The daily gazette., 1875-04-08
Progress of FraternisatiOI..

More cheering than the signs of
spring arc the evidences, now fire.
quently manifesting themselves, of
the full return of the old Goodwill be-
tween North and South. Selfish and
base politicians may pass laws intended
to rcawaken and keep alive the late
sectional differences. They may har-
ass the South by legislation designed
to cause jealousy and rivalry between
whites and blacks, and so to foment
disturbances which shall revive North
ern prejudice toward her in its acts
and through its newspaper organs,
may strive to create the impression
that the Southern whites are rebellious
at heart and deserving constant mil
itary surveillance. But the people nre
not to be misled by these artifces. We
OF the North see and know that the
South is to-day loyal and peaceful, and
as obedient to the law as any part of
the country. Cn the other hand, the
South is well aware that the Admins
!ration and its Radical allies, in their
unjust policy toward her, do not re-
present the great mass of the men of
both parties at the North. The two
sections will not let themselves be
rubbed by the ears like a pair of bull
dogs and set to qaarreling again to
crafty the hate or serve the ambition
of crew of soulless politicians. More
and more every day the leaders in the
late unhappy strife are betokening
their anxious desire to forgive and
forget, and this fraternal spirit some
times assumes forms inexpressibly
beautiful and touching. To illustrate
the feeling that animates the great
body Of the people both North and
South, we refer to three most pleasing
incidents of recent happening.
In gallant charge on Fort Wagner,
July IS, 1868, the 54th Massachusetts
volunteers (colored) was cut to pieces
and its flag taken. This trophy fell to
the possession of General E. S. Ripley,
who commanded the forces defending
Charleston at that time. On taking up
his residence in London some years
afterwards, General Ripley carried the
captured flag with him If its reten-
tion was ever q matter of pride TO that
gentleman, it afterwards became the
subject of conscientious self-reproach
which does him honor. He saw the
mutual aversion and dIstrust left at the
close of the war gradually giving way
to friendship and confidence. He also
saw that while the brave fellows who
had fought each other were ready and
anxious to become brothers again, the
politicians who controlled Congress
were using every means to SOW discord
between the sections.
ITndaP thaca ORION m OF opoae In oa,,o N
TO the conclusion that it was his per-
sonal duty, as one who took an i'm
portant part in the great contest, to aid
in the work of reconciliation. And so
in January last he sent the flag of the
54th Massachusetts volunteers to Gov
ernor CASTOR, accompanying it with
letter, Of which the key mote is in these
words: 81 deem it decorous, if not a
positive duty, to promote the oblivion
of the animosities which led to, and
were engendered, by the war" By
resolution of the Legislature the flag
was placed with the other battle flags
of Massachusetts,, in the State House,
and Governor CASTOR acknowledged
the courtesy of General Ripley in
letter as cordial and patriotic as his
own.
Another instance of determination,
hardly less charming than the above,
has Just occurred at Charleston. The
Washington Light Infantry of the said
city projected fair to be held for the
benefit of the poor. This fact coming
to the knowledge of the volunteer mil
itary companies of Boston, they felt
moved by spontaneous desire to show
some mark of friendship to the South
ern soldiers, prompted, perhaps, by the
manly and generous act of Gen. Rip
ley. They collected a considerable
sum of money, to begin with, for the
aid of the Charleston poor, and then
they expressed their personal regard
for the promoters of the charity by
ordering an elegant and costly banner
to be made for the Washington Light
Infantry of Charleston. This unique
gift bore the locked shields of Massa-
chusetts and South Carolina, encircled
by the flag of the Union. On the
night of April I'd, at the Hibernian
Hall, a committee of the donors, headed
by Major White of the 1st Massachu-
sets militia, presented this true peace
offering to the Charleston soldiers.
Major White and Captain Hall of the
Boston Light Infantry Tigers made
excellent speeches on the occasion, to
which Colonel Andrews, in behalf of
the Charleston company responded
with great goodfeeling and taste. The
interchange of brotherly words evoked
storms of applause from an immense
audience; and the enthusiasm rose to
its highest pitch when Col. Andrews
placed the splendid banner beneath
branches of palmetto tree which
stood upon the stage. When the SOL
diers of Massachusetts and South Car
olina are anxious to embrace and make
friends, it is high time for miserable
politicians to cease trying to keep the
North and South IN the hot water of
mutual suspicion and hate,