Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-03
The South and Agricultural Fairs.

enterprise since the war which has been
crowned with more success than the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical Fairs which have
been held during the present Fall. They
have served double purpose. Not only
have the recuperative powers and industry
of our people been fully indicated, but
they have drawn to our section thousands
OF visitors, who came with no party ends
to subserve, but have seen orr people IN
influenced by prejudice and have become
familialized with the productiveness Of our
soil and the advantages of our climate.
These industrial re unions will do much to
disBlpate the Injurious prejudices existing
between the pooplo Of the North and
South, which owe their existence more
from an intolerance arising from ignorance
than from any real and substantial cause.
We may have had our differences III the
past, and each have shown their faith by
their works, but these are matters of the
past--honorable alike to both parties. We
have now to deal with the present and fu-
ture. Allowing to all the largest tolerance
of opinion and sympathy Tor the past,
there remains no good reason why we
should not shake hands now, that the flu
ture may be alike prosperous and glorious
for the whole country.
We were much impressed with the re-
Spouse Of a leading New England manu-
facturer. who had never visited the South,
to letter addressed him by the Editor of
this paper, inviting him and his manufac-
turing friends TO the late Fair of the Cape
Fear Agricultural Association, and we re-
greet his inability to comply with his prom
ise to be present. His desire was to visit
and mingle with our people, and learn
from personal observation their opinions
and spmpathies, their condition and hab-
it's. He acknowledged to feelings-preju-
dices it might be--towards our Sec
ton, which he confessed had been gathered
in great measure from reading partisan pa
pers and listening to partisan speeches.
He thought these feelings might and would
be overcome by mingling with our people
-appreciating the fact that we are citi-
must have common interests and 70 common
destiny. AS We have said, We regret that
circumstances prevented his coming, but
trust upon a future occasion he will not
disappoint us.
Not only has there been a very large
number OF visitors from the North among
us on the occasion Of these Fairs, and few
havesreturned with aught but compliments,
but the speeches and conversations of our
representative men have been widely
quoted throughout the North. and their
views have thus met the eyes of readers
whom, during the excitements and misrep-
reservations of political canvass, they
never reach, or only in such garbled or
distorted shapes as to pervert them. Ex-
tracts from the recent able and timely
speech OF General WADE HAMPTON at
Macon have been widely published and
commented upon in the Northern papers,
and those people, who had been led to
believe, for party purposes, that this man
was yet thirsting for their blood, and
looked to forcing negroes again into
slavery, held aa liberal and Christian views
upon the late war and its inevitable conse-
quences as any of the Northern statesmen.
He is consequently receiving plaudits from
men who, during the Presidential cam
paign. would have regarded his execution
as national blessing.
In looking over the material advantages
of our Fairs it will be we'll not to overlook
these incidental but important political
benefits. The citizens of the whole Union
must realize the fact that they are one
people, and have but one Government.
Their division in sentiment must be
united. Their peculiar sympathies must
be respected. To do this we must meet
together on common platform. Our in |
dustrial Fairs furnish this opportunity.
Coming together for common purpose,
and each laboring to promote the same
objects. a bond of sympathy and interest
will gradually unite those alienated by!
Causes which should now slumber in per-
petual grave.