal among the people of the
earth, breathing the keen air and looking out upon
the expanding horizon, sho underataud* that her
emancipation came because In the Inscrutable
wtrdom of God ber honest purpose was crossed
and her brave armies were boaten. [Applause.]
This is said In no splritof time-serving or apology
The south has notMlng for which to apologize- She
believes that the late struggle between the states
was war and not rebellion, revolution and not con
spiracy, and that ber convictions were aa honest as
your*. I should be unjust to the dauntless spirit of
the south aud to my own convictions If 1 did not
make this plain In this presence. Tho
south has nothing to take back. In my
native town of Athens Is a monument that crowns
lta central hilla-a plain, white shaft. Deor “*
into .Its shining side Is a name dear to me ai
the names of men, that of a brave and simple tnau
who died in brave and simple foith. Not for all
the glories of New England, from Plymouth Rock
all the way, would I exchange the heritage; he left
me In his soldier's death. To the foot of that shaft
Ishall send my children’s chlldrtu torevereucc him
who ennobled their name with his heroic blood.
But, sir, speaking from the shadow of that memory,
which I honor as 1 do nothing else on earth, I sa;
that tha cause In which he suffered and for whtcl
he gave his life was adjudged by higher and
fuller wisdom than bis or mine, and I am glad that
the omniscient God held the balance of battle in
Bis Almighty hand and that human si every tr«s
swept forever from American soil, the American
union saved from the wreck of war. [Loud ap
plause.]
This message, Mr. Mr. President, oomes to you
from consecrated ground. Every foot of the soil
about the city In which I live Is as sacred as a battle
ground of the republic. Ever}' hill that Invests It
is hallowed to yon by the blood of your brothers
who died for your victory, and doubly hallowed to
us by tbe blow of those who died hopeless, but un
daunted, In defeat-sacred soil to all of us-rtch with
memories that make us purer aud stronger and
better-silent but stanch witnesses fn Its red deso
lation of the matohloas valor of American hearts
and the deathless glory of American arms-speak-
log an eloquent witness in Its white peace and
prosperity to the indissoluble uulon of American
states and the imperishable brotherhood of tbe
American people. [Immense cheering.]
WHAT ANSWER HAS NEW ENGLAND TO THIS?
Now, what answer has New England to this
message? Will she permit the prejudice of war
fo remain in tho hearts of the conquerors, when It
has died In tho hearts of the conquered? (Cries
of "Not No!"] Will sho tratuonlthls prejudice
to the next generation that In their hearts which
never felt the generous odor or conflict It may
perpetuate itself? ["No! Nol"J Will she with
hold, save In strained courtesy, tho hand which
straight from his soldier's heart Grant offered to
Lee at Appomattox? Will sho make tho vision of
a restored aud happy people, which gathered
above tho couch of your dying captain, filling his
heart with graco, touching his lips with praise and
glorifying his path to tho gravo—will sho make
this vision on which the last sigh of his expiring
soul breathed a benediction, a cheat and dtlu
slon? [Tumultuous cheering and shouts of "Nol
No!"] If she docs, the south, never abject In asking
for comradeship must accept with dignity I ts refiiaal,
bflt if she docs not refuse to accept In frankness aud
sincerity this message of good will and friendship,
then will the prophecy of Webster, delivered in this
very society forty years ago amid tremendous ap
plause, become true, be verified In its fullest and
final Fcnse, when he sold: "Standing hand to hand
aud clasping bands, we should remalu united as
we have been for sixty years, citizens of the some
country, members of the name government, unit
ed, all united now and united forever. There hero
been difficulties, contentions, and controversies,
but I toll you that in my Judgmont
" ‘Thoso opposed eyoe,
Which like tho meteors of a troubled heaven,
All of one nature, of one snbotanco bred,
Did lately meet in th' Intestine shock,
Bhall now, in mutual well beseeming ranks,
March all one way."
[Prolonged applause.]
Yonr correspondent will add nothing of oom-
menttotho above. Tho sceno that followed
the close of tho speech I attempted to describe
last night Tho numerous hot scotch and
congratulation parties that followed the ad-
fournment of the dinner, and kept Delmonloos
crowded till daylight need not be deooribed.
Mr. Grady left for home this afternoon, leav
ing enough invitations for speochos and din
ners to havo consumed a month. I closo this
cpiisde, which will be for-reaching aud
beneficent with tho remark made by
General Clinton Fisk, who said today: "I do
not recall, within my long experience any wan
wbo has made each reputation in Now York
with a single speech, or who is likely to do so
much good by thirty minutes talking.
Notes*
The M>uthor*ners present were oven more enthu
siastic than ihe New Knglanders, the roanllnere
and frankness of the speech taking them by storm.
They took possession of Mr. Grady as soou as he
conld escape from the crowds to another room, In
R hichMla* Winnie Verb, under tho chaperonngo
of Mr.'and Mrs. Ilarvey Dew, was holding a recep
tion, sud he is still In the hands of his new-made
friends.
W8AT PROMINENT MEN SAT.
Mr. niton, w ho fs one of the most prominent men
or the state, says: "It will do more good than any
speech delivered in New York In twenty yean.
"I never saw such a scene in Delmonlco's as I
witnessed at tbe close of his speech."
Mr. Gilder, of tbe Century, says: "I never saw an
orator achieve such a triumph in thirty minutes."
John Chatham said: "It was tbo finest speech I
ever listened to, and I would not have it undeliv
ered for tcu thousand dollars."
fiurrogate Rollins said: "It Is the bast speech de
livered in twenty yean before this society."
1 might fill a column with similar opinions.
Any description of the hall, arrangements and
decorations, however, is utterly unimportant as
compared with Grady’s triumph. It was simply In
describable. Ills sentiments enthused his and
knee. Ills eloquence thrilled them, and bis
rhetoric charmed them. M J V
Mr. Grady at Home.
ItE MEETS WITH A WARM AND SOUL-STfRRINO
WELCOME.
Mr. Henry W. Grady arrived at home by the
Air-Mne railroad at 10 o'clock Friday night.
Fiiday morning a number of Mr. Grady’s
friends decided to j 've him a reception at tbe
Kimball Immediat -afterhis arrival. Notico
of tbs reception v » given in tbe afternoon
papers, and tbe pn': o generally was invited to
attend. A few min ales before the arrival of
the train a committee, composed of Dr. R. D.
Spalding, Mr. D. M. Bain, Mr. M. C. Kiser,
Captain E. P. Ho well, Mr. C. A. (Jollier, Judge If.
R.Tompkins, Major Livingston Mims, Mr. 4.
M. Inman, Mr. W. M. Dickson, Mr. W. L. Peel,
Colonel W. A. Hemphill and Mr. Clarence
Knowles, went to tbe depot to meet
Mr. Grady and accompany him to
the Kimball. A large number of prominent
gentleman bad already assembled at tbe depot,
MBxlotu to Join in doing Mr. Orndy honor. A
brass band was also prevent and played stirring
airs while tbe immense crowd waited. Tbe
train was dneat 0:40 o’clock, but a alight de
lay occurred, and, as already mentioned, ft did
not arrive until 10 o'clock. When It stopped
in tbe depot, the bend played "Yankee Doodle*,
and tbe crowd cheered enthusiastically. Mr.
Grady waa assisted from tbe sleeper by the
committee.
As soon as the crowd canght sight of him the
cheeftog was renewed. Preceded by the band
Mr. Grady waa conducted to the Kimball. Tbe
lower floor of tbe arcade was densely packed
with gentleman, while upon the upper floors
many ladies were gathered.
afB. OOI.List's IfMCB.
While Mr. Grady was raeel.in, thegreetinj.
of his friends, wbo crowded sroand him in
Iup nsmberiq the bend played “Dixie.” The
frliilisr sir wse tbe dgnsl for ehoon, which
woe prolonged eerenl minute. At tbo eon*
of tbe sir Mr. C. A. Collier mounted so
imjrarlKd stand, tni sddnatng Mr. Grady,
citixens of Atlanta was tho resnlt of n sponta
neous determination to do Mr. Grady honor.
Mr. Grady bad appeared tn New York
before tho most critical audience
ever assembled in the country
and had represented not only the
old south but tho new south at no other tutu
could. The people of Atlanta knew that be
hid nobly acquitted himself. Tbty had »»■
bled to do him honor because they loved him
ts they loved no other men. Tho triumph Ur.
Grady had achieved in Ntw York caused most
intense gratification to his friends in Atlanta.
They were present to let him see how deep wu
their affliction for him.
Mr. Collier wae tepeatcdly interrupted by
applause sud cheers, the ladies on tho npper
floors entbusUstlcally Joining in. When he
stopped down from tho stand, the crowd at
once began to call londiy for sir. Grady. Mr.
Collier, Mr. Bain and Mr. Kiser eseisted him to
tbe etsnd, the crowd, In the pi centime, renew
ing the cheers.
mb. oBADY'e Fcrr.cn.
Mr. Grady raid that the welcome extended
him by hie friende wu the beet Cbrletmu
present he had ever received. Ho had appear
ed before a critical andienco of strangers in
New York and they had given him a warm
welcome. Mtnyhad telegraphed him their
congratulations on hla address, end others had
personally commended it. These evidences of
esteem were gratifying; bnt the approval of his
fellow dtiuu of Atlanta, evidenced by lire
warm welcome accorded him upon his return
home, was infinitely more gratifying. Atlanta
wu his first and only love. The spirit that
animated its people made It the best and
bravest city on the continent. In
living and working in it and for
it he fonnd bis greatest pleasure, and ho hoped
to die in it.
Mr. Grady then epoke of his reception by tho
New England society. He declared that tho
peopio of tho north cherished tbe kindest feel
ings towards the people of tho south when the
latter talked to tho former ctudiiMy aud fairly.
He illustrated by describing Ihe appiauiethat
greeted hie description of tho retain of tho
confederate soldiers to their homes et the dose
of the war. IIo again spoke of the congratula
tions he bad received, among them being those
of Mr. Algernon 8. Sullivan, president of the
New York Society of Southerners, end Major
J. F. lianson, of Macon. These congratula
tions Indicated the lndortementofhli own peo
pio of what ho had said about tho aonth,
Mr. Grady closed by wishing hla friend! a
Christmas aa happy si they had made hie.
TBS AXTEBMATII.
Mr. Grady’s speech wae delivered with groat
earnestness, and wu received with almost
boundless applanae. His references to Atisnta,
to the south, old and now, to hla reception In
New York, and to hla waieomo on his return
home, all provoked cheers that were given
with great enthusiasm
Immediately alter tho speech Mr. Grady wm
conducted to parlor 104, where eome time wm
spent with friends who crowded around him to
hear n more minute account of hie reception in
Now York. Hr. Herrmann had brewed a
delicious chamfhgna punch, which he ladled
out to everybody who folt disposed to
drink. Tho time passed swiftly, and whon
tho parting words for tho night were said tho
hands of tho clock pointed to twelre.
During the reception in tho arcado qnite a
number of northern gnntlemon were inter
ested spectators. They were especially inter
ested In tho southern cheer, which they had
never beard before. Thoy heartily Indorsed
what wu said by both Mr. Collier aud Mr.
Grady. ______
Comments of the Press.
From tho New Xork Evening Telegram.
Mr. Joseph Choate's Puritan forefather would
have been even moretsstonnded at the New England
dinner In this city hut night then et Ute one In
Brooklyn the night before. Beholding endh a Umb
of the law as Mr. Burnell In the chair, and such a
reprerentallreoMbi elemyasMr. Talm
Ing the principal speech of the oeoaaloa,
hero slipped a silver pier# Into tho paltn of ono
of tbo lielmonlco waltete (If ho had been recur-
reeled with money In his pockol) end begged to bo
i 1 ride door so that he mi,ht letbackl—
again SI speedily upowlble. lint If
Ibeen unable to opeu the door, sod tho
had stayed to listen to Mr. Uredy, of
Atlanta, he would havo been glad ot hit daisy.
From the New York Melt and Express.
For the first Unto to Its history, the Now England
society hut night liatenod to a repnaentatlro of tbo
new couth. A better repreeeulatlre could not hare
beenehoeen, aeorgta la tho repreeentatlra state of
not In tbe habit of having southerner!! for their
thoro by whom he was surrounded Is evidence that
be did so eloquently.
Bat the time, the place, tho man and thaocca.
•Ion make this more than a clover end entertain-
indlhoeoff’ea*ndu°n b ' lwMn * h# * AU * ,ul nuts
A southern man had an opportunity to speak
umlrr circumstances that will enable his words to
reach the cere of the north. Wo are pleased to
know that tho min was a Ueorslnn, and to tender
congratnutlons upon the serrlcehe has done him-
The speech speaks for Itsslf, end will he read
«lth Interest by every man of thought andlntelU-
gC Thc flowere°ihM decked the table are faded, tho
foam on the champagne has settled, end the lights
of the banquet hall ere lowered. A southern man
has told ihe Ule of tho south to the north. IVIth-
out shame, without apology, and fit admirable tern-
K rbehu shown onr brethren of the north how
o mailer has learned to shoe the chiuger he rode
in defense ofhb share sad his Brea. More, be has
shown that the cavalier takes an honest pride tn
this work of the smithy and that ho stamu ready
to shoe thecob of the Puritan, who cornea to bo hu
Mend and neighbor, end to plow end • vote by hla
side. Mr. Grady haspertlentfy asked what will bo
This speech of Mr. Grady has dona something
else. It has overthrown the dogma that the preaa
has overshadowed the orator. Today hla speech
is scattered through Iho land by agency of tha
press. Few nol interested In public ankirs may
iss5u*f° a*ss
yet Mr. Grady, In his own Journal, and his co-la-
MNtstr — — — —
abjyaod'eiaqheatlyinn fed, ha
(otfoll before carelcM eyes
The press has foiled to arrest an
iho now south, and AtlonU
For what Atlanta U, sho is 1
perhap*. than to any other one agsm
rcscntatlve newroapsr, ThbConstitt
Grady Is one of ths men who bars
rwhstitU-th* foremost Jounr
JuIon, ths leader In all great cnl
terprater to tire north of all that t
means and promhc*.
From tbs New York Commercial Advertiser.
The speech of Mr. Grady, tha editor of Tub ATLiN-
ta CoxsTittmox, at Ihe New England dinner hut
night, will attract wide notice, not merely Ibr Its
merits aa an oratorical production, bat also r-*
principally Ibr tbo mailer It contained end
aplril It displayed. No one. It teems to tie, cans
s®
to that pa*
■out hem
end tbe
f the pregreas of the soalh
war Is one of the best that has
Tba speaker dosed with an eloquent am
hiumony.mtdJwotWy-Cual
■ that had dim! pot
since the
aver been mads.
The speaker closed
Ing plea for harmony .
north and smith. He
should not Indulge l
delirered an eloquent speechof *
‘ assembling of so many
Cenier said that tho
will
From tho Philadelphia Times.
Mr. Grady's assertions taken Id connection with
the statements of, northern men Uke Charles I nud
ity Werner sud Judge Kelley that tbe loath of to
day Is In fact e new south, should be accepted as
final, tbd Ihe bitter partisan prejudices which an
kept allra only foe partisan advantage should be
buried ont of tight and forever. The south today
Is as loyal to tbe tmloQ as the north tndltutu
ST«£^3S3Fpm
die out of the hearts of the ooponefore,
u It undoubtedly baa ont of the hearts of the meo
in bine who did l^^^btaiuahirt thoei^D
Mr. Grady end other prafreUye men who hare
made the south • new south In wiping out Iho Iasi
(Vrady'hHthowAhSnren ran bj'tSIi to the
north es well as aonth, wbo dartre the welfare of
the whole conn try.
From the Chicago Tribune.
Editor Henry W. uredy, of Tub Atlavta Cox-
rriTt Tlox, who delivered the fomou speech on
"The New Sooth” at tho dinner of tho New Eng
land society tart night, and which mads Mm a
national repo tattoo, has pteirtng Mack eyas, mran
heir, a charmingly frank meaner end a peculiarly
graceful bearing u an orator. When he arose to
deliver hie epcoch ho lookadnon the them of over
goo strangers. He wee the Onfmatheraer to talk
a t a dinner of the society atnra tha war, andbefora
, mat they,’too, etpaely
earecst-tooklng and dlnShid southerner at
SJLTSS;
essembtara broke ont In • rtorm of
cherts, wbrn Mr. uredy spoke of Abraham Lin-
-■ '-an mss, boo J
..said, "Orer
aodthotradl-
tbe Ntw Bag-
lendrn brought a happy siaU. to hie taceend m
iddedbrtgbinsmtobta
SsSSSjm s&shfs
true
Mr. H. W. Grady, of Tub Atlanta Ooitxn-
niton, wax en Invltol guest At tho forefslhcre’
dienes in New York on tho twentysecond In.unt.
tnd tvponded to the west oltho new soalh.
proceeding; both as to th
I he descendants of tho tbn
bnt u earnestly, o.u,
The preaa haa failed to arrret anattenUou In years
that an orator has riveted In the half of an hour.
From the Blchmond State.
At the annnal banquet of the New England
society of New York, held on Wednesday evening,
the speech of tho occasion wu tnado by Hr.
Henry w. Grady, so well known u one of tho edt-
ore of Tux Atlaxta Coxstitutiox. Tho New
York gnu says that "It wu tbs bert" that hu been
delivered lu New York In many yean. Tho
speaker, responding to Ute toast “The New Mouth,"
reviewed the growth of Ute aonth since the wu
with en Individual power and freehnew of
touch that give a strikingly new
lulcint lo this already worn anb-
Jo t. It Is tine that tho south hu done marvel
ously w ell In spile of tho terrible results of a civil
snuggle Ibat laid wuto her Helds aud that killed
nr,withered iho Boweror her growth. Butoflato
ycata some ot her sons have been prono to bout
too loudly of her progress, end th- -vwy of her de
velopment has been told over rootled that tho
tolling >hu become mechanical end the story hu
become rant. Yet no such errors or Judgment and
good lasts mar Mr. Grady’s speech. He spoke with
a newness of detcrlptlon and with a sutoerlty of
expression that mada bis theme u Interesting u If
he bad been Ibe nret to bendlo IL
Mr. Gtady showed hla strong good unce In not
sintering his enlbiisltsm for tho new south to mako
him forectfol of the honor duo to tho old south.
No; sighing over the past alone and scowling at
tho prereui, he aroldcdTthe blind mistakes of that
unlearning byurbonlun which too often burdens
public opinion: but not praising tho present alono
■ml Ignoring tbo put, hu longue never ellppod In-
lo Ihe gush of that Ignorant upstartry which vainly
thinks It finds In lu own sudden success Ihe fof.
Ailment of ell hnmou endeavor. On tho con
trary, he took that Just ml,Idle ground from which
csnhe better seen on elthersldo the progress that
wu made before the war and the progress that bu
been tnado slnco Iho war by (ho people of Iho
south.
"loadid rot nr.xn."
From tho Jacksonville, Fla., News.
Gallant Henry Grady hu again doterved
high)y of his native south. IIo represents, and al
ways hu represented, since he camo totuilncseof
manhood, the pngresslronem, liberality and hope-
fiUneuofthe new south, and hu done thtaseo-
tlonof tho union anew sort Ico In bringing homo
to nnittactn men’s buMnc-s aud liosomstno tmo at
titude, foi ling and purpou of tho men of tha
southern states.
"I sm loaded forbear,” he sold, In good Georgia
vernacular, tbo day day Imforo ho made his speech,
and when no Bred that speech off thorn wu noouo *
to dispute the offset!venue or iho charge. Ho slow
"beat” In every direction, and ho comes homo to
Grorgtathe champion guunerof(b| routh. fi%
I—__
s go on, "I urn glint
. _ .... ..- rr ^ balance of the bettlo
Ills Almighty hand, end that tbo American un-
• wu eared from tbo wreck of war."
From the Now York Tribune.
Tho spcoch delivered by Mr. Honry W.
Grady, of Tni Atlanta Constitution, at tha din
ner of tho Naw England noddy, In its spirit and
purpose, as well u In lta diction anil logic, reach.
c<] a high plane In contemporary oratory. Mr.
Grady la Ihe editor of a progrcsdvo boulheni
democratic newspaper. This oceaidim nilbnU
us Iho grstefol opportunity of rcmirkhig
upon Iho earnest Amcrlruu Imqdmlhm which glrott
character and Imnortaneo to our Atlanta contem
porary. Undsr thepatrtotleiuMsn o of Mr. Grady
It hu labored icalmialy to root out all the old and
nllllotu which are collectively to bo ile-
u bourboutsm, and hu constantly kept Ire-
Is Imputlblo In the south.
iterial progre
-offer of brotherhood must
graco and nobility. To tho
y rcprcHcut-t every American
. cnslilp holds out a sympa>
g hand.
A PREACHER MOBDEOI
Nasiivillb, Tenn., Docemlicr 21.—An
Immense auillcmo gathered at tho First
Colored Baptist church tonight to hear tho In
famous elder Huffman’s sonnon on “rattlo-
snakes," wherein it waa supifosoljho would
Kora big enemies. Hla adherents filled tho
chureb, and outaklo surged a howling mob ut
hia enemies. Bath aide. wsr. umed and trou
ble wu frared. By tho advice or frlonds ho
did not deliver the uimon u annonnecd. At
the conclusion of tho services lio started out of
the door, when the mob surged toward him.
He drew two revolvers and throw them up,
railing out:
island back I”
Tho crowd stood back, and Huffman began
banging away. When uta shots began to bo
returned ho ran hack Inside tho door, and
shortly afterwards fled by » back window.
The mob stayed about tho church threaten
ing to taro II. They were arranging In do so,
when they fonnd Huffman waa gone, and vow
ed they would kill him if ho ovor entered tho
church again. It Is not believed tho troublo is
et lie worst yet No one wu burtkytboehoU
fired. _
A CbrlrlmasTaleof Old England.
The bell! rnngo'er Ihe dlitent hills,
the hearth
re sounds of
That night—It wu a Christmu night—
The guests wen In the hall.
The holly with Its berries fair
AniPmuifoiromThZbsrp lo sweet
Made pleasure's round of Joy complete.
Whet made Ihe '(quire turn eo pale,
As on the Christmas air
■ rose without the manor halls
SasEsS**
•‘Fortire, foraiTt!" lbs Binder wailed,
And knelt down st hi* feet;
The guests • mazed, ail gathered round,
To bear her to a seal;
The T**iulre ralrod her, and In tear*.
Hold, "child, I re waited
n i
Hi