The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-29
SEN. ible Talk.

That the defeated, Inundated, and, to a large
extent ruined communities of the South should
feel degree OF bitter animosity toward all the
adherents, Northern and Southern, ofthe cause
which overthrow theirs, is certainly not strange;
nor is it to be wondered at that having by vir-
tue of superior numbers, the control of every
thing relating to social life, they should re-
venge the ir own political defeat by social ex-
clusiveness of the bitterest kind. That such
has been the case almost everywhere among
them is we'll known, and it has thus far proved
one of the most serious obstacles to the rehab-
ilitation of many communities in the prosperi-
ty which once belonged to them. The wiser
and more clear-sighted southerners might call
eagerly for northern capital and enterprise
and thrift to come and aid them, in building
up again their war-wasted country; but those
who accepted the invitation have in a majori-
ity of eases found themselves wholly excluded
from all social intercourse with the people
among whom they have gone. They have been
made to feel themselves ostracised, isolated.
and so after a time they have wearied of the re-
pellant atmosphere around them, and sought
more congenial homes. All this might be ex-
tremely natural on the part of the southern
people, but it was at the same time very fool
ish. They could not afford to drive away the
help they so much needed. 1t is satisfaction
to their best friends to know that they are be-
ginning to be aware of the folly of their course,
and that there is consequently some hope of
amendment. Flakes Bulletin, an able paper
published at Galveston, Texas recently con-
tainedan article strongly condemning this splr-
it of vindictive exclusiveness, and pointihg OUT
some of the evils which result from II. mat
paper says: '1 "
D;sgu;se the fact as we may, it Is true that
in many circles neither wealth., ihannoou; cour-
age eminent piety, erudltoh, hsh-toheu NOR
aI;ty brilliant accomplishments, nor personal
t1i'y, % =. ~ :, ,nen the charmed door o. society
,;ja al there is coupled with these qualities
Ps,.s;sient and ever steadfast loyalty To the
SPvarnmeut q - How can We ask
political equality with those 20 whom we refuse
ssocial fraternity? Can we hope that the
people in power will believe US loyal when fl
deity to the Contederacy atones tor all man
ner of social iniquity, and loyalty TO the Union
is the objectionable sin? We may mean to
discharge every obligation with fidelity, but
while there Is such rancor in our breasts peo-
pie will not believe us. We must expect
great deal of heart-burning at the close of a
gigantic civil war. Bat others have the right
to xpect that we shall seek to amend our tenn
pers as well as our actions. Men of business,
whose daily avocations force them to mix and
mingle with Others soon have their latent 10y
atty rubbed into an active principle. We sell
dom find them among the exclusives. But
there is another class in every community
largely composed oilades and clergymen, who
are not forced into actual contact, save as they
choose. These indulge i'll all this mawkIsh
exclusiveness. Many lonesome parlor might
be filed brimming full of merriment md hap
piness but for this silly prejudice. Many
maid
'Remans a sad, ungathered rose
On her ancestral tree"
because of her self-imposed vows of social alb