“… committing her destinies into the hands
of her native white citizens…”
“… an emblem to teach future generations…”
“… their descendants did not intend to
surrender it to any alien or inferior race.”
“… but to associate with us as our equals we deny him…”
“The ignorant, and the vicious had the supremacy politically,
and were doing their utmost to humiliate and
|compel us to admit them as our equals socially.”
The suffrage provided under the 15th Amendment to black men and the temporary disenfranchisement of Confederate officials/officers
appears to have gained the black population of the county
political “supremacy.”
“On motion of Col. Bennett,
the town authorities were
invited to take part in the exercises.”
The apparent disregard for truth in history, and the continued efforts to cover lies of the past.
The language is significantly more subtle, but the theme is consistent with that of the cornerstone dedication and McLauchlin’s address. This was the ceremony that everyone attended. There was still a commitment to the ’cause’ of the Confederacy stated several times throughout the public addresses given during the January 19th ceremony, both by name and obviously implied. The speeches were prepared and only read by those giving the addresses that day. Rev. Power was a last minute replacement for the speaker that was originally planned to give that address. The writing of the addresses is very familiar, and with little doubt were crafted by William ALexander Smith. The writing is written mirroring his style and subtle references to racial supremacy, without saying the word. He would sometimes become bold and speak very openly about his extreme racist sentiment, but most of his public speeches at official functions were fairly tame. There was one event where he used the word ‘darkey’ to describe a slave that cooked of a couple from Richmond in a speech given.
We will never know.
It was replaced in 1949.
From Rev. Power’s address given at the
January 19, 1906 dedication ceremony.
Capt. William M. Hammond, of Georgia, was listed in the program for the event as the originally planned speaker, but the article says he was unable to attend, and Rev. Power gave an address. The article states that Risden Tyler Bennett read a prepared a prepared address, so it’s safe to assume that Rev. Power also read a prepared speech. It’s doubtful the words included in this article were an improvised speech by the former Confederate chaplain who admittedly took up arms during the war.
“It also has provided specific evidence that shows the true purpose
behind the monuments: protecting the Lost Cause narrative that would allow
the wealthy political elite descended from the antebellum South to retain power and prestige.”