Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-30
Daily Aennsbst sournal
AUG U q Il a.
THURSDAY MORNING, April 80. 1874.
NORTHAND SOUTH.

in Congress upon Mr.. Sumner Not that
it was more eloquent or better written or
spoken than others, but because 1t was the
offering of a representative OF that class
and principle with which Mr. Sumner had
waged war during his whole political life.
No other tribute to Mr. Summers charac-
ter can be compared with this. All others
sprang from personal friendship, from
sympathy with the life-work he performed,
from political association, from other sourc-
es of kindred nature, but this came from
man who fought for slavery to the last,
and who could regard Mr.. Sumner in no
other light while the conflict lasted than
mortal enemy, as did all the shareholders
of the South.
We hope that the sentiments expressed
by Mr. Lamar towards Mr.. Sumner are in
dicative of growing feeling of kindness
in the South towards the people Of the
North Certainly if one of the foremost
slav eholders and secessionists can pro-
: nounce with genuine sincerity the praises
uttered by Mr.. Lamar the other day for the
great champion of the anti-slavery cause,
there ought to be some increasing respect
also for the mass of the republican party
of whom he was leader. III he was hon
est so were they. They had no prospect
of honor, no hope of reward except in the
general good which might result from the
abolition of slavery. Conviction of duty
and right prompted them to action as it
did him. No party ever acted more pure
~ from moral principle than the republi-
cans To acknowledge Mr.. Summers viz
tues must in some degree be confession
that the party which he led was one of
principle. The .eulogy of Mr.. Lamar adj
mits this And if it indeed be true that
such sentiments as his are taking possess
ion of southern hearts. then there is solid
ground for hope that goodwill will be re-
stored between the North and South and
the Union be again connected by the bonds
of brothcrly love.
Towards the people of the South there
is the best OF feeling among the republi-
cans of the North. Their bravery, hos
pitality, generosity. ability in field and
council, are universally acknowledged.
There was but one subject of contention
slavery. That is gone, not to make the
North rich but county free, and now there
is no desire in this section to add one par
ticle to the cup of humiliation the South
has been compelled to drink, but rather
the feeling in favor of a restoration of
good fellowship and former affection pre-
walls. 1t is false TO represent the North
as actuated by hatred toward the South.
We know that our destiny is unchangeably
fixed with that of the South. We must
grow together as long as the Mississippi
runs to the sea. The interests OF the South
are ours, ours are theirs. We must be
one people from the great lakes to the
gulf. Whatever enlargement exists
will ultimately fade out entirely, and
North and South will embrace in cordial
and lasting union. New subjects will
arise, new interests develope to control
political relations; old issues and combiaa
tons will give way for the introduction Of
others. The following appeal for union
from MIR. Lamar's remarks we commend,
and hope the feeling which it nvokes may
animate the people of both sections:
Charles Sumner in life believed that all oc-
casion for strife and distrust between the n orth
and South had passed away and there no
longer remained any cause for continued
arrangement between these two sections of our
common country. Are there not many of lie
who believe the same thing? u not that the
common sentiment? Or, if not ought it not to
be of the great mass of our people, North and
South Bound to each other by a common
Constitution. destined to live together under
. common government, forming unitedy bu,
. single member of the great family Of ma
tons, shall we not now, at last, endeavor to
grow toward each other more in heart as we
are already indissolubly linked to each other
in fortunes? Shall We not while honoring the
memory of this great champion OF human lib
srty, this feeling sympathizer with human
sorrow, this earnest pleader for the exercise
Of human tenderness and heavenly charity,
lay aside the concealments which serve only
TO perpstuate Misunderstanding and dstrust,
and frankly confess that on both sides we
most earnestly desire to be one one not mere
ly in political organization one not merely in
identity Of institutions; one not merely In
community of language, and literature, and
traditions, and country; but more and better
than all that, one also in feeling and heart
Am mistaken in this? DO the concealments
of which speak still cover animosties which
neither time nor reflection nor the march of
events have yet sufficed to subdue! l cannot
believe it. Since have been here | have
scrutinized your sentiments, as expressed not
merely in public debate, but in the abandon
Of personal confidence. / know well the sen
timents Of these my Southern friends, whose
hearts are 90 infoded that the feeling of each
10 the feeling of all; and see on both sides
only the seeming Of constraint which each
apparently hesitates to dismiss. The South,
PROSTATE, exhausted, drained of her life blood
a. well a. Of her material resources, yet still
honorable and true accepts the bitter award
Of the bloody arbitrament without reservation,
resolutely determined to abide the result with
chivalrous fidelity. Yet, as if struck dumb
by the magnitude of her reverses, she suffers
on in silence. The North, exultant in her
triumph and elevated by success, still cherish
% ~ we are assured heart full of msgnani-