Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-03
MRS. BEECHER DOWN SOUTH.
Her Experience Among the People
A Grateful Tribute.


We have been "down South" and,
like all travellers, feel inclined to relate
our experience, and because it was new
and interesting to us, naturally think it
must be so TO others.
We are not naturally timid. We seldom
fear Sights or insults from strangers
believing if people mind their own bust
ness-using their eyes, but not their
tongues-treating all with proper re-
serve, but kindly and politely, they may
travel anywhere without danger of an
noyance To be sure, there have been
periods of excitement when this asser-
ton could not have been so confidently
made. 1t is but a few years since a
Northerner might not have deemed it
wise to linger long in, or even travel
through, the Southern portion of our
country; but those are, happily, by-gone
days; and no greater compliment can
be paid to our country, and to the South
ern part Of it particularly, than to be
able to say, with all truthfulness, that
from the time we left our home till
our return, everywhere, and from all
classes we met only with kindness and
attention ) everything that true cour-
tesy could do to, make our journey
ings pleasant and comfortable was
done. Two women-and one an invalid
were regarded as having especial
claims upon the peoples care and po-
liteness. Is it well to talk of the con-
tinaance of Southern bitterness, ami
mostly and secret enmity, when two un-
protected Northern women can pass
through the States just emerging from
years of war, and through those places
where the deadly strife was hercest, not
only without molestation, but with sym
pathy and assistance at every step. We
were greatly interested when conversing
with intelligent Southern gentlemen in
the ideas which they considered the true
sentiments and wishes of their people.
They said to me: Your papers are filled
with words which tend to stir up strife,
not to cast oil on the waters-they seem
to seek for cause Of offense and re-
proach." 1t is constantly repeated:
"The South is conquered, but not sub
dued. Do not trust her; she but bides
her time. Fearful stories are told
daily of the Ku-Klux - Of South
ern violence and inhumanity Should
these sad occurrences, even when
the reports are not at all exagger-
ated, be taken as a fair Interpretation of
their real character, any more than Mr..
Putnam murder, for simply protecting
a young girl from a villains insults,
should be regarded by them as true
type of Northern life2 What a fearful
record of crime the morning and even
ing papers bring to us daily Shall the
whole North be judged by these shame
full deeds of the vile and lawless portion
of our population2 Yet, said a
Southern gentleman, " is it not unjust to
collect the crimes and outrages, which
are, unfortunately, Of too frequent oc-
currence in our Southern towns and
cities, and hold them before the people
as the true index to our feelings and
principles, as it would be to prepare a
list Of all murders, all the drunken
fights, all the mendacious and startling
robberies among our people, and cry,
Look at the North Here you may
see her in her true colors. Take the
whole South through, will you find a
larger proportion of bloodshed, vio-
lence, and high-handed dishonesty,
than is constantly recorded in your
two great Northern cities? Is murder
any less crime at the North than at
the South? A man steals your purse
and watch, breaks open your house and
plumbers or burns it over your head
such things, you know, are of daily oc-
currence-shall we charge these outrages
upon the North as a whole, and demand
that a military force be stationed over
you to enforce the laws, and guard
against treason2 If unmolested by poll
ticians and their red tape, we assure
you the South is really and earnestly will
ling to enter into more and lasting amic-
able relations with the North than ever
before. If undisturbed by selfish Office
seekers, we would rejoice to bury the
hatchet,' root out all animosities, and
clasp hands in true friendly endeavor to
build up the waste places, and unitedly
seek to make the wilderness bud and
blossom as the rose.
We have tried to give as nearly as pos
sible, the substance Of many similar
conversations, the chief sentiments OF
which we have often heard repeated by
all classes whom we met in our short So
iourn at the South. The earnestness
with which their ideas were expressed
very strongly impressed us with the sin
cerity of those who uttered them. We
place them in your hands, sincerely
hoping that some little good, at least,
may result from them; because we are
deeply grieved that good will and broth
erly love are not, as yet, the bonds that