Wilse Graham is reluctant to answer Ellen’s question about slavery becoming more of a "festerin’ hurt" each year, and whether or not we "hev to make a move against it." How does the author reveal that Wilse feels in his heart that slavery is wrong, even though he defends it as an economic necessity?

The author reveal that Wilse feels in his heart that slavery is wrong, even though he defends it as an economic necessity, by showing that the question makes Wilse unable to continue eating, and he admitted that he has no justification to offer to his maker for being master over another man.

Explanation:

Wilse Graham tries to dodge answering Ellen's question, and that in itself is proof that he has conflicting emotions about the topic.

When John pressed him about it his reaction of his food after Ellen asked the question, and the answer he finally gives reveals that he feels slavery is wrong even though it is important to the economy.

The author made the revelation with these lines:

'Wilse hesitated a moment, his eyes on the plate of food, which he had barely touched during the last few  minutes. "I'll say this to you, Cousin John," he said finally. "I own a few slaves, and if I stood before my  Maker alongside one of em, I'd hev no way to justify the fact that I was master and he was slave.'