The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-08-15
Northern Hatred.
ATLANTA Constitutlonalist.l

JAb4hAIh
1t has sometimes occurred to us
that one of the barriers to perfect
reconciliation between the North and
South arose from q want of liberal
charity among our own people. The
longer we live, however, the more
conviction forces itself upon us that
the boot is on the other leg; that the
South has frequently gone too far in
compromise and that there are deep
and systematic, not to say gangren-
GUS, animosities on the other side
which no amount Of proffered trater-
nifty seems able to overcome. An
interesting proof of this came to
light, the other day, by the publica-
ton ola correspondence between the
officers of the Junior Order of United
American Mechanics, of Philadelph-
ia, and Mr.. Otto +. Wise, represent
ing Richmond (Vs.) branch of that
institution. 1t seems that Mr.. S.
Ell. Allen, of Richmond, had applied
to the National Council, at Philadel-
phia, for a charter to open a new
council in Virginia, the name of
which was to have been called Lee
Council No. 2.
Mr.. Allen received the following
response:
OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SECRETARY AND0
STATE COUNCIL OF PA, JR. o. U. A. NJ,
PHILADELPHIA, June 4, 1873. }
Mr.. s. HdmDlett Allen:
DEAR SIR AND BRoTHER-I will send you
to-day three blank applications for charters,
but will tell you in advance that no char
ter for a council to be named after General
Lee % Of be gTa1 ed Of the
the country from General Lees treason.
Many OF them gave up their lives in that
cause.
At that time our ritual contained some
very severe illusions to traitors, but at the
close of the rebellion, with the desire of re-
strife, we revised our ritual. We are willing
to bury the past, but we will never allow
the memory of any of the Southern leaders
to be perpetuated in the history OF the Or
'- EDWARD 8. DEENER,
National Secretary.
The Richmond Council met, dis
cussed the matter calmly, and resolv.
ed to return the charter, and all other
property claimablc, to the Philadel-
phi4 concern. The following reply
to the National Secretary was sent :
RICHMOND, Va July 10, 1873,
EdacGrd s; DeeneT, National Secretary, Phita-
deEPhta. Pa:
reply delayed tor future consideration.
The sentiments of your letter awaken OuI
prOfoundest Indignation and contempt, be-
cause it contains false and disreputable al
lusions to the noblest, purest, and best man
who has honored this continent or the
world for ages. All brave and chiUdlrout
men, even of your section, who met Gen. X
E. Lee in our recent strife acknowledge his
| superior merit as soldier, hero and q
| Christian gentleman, and if the order you
represent has sunk so low as to allow sec
ttonal hate to obscure and absorb admira
ton for the noble and the good, then oul
self-respect demands that we repudiate al
connection with it. The ritual, even as you
say it is altered, has illusions looking OBJ
| scurely to such sentiments as you avow, We
we had not supposed such malignant We
nom was concealed behind 1t, or we would
| In the start have taken our present action
| We return to you by express, with charges
| prepaid, our charter, rituals, and everything
| to which your body have claim, and will
| them our repudiationIand condemnation O.
| the unmanly sentiments you announce.
You say your order is "Willing to bury the
| past" but unwilling to perpetuate The
| memory of any of the Southern leaders
We too are "willing to bury the past" bu
| not at the price of our honor, which forbidt
| the perpetuation of such noble names anC
deeds as I'LL the history of our recent strug
gle; when we come to that degradation we
| will not longer live-fit objects for the slow
unerring finger of scorn to point at.
AS evidence of official act, we hereto ap
| pend the last impression of q seal we hope
| will ever disgrace decent Southern hands
| and to that end shall seek to publish this
| correspondence so as to prevent the spread
| among honorable men of so ignCble an or.
| der.
| With contempt for your views and undy
| ing admiration for Gen. r. Z. Lee, and like
| honorable heroes of all times and nations
| Rescue Council bids you and your order 6
| final farewell. OTTO F. WISE
| Secretary.