Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-30
RECONCILIATION.
The Results ard Effects OF she Bunker
Hill Celebration as seen and ReIt
by an Ex-COufedeEate.

By permission of Mr.. Ben May, o
this city, we are able TO lay before Oul
readers the following letter from a gen
tleman who Is well known in this city
and vicinity, who served in the COnfed
crate Srmy throughout the late civil war
and who Immediately upon the close be
came q citizen Of Boston and has resided
! there ever since, engaged IN remuner'
| alive if net lucrative business. Ills let
| ter evidences the trained mind and cUl'
! ture of a thoughtful and cOnsiderate
man, who finds time even amid press
! ing business cares to think OK the people
! Of his country, and who has heart
| alive to all those noble impulses which
| are essential to true patriotism. His let
! Ter beirlys love OF the south from which
he is separated by so many leagues but
over even that we have the expressions
| of deep aud lasting love fer the repub-
lis whose glOrie5 are ours and whose
good we are pledged heart and soul here
after to conserve. We take pleasure in
opening our columns to Mr.. Simmons
letter, and thank Mr.. May for the OPP
pOrtunity of presenting it to our read
erS:
BOSTON, June 81 delayed answer
ing your favor until the celebration Of
the seventeenth instant should have
passed. The great event is now over,
ard Boston has again settled down to
busy, everyday life. But the results Of
the seventeenth OF June, 1875, no man
can limit, no time can efface. The north,
for once at least, was electric with mag
nsnimity, confidence and goodwill, and
southern hearts must surely thrill with
responsive sentiments. Nothing was
done grudgingly nor by halves. Human
nature brought its genial sunny-side to
the front, humanity was ennObled, and
the world applsuds. 1t was truly scene
for the ages, and should be painted on
the very heavens. The man or party
that would obscure or belittle it deserves
damnation. / hope and believe it wss
the beginning OF q new and better era
for the country. The reception Of south
ern men and soldiers left nothing to be
desired from enthusiasm and hOspitali-
ty, and nothing to be dreaded from en-
nifty and mistrust. Ii any distinction
was made between the blue and the
gray, the emphasis Of welcome
was given to the prodigal gray.
1 witnessed the procession from that
wide and beautiful South End boule-
ward, Column bus avenue. THIS was only
q section of the route, which, having
Bunker Hill for its objective point, was
about six miles long Over this entire
distance vast crowds assembled, and this
distribution of such an enormous multi
tude prevented uncomfortable cTOWding
at any one point. On the avenue where
l sat, the magnificent residences Of stone
and brick, festooned with decorations,
arose on either side like the walls of
great uncovered coliseum. bringing
along the sidewalks like a living border
stood the expectant people, while above,
on the high, wide steps rising from the
avenue to the doors, and on tier above
tier Of long fOws of seats imprOvised in
every available space sat the glad null
titude. Between these slOping banks of
gaily-attired humanity moved onward
one of the grandest pRge2nts the world
ever saw. For four hours, amidst the
plaudits of the assembled thousands,
with martial music, brilliant uniforms,
glittering arms and streaming banners,
the reunited sons of the great republic
passed by. The southern soldier could
once again greet the starry flag Of the
Union, for his heart had felt it's SYM
boil. The reception and entertain
ment of the Richmond cOmmandeTy of
y
Charleston communicates was even Law
ish in cordially and hospitality. l can
not imagine how men could have been
received more warmly, or entertained
more royalty. Expenses were not con-
sidered. The Sir knights went in for a
good time, and they had it. On the a.
ternOOn of the seventeenth they had an
entertainment at the Old st. Andrews
lodge, OF which General Warren was
master one hundred years ago. About
six o'clock, ga l was passing, their band
was playing the once familiar old tune,
"DiXie.n l seemed 10 be waking
from q dream Of years. had not heard
it since [ left the south. By the way,
arrived in Boston just at that hour on
the seventeenth OF June, ten years be-
fore! So, you see, was having little
anniversary myself. Some time ago l
sent you paper containing proceed
ings at the Lexington centennial of
May 18th, in which was speech by
General Bartlett. That speech was the
keynote of the times. / feel hOnOred
in having been the first to congratulate
him and to take him by the hand and
thank him for myself and for the south.
The manner in which thaJ speech was
received throughout the country clearly
indicated the kind of political food the
people were hungry for. 1t is said that
at Lexington was fired "the shot that
was heard around the world" On the
same spot, one hundred years later,
General Bartlett spoke, and his grand,
appealing words, christening a new po-
litical era, found an echOing response
from the sierras Of the west to the noun
tains of New Hsmpshire-frOm the
northern lakes to the gulf Of Mexico.
No soldier fought the Outh harder; not
one probably receiver and recovered
from more desperate wounds. And to
see him, so worn and shattered, stand
ing up on that occasion, and on that
spot, pleading for a renewed confidence
and q restored brotherhoOd-Oh, it was
grand. 1t seemed as if he could
"see the tops of distant thoughts
Which men OF common stature could not
See."
The shot fired on Lexington common
was a tOcsin OF war. The speech OF
General Bartlett was the uufurling Of
the white standard of peace and recon-
cilietion. The one was prophecy Of
our first century, and the nation, born
in battle, was protected by the sword.
The other, let US hope, is prophetic of the
second century of Cur national existence
the reign Of peace and good will.
Yours truly, W. L SIMMONS.