The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-05-17
THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH-LET Us
HAVE PEACE.

A weekly newspaper printed IN 'lHaSf
of Southern Pennsylvania, and known by
the somewhat ambitious title OF Pubtu
Opiaion, recently had an opportunity OF JUS
flying its name. 1t will be remembered
that when Gen. Lee invaded Pennsylvania
his main army penetrated the North only as
| far as Chambersburg, where he turned aside
| to confront Meade No invading army ever
! behaved with SO much circumspectlon ana
humanity in the enemy's country. Very
! little property was destroyed, ard none In
mere wantonness The next year, however,
| the town was burned by order OF zen. Eariy
| in retaliation for some OF hunters acts III
| Virginia. A short time ago the Chambers
burg journal referred to had remlnlscence
of lees invasion in the following local par
aoraph: Gan arm of the turntable at the
| depot. cracked by the rebels in 1868, gave
way last week, and nearly dropped an engine
in the pit"
This paragraph, so insignificant in itself,
called cut a reply from the Abbevllle Is. "
Medium, who said: awe were there and
helped to break the turntable. We were
rebel then. The people of Chambersburg
did not receive us very cordially then-we
wonder how they would treat us now"
This gave Public Opinion its great 0ppor-
tunity, and the editor availed himself OF 1t
to become an exponent of public opinion.
"Our citizens" said Public Opinion to the
South Carolinian, "did not receive you
cordially. 1t was not in the nature of things
that they should do so. Why should they
Didn't you make yourself at home, and we
couldn't help its II you would visit us now
we would make you at home, because we
are irving to forgive, but never can forget,
the blind zeal that forced you to take up
arms against our common country and that
burned our own Chambersburg. But come
and see us. We will show you how to
return good for evil. We will heap Goals OF
fire OH your head. We will forgive you.
You were rebel then"
The journal which uttered these magnanl-
nous words, expressive Of the better sentl-
ment of the Northern people, represents the
ONLY community in the North whichsuffered
heavily at the hands of the South during the
war. The people Of Chambersburg drained
the bitter cup of retaliation to the very
bottom They know something of the horrors
of war and the blessings of peace. If they
can be magnanimous the rest OF the North
has no excuse for continuing vindictive. In
this matter Public Opinion has taught the
whole country, North and South, lesson. 1t
is the lesson of forgiveness and reconciliation
and good government. Congress especially
would do well to heed it, There has been too
much disposition to iegislate for the South as
for conquered people. Too many mon
strosities have been fostered and en-
couraged by the dominant party. Louisi-
ana and Arkansas are to- day an evil legacy
of shortsightedness and folly. Here is an
organ of the dominant party, not needed,
perhaps, in the councils Of the National Ad-
ministration, OF considered in the caucuses
Of the Republican leaders in Congress, but
speaking for the rank and file, who control
maiorities on election days. Its words have
a significance even beyond the defeats in
Connecticut and New Hampshire. They
are an echo of public opinion, showing that
the hears of the people are inclined for
reconciliation and peace and prosperity. 1t
Will not do much longer to disregard such
signs as these and the Republican leaders,
intent upon schemes Of mere partisan sell
fishness, will learn, sooner or later, that if
they fail to give good governments to the
Southern States, the people will commit the
work to others who promise to become
more faithful stewards Of the general well
fare-N Y Herald.