River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-29
"A Letter From stephen
Collins.


Nashville, Tenn, Aug 18th 1873.
Eos JoURNAL:--T read the letter of
my friend, Osborn Strahl, published in
the JOURNAL, which took me by sur
prise, more especially as it came from
my friend Strahl. One whose integri-
~, intelligence and honesty of purpose
TO his fellow man, never had occa-
sion to doubt. One whom political cliques
or demagogues could not swerve from the
right. And how he could be induced
to believe, at this late day, that North
ern men if they come to Tennessee to
make it their future home, will be pro-
seribed for opinions sake and are 10
danger of their lives if they express
their opinions and criticize others as
they do North, is mystery to me when
the very reverse would be os near the
truth. Neighbors or political speakers
North do not criticize each other as they
do South. Political dishonesty, mis-.
takes or errors committed by either
party, are held up aud magniied to a
greater extent than in the North.
The climate here may have the effect
to cause the brain to heat up and the
blood to flow freely. BE that as it may,
after Northern men have been here
awhile they talk freely and seemingly
with less effort than ever before.
In political discussions here / have
seen the brain fired up as | never saw
it before, and as soon as the sound of
the fury was over, they were as good
friends as before, and tho Northern
man never thought he was in the least
danger. The very Gre in bis eye and his
severe criticisms made his opponents
esteem him the more. What was the
feeling that elected Donaldson, a rank
Republican who served as captain in the
Federal Army, sheriff of this county for
two terms, where the Democrats have
large majority. Can you discover any
danger in that? And nine tenths oftho
attorneys of Nashville were anxious to
have him Gil the third term. His in
tegrity and business tact made him a
host Of friends.
There are fools, knaves, and robbers
here as elsewhere.
"We think families from the North,
who settle in the South, fnd no socia-
bility but are met with distrustful cold
ness by the people," If the people
here have any one thing that is peculiar
to the Southern character it is the
friendly, social way they have Of meet.
ing their fellow men. That particular
feature in their character is 50 intcrwo.
ven in their very natures that they can
not be otherwise than neighborly. Aud
If my friend Strahl should ever be so
fortunate as to live in this lovely state
he would see there was no distinction,
as he would receive the same attention
that the Southern families receive from
their neighbors.
Young men'from the North are con-
sidered great prize.
There were two young ladies, at my
house, whose mother was 4 widow when
the war commenced. She had two sons.
both enlisted in the army The widow
owned seven hundred acres Of good rich
farming land. II was we'll improved
and stocked, and colored help sufficient
to til the farm. Ia n short time after
the boys enlisted on the rebel side, her
farm was swept clean, fences burnt
stock all driven of, barns burnt; with
out money the mother and those two
girls had 10 struggle for living Now
as said these two girls were at my
house aud | showed then Mr.. Strahl's
letter. I Watched them closely for