Rhetorical Analysis Of Grady's Speech

In the speech that was given by Henry Woodfin Grady in 1886 in New York City, shows the passionate the man was on how the South used to be and how it was after the war. He shows throughout the article the horrible atrocities that war has done to the “beautiful” home and almost palpable hate towards General Sherman after his deadly march to the sea. As you wouldn’t expect from a man that saw his homeland torched and destroyed, Grady actually understood what was wrong with the “Old South” and is legitimately excited for what the future held for the “New South”. Throughout the article he shows so outstanding points and events that could open the eyes of any reader that doesn’t really have that much knowledge about the history of the Civil …show more content…
In the words of Grady himself, he states that that downfall of the Confederacy was making slavery the cornerstone issue in the country. “While those of our statesmen who trusted to make slavery the corner-stone of the Confederacy doomed us to defeat as far as he could, committing us to a cause that reason could not defend or the sword maintain in sight of advancing civilization.” Grady understood that making the key reason, was actually giving the Radical Republicans a softball pitch to knock out of the park. This is like what is happening today every time Donald Trump opens his mouth Hillary Clinton and her clan just chomps at the bit when he says something that could be deeming to someone. Anyway Grady goes on to talk about this suppose cordial relationship between white and black people, “The relations of the Southern people with the negro are close and cordial/ We remember with what fidelity for four years he guarded our defenseless women and children, whose husbands and fathers were fighting against his freedom.” This is what we were speaking about earlier, which can strike the reader as a peculiar thing to read. We have been told since we were old enough to …show more content…
Her soul is stirred with the breath of a new life. The light of a grander day is falling fair on her face. She is thrilling with the consciousness of growing power and prosperity. As she stands upright, full statured and equal among the people of the earth, breathing the keen air and looking out upon the expanded horizon, she understands that her emancipation came because through the inscrutable wisdom of God her honest purpose was crossed, and her brave armies were beaten.” (Grady 4) Grady nails this sense of hope that was alive and pumping in the “New South”, he leaves the reader and the audience at the time with this new love of the Dixie. He makes sure to leave you with the feeling that they weren’t looking and dwelling on the past and how without slaves that the south would crumble, he shows that they were ready to rebuild the south into stronger