The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-08-05
MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN NORTH
AND SOUTH.

1t is noteworthy fact that there has not
been time in this gener alton when the lan>
guage of the North and South toward each
other has been so respectful and couslderate
as since the close of the war. We mean the
language used by the public speakers and the
public writers of the two sections. 1t would
be difficult to recall single instance, either
here or there, since the advent of peace, of
the employment of the old style of sectional
abuse by any mau of the least personal res
possibility all the old sort CT denouncing
deprecialing, sneering, fouliog and reviling
has quite passed away. thousand contu-
melious phrases, which used 10 be the stock
in trade of every village politician in the two
parts of the country, have become obsolete !;
they have literally dropped from the language.
There is no longer Northern political dla-
lect, in distinction from q Southern political
dialect.
This cessation Of all the old bitter language
between the two sections, comes primarily
from the mutual respect generated by the war
The old Northern notion that the South had
degeuerated into q race of domneering, pus
silanimous blusteiers and braggarts and the
old Southern notion that the North had lost
every element of manhood in the passion for
gain, and would submit to anything sooner
thau fight, have been entirely annihllaed.
The tug of war for four years has shown the
real stuff of the men on both sides of Mason
and Dixon's-bas proved that there Is no es-
sential difference in courage, or foitltude, or
any of the high qualities which make up the
real stamina Of people. 1t has been brought
home to the sense of every person in the land
that the dwellers in the North and the dwell
ers la the South have the same blood, and
that no finer exists. 1twould be morally I'M
possible that struggle maictained with such
terrible enacity should fail to infuse respect
into the soul of each adversary, or that such
respect should not manifest itself so soon as
the struggle should close and its hot passions
pass away.
The present moderation and decorum OBJ.
served between the North and South will
gradually chaugA into warmer manifestations
of friendship if that class of politicians, who
can live only on mischevous agitation. are
kept under proper restraint. We trust that
public sentiment in both sections will be
firmly set against any revival of the old Sec
tional temper, when dealing with the ques.
tions on which the two parts Of the country
may not at first fully agree. The public
speaker or writer who INDUCES in sectional
denunciation, should be marked at once as a
mischief maker and public enemy. 1n the
next Congress there may be some, both from
the North aud Sou b., who will ia into ins
temperance of speech from mere force of old
habit, if not from positive evil design. If
there be any such, iney should be made
promptly to feel that they are not in an at
mosphere suited to such displays. If public
opinion will assert its just neral authority in
regulation of all discussions touching recon
struction wherever maintained, it will be ef-
fected. There will be no danger of relapse
into the old pernicious ways; and the field
will be kept clear for the final realization Of
universal harmony and good will Neao
York Times.