Richland beacon., 1875-08-14

lONlS, anu utphS " tuC h'SiuS,
and erery,ohere hearty welcome
We have talked over the scenes of the
past, telling our experiences in the
seIf-same trays in which they had been
on the one side and | on the other,
hut with no bitterness Of feeling, no
pride of victory-and why? Be-
cause we had shaken hands, and felt
the Patrons grip. and we were no
longer Soulherners, we were no longer
Northerners, but we were Patrons,
and Hat made US .trienlts.. | firmly
believe our order is doing more to
unite the North and South and bring
lasting peace to our land, than all
the Ku Kluy laws or proclamations
or bayonets that have been sent South
since the war ended"
As further evidence of a return
ing sense of justice to the minds of
many Northern men, permit me to
read to you short speech Of Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee-tbe son of that good
old man Robert f. Lee-made in
response to many calls, just after his
return to Norfolk from the grand
ovation given to him and OTHER South
ern soldiers at Boston. He says: 81
come forward in response to your
calls, to thank you for this very fiat
tering reception. | went to Boston
as guest of your own Artillery
Blues" not because | expected to
have q pleasant trip and good time,
but hope for higher, holier purpose
for the good of our state, our
people, and all sections of common
country. Oh! now | wish | had
time to tell you of the reception ac-
corded to us by those people Of
BOstOn-of the enthusiastic crowds
that greeted us upon every OCCASION
how the streets were lined with
people pouring out their welcome to
US, and bidding us welcome, thrice
welcome. | wish | could stop with
you long enough to give you some OF
the many interesting incidents of our
trip. How a sightless soldier told
me. General, your boys put my eyes
out, but | am glad to see you here in
our midst how an aged gentleman,
grasping both my hands in his, said
General, lost my two sons in the
war-lhe only two | had-but for
public considerations aud the nation S
good, am glad to welcome you and
your people here at this time How
my hand was shaken by people whose
Overlooking hearts prevented single
word of utterance. DO you know
what all this means 1t means at
that end of the line, precisely what
the ou,pouring of your people at this
end Of the line to meet US upon our
return means, viz: That The people
of this country have taken this matter
of reconstruction out of the bands OF
the politicians; that the crust which
has separated them has been broken
at last, and the men of the North and
South are at last allowed to see each
other face to face"
Now, men of Louisiana, who shall
say that We will he less magnanimous
than are the jewellers npon the cold,
bleak bills of Massachusetts? We
will meet them half way-and, let
me tell you, The offer of reconcilia-
ton comes none too soon. 4 formiG-
able host is arrayed against us, urged
onward by vindictive batIed for US
and fear of losing the corrupt spoils
of office upon which they have fat
tened so long.
In 1876, there will be fought, on
this continent, the grand centennial
battle between civil Liberty and
consolidated Despotism. The mighty
hosts Oh either side are already raj
lying for the conflict. Let US then,
lay aside our prejudices and do our
duty. Let us unite with good men
everywhere, and knowing no North,
no South, no East, no West, combine
with the good and the true all over
! ShS iouu, W iOStOtO aSulu tuC
halcyon days of purity and of peace.
TO you, Patrons. this glorious work
is, in great measure. committed.
Perform it faithfully, perform it well
In order that we may execute the
great trusts confded to US as Patrons,
let us observe conscicntiously the
obligations which we have assumed.
May we bear in mind continually the
cardinal principles of our order
Truth, Hope, Charity, Fidelity. May
they be written as with the point of a
diamond upon the tablet of our hearts
and in the language of our Declaration
of Purpose, "Imploring the continued
assistance of our Divine Master to
guide US in our work, let US pledge
ourselves to faithful and harmonious
labor, for all future time, to return
by our united efforts, to the wisdom
justice, fraternity and political purity
of our forcfathers."
Gen Alexander Hamilton, son oil