st and West, stand free before the tribunal
of the Almighty, each man to work out his own destiny according to his
ability, and according to his virtue, and according to his manhood.
[Applause.] I assure you that we who took part in that war were kindly
men. We did not wish to kill. We did not wish to strike a blow. I know
that I grieved as much as any man when I saw pain and sorrow and
affliction among the innocent and distressed, and when I saw burning and
desolation. But these were incidents of war, and were forced upon
us--forced upon us by men influenced by a bad ambition; not by the men
who owned those slaves, but by politicians who used that as a pretext,
and forced you and your fathers and me and others who sit near me, to
take up arms and settle the controversy once and forever. [Cries of
"good," and loud applause.]

Now, my friends of New England, we all know what your ancestors are
recorded to have been; mine were of the same stock. Both my parents were
from Norwalk, Connecticut. I think and feel like you. I, too, was taught
the alphabet with blows, and all the knowledge I possessed before I went
to West Point was spanked into me by the ferule of those old
schoolmasters. [Laughter.] I learned my lesson well, and I hope that
you, sons of New England, will ever stand by your country and its flag,
glory in the achievements of your ancestors, and forever--and to a day
beyond forever, if necessary, giving you time to make the journey to
your last resting-place--honor your blood, honor your Forefathers, honor
yourselves, and treasure the memories of those who have gone before you.
[Enthusiastic applause.]

BALLARD SMITH

THE PRESS OF THE SOUTH

[Speech of Ballard Smith at the annual banquet given by the
Southern Society of New York, February 22, 1888. John C. Calhoun,
one of the Vice-Presidents of the Society, presided. Mr. Smith
spoke to the toast, "The Press of the South."]

MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN:--The newspaper has always been a
potent factor in the South--for many years almost exclusively political,
but since the war occupying its more proper sphere and assisting more
largely in the material development of the country. I think every
Southern man will agree with me that the change of procession has been
to the very great advantage of our section. The columns of the
ante-bellum newspaper were too often the opportunity for the indulgence
of excited passions, political and