The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-02-04
Mutual Confidence.

The Washington Express has an editorial
which is certainly in the right spirit and wor-
thy of the notice Of the seating men of the
North. Il says: "Confdence is said to be
plant of slow growth, but grow it must and
will. Human hearts are not made for es-
trangements All national difficulties between
equals are, sooner or later, capable Of adjust
ment. Monarchists and Democrats cannot
mingle any more than can oil and water;
but fellow citizens Of the same republic, Of
kindred intelligence, cannot long essentially
differ. They must unite.
For years before the war Of 1861 the
South and the North were more or less ac-
customed to speak of each other as Southern
brethren" and s'Northern brethren" A sad
alienation has since occurred but, sad as it
is, it cannot last forever. Already the signs
of mutual reconciliation are beginning to
multiply and increase. 1t is just here and
now that one of the high missions Of the
Democratic element Of our country begins
This element has always had greater con-
troll erthe South than any other of a polit-
ical character 1t was in the South, among
the hills of Monticello that the purest De-
mocracy of America had its birth. Its in
fancy was rocked in the hickory Hermitage
of Tennessee. Is it any wonder that the
chivalrous people Of the sunny land should
love their own offspring?
If the rulers Of this nation expect to con-
duct its affairs successfully they must mot ig-
more the South As far as she has been ali
enated they must conciiate her. She must
be restored to her place in the ssterhood of
States, fully, freely, cordially, and on terms
of perfect equality. Reconstruction is not the
word. The South is already constructed, and
has been since the days Of Thomas Jefferson
and Patrick Henry, and from the foundation
OF the Government This country owes more
of her best territory to the South than to any
other portion of the Republic. The Jeffer
sonan ordinance of Congress, which opened
up the area from the Alleghanies to the Rocky
Mountains, was the free gift of the South
The great giant of the Northwest was born
of Virginia. All the tier Of States and Ter
ritories, from the Ohio to the Pacific, lying
in the gift of the old mother of Presidents,
are her childrcn's children.
Is it not graceful and becoming, therefore,
lint H.
tha' ''~enia should be treated with all due
oeierencs All such tributes Of respect are
peculiarly valuav-> at such time as this
They will carry us bad. as people, to thu
eNivalrous spirit of other sues. We are too
much inclined, at this day to vtsw all our ma
tional affairs through political, party. and
commercial mediums There is such thing
as genuine patriotism there is a confraterni-
ty of States; there is National Union; and
they are based on kindred principles, on so
eial exchanges, on general Inequalities. O,
for the good old days of heartfelt sympathics,
through every part Of the Republic Why
may they not dawn upon us again Is there
any reason why we should continue to speak
Of any part of our country as distinct from
the rest? Where all are pcors, may not the
ruling power be equal among all
What is needed more in our nation than
anything else is restored confidence. We
have had enough of arrangements. 1t is
time they should cease, at once and forever.
There is no interest of the South but is equal
ly dear to the North. There is no interest
of the North bat is equally dear to the South
Perish the thought that we should ever be
again estranged !!