The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-07-10

Marietta, Georgia, July 10, 1874,
A GOOD TALK.
Speech of DR.. w. II. White at the North.
Sensible Sentiments,

We find in the Laporte, Indiana,
Herald, report Of an immense
Grange meeting, which was address
ed, among others, by DR.. w. H.
White, of Atlanta. Mr.. Woolley
reported the following synopsis of it
for the Atlanta Herald I:
After stating that he was taken by
surprise, and expressing doubt as to
their object in calling him out, he
went on to say, that he knew moth
ing of their local matters. He would
for a few moments address them on
what had come under his observation
since the war, in Tennessee and
Georgia, and other portions Of the
South. How that people had been
treated, and how they had and were
still treating Northern people with
passing thought as to the soil and
climate Of upper Georgia.
Northern men at first, Immediately
after peace was declared, were re-
ceived respectfully and kindly, but
soon and ever since, they have been
looked upon with suspicion, and their
daily life carefully watched. They
certainly have not been hattered or
run after, and yet, when they hold
their heads up, could look mere
straight in the face, and pursued an
honorable course, asking no favors,
they were not willing to grant, and
granting none that was not believed
to be right. In other words, when
they respected themselves, and nei-
Their playing the part Of sycophants
or rogues, they have in time been
well treated, well received. The
Southern people admire outspoken
sentiments, and candor, they con,
cede the right Of difference of opin-
ion, and they have and do expect the
same to be extended toward them
1t grinds them to be called rebels,
and to have their honesty and good
intentions doubted, and SO it would
you. That they have treated many
Northern men with contempt, and
you may think ungenerously, grant.
Yet [ am forced, and willing to take
the responsibility Of adding, that
they have only done just as you
would have done were you placed in
their situation. Let us look at the
facts, and then see if you can blame
them. / claim the right to speak
plain. | am of Northern birth-was
educated and believed in the senti-
ments which pervaded the North at
the commencement, and during the
war, and for nearly four years was
in the Federal army. | believed
they were prompted to break aAgdod
for selfish, dishonest mo
tives; but from careful study OF
their feelings, am now satisfied the
masses acted from pure, honest mo-
tives. And when they gave up their
cause they were equally determined
to be true and goad citizens OF the
United States, and they hoped and
expected to have chance 70 prove
their good intentions. But, unfor-
tunately, they we're soon overrun by
a large class Of bad men from The
North-men that did not command
the confidence athome of your good,
Christian citizens. Your good men
could do well at home, and only went
South because of your cold winters
and of i'll health. As rule, they
were corrupt party hacks, and men
who had everything to gain and moth
ing to lose, who focked from the
North to the South--men who we're
willing, and did stoop, to anything
to gain dollar or get into power
They appealed to the suspicious and
credulity Of the colored voters, until
by their votes they were placed in
places of trust--eyen to the making
and the executing Of the laws. Their
study was, not how they could best
build up the country and restore its
citizens to their rights, but bow best
to plumber the treasures and grind
out Of the people their manhood and
new-made earnings. You may say
/ have heard such was the case, yet
can hardly believe it altogether true,
And why should you not believe it 2
/ have been informed privately, since
| came into this section, that most of
those who left here were not your
best citizens, and that what they
wrote back was looked upon With
great allowance. Now, may 1t not
be, and is it not reasonable to be-
lieve that much the same class of men
went South from other sections Of the
North Did you ever stop to think
that what they said and wrote, should
also be taken with some allowance,
some distrust 7 May they not have
had some ak to grind, some political
influence to incite 7 / am satisfied
the true motives and character of the
witnesses was not properly weighed.
The honest men that were inveigled
into taking places Of public trust,
soon found It to their interests soci-
ally and morally to give them up
Both Tennessee and Georgia are now
governed and Offered generally by
men who were in the Confederate
Army. I do not pronose to say they