Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-06-25

upon old Duplin and be ornaments to
the Convention of the people OF North
Carolina. Well done, Duplin.
BUNKER EaELL-WE$T POINT.
Unless we yield to the conviction
which once oppressed President Grant
md surrender our faith in human ma
ture, we are compelled to believe that
the era Of a restored nationality has
really begun. Lexington and Concord,
and Charlotte, witnessed its first gen
nine expression and gave strong hope,
but Bunker Hill and West Point leave
no longer any reasonable doubt that
the American people, North and South,
are not only willing, but DESTROYS to
forget their recent bitter experiences
Of civil war, and to live hereafter IN
cordial friendship together. The re-
unions which have occurred, have
forced the acknowledgment of this fact
from the most Respondent and the
most malignant alike, and it is credita-
BILE to our civilization to perceive that
there is a very general disposition to
acknowledge it as the work of super
intending Providence.
When Il column of troops, wearing
grey uniforms and known to be com
posed of men, many of whom fought
through the war as Confederates, can
march through the streets of Boston,
escorted, not as prisoners, but as hon
orld guests by gallant regiments in
blue, and be cheered enthusiastically
by the thronging thousands of New
Englandcrs who lined the route-when
q Virginia General named LEE can be
selected as the one particular guest on
whom attentions and courtesies are
showered by these same New Eng
ianders with hearty, manly and I'M
restrained DISQUALIFICATION newspa-
pers like the Boston AdUeTtiser, can say
with evident sincerity, that the South
made all her great sacrifices for
what she believed to be right, and can,
III regard to the recollectinns of tha
war, utter the aspirations : "B Irled
forever, let them rest, and let the
children never have cause to remem-
Der that their fathers quarreled at ALL.
When these and like occurrences are
presented to our contemplation, who
can doubt that 'sthings are not as they
were" And when we see the spirit
IN which such eTidences of fraternal
sentiment are met by representative
Southern men, when Fitz Lee makes
as he did ct Boston, speaking, as
everybody know he did, the general
sentiment of the Southern people,
where is the man who will have the
courage" to sheer at it, or to with
hold from such manly, magnanimous,
and patriotic utterances, a hearty
''amen." And who will not sympa-
thize in the following extract from the
Boston Post ?
"Our Southern military guests,
whom it has been pleasure to vel
come and entertain for the last few
days. will all have left us by tonight,
bearing with them, however, the best
wishes of all with whom they have
come in contact in this city. The rela-
lions of cordiality and friendship be-
tween our visitors and our own citizens
have been notably strengthened by the
ceremonies of the week. Whether re-
ciprocal attentions have been formal
or informal, they have all been hearty
and sincere and that was the main
thing. The presentation of a flag to
She Fifth Maryland regiment was
peace offering whose effect was graft
lying and whose prOpriety was I'M
doubted. The floral tribute laid by
this same regiment upon a monument
to Massachusetts, soldiers was an
office of so delicate and beautiful a
character that it has won the CRATE
ful appreciation of all our citizens
The Charleston troops with a flag of
massachusetts presentation waving
over them indicated their kindly feel
ing for us, and the Norfolk Blues plainly
showed enjoyment of their welcome
and reception into the ranks of Nation
al brotherhood. There have been
double friendships formed; friend
ships of individuals and of orgeniza-
lions; and as the separation now takes
place after the celebration of q great
event of National and common inter
est, there will an army of missionaries
go forth, though arrayed in the habil-
1ments OF war, yet with tidings of
peace and good will in their voices and
hearts. May they spread this senti-
ment until it shall be the animating
principle OF American government as
Is now of American society,""
We are not, we believe, in the habit
OF indulging much in ''gush, because,
perhaps, we are not as young and en-
thuslastlc as we once were; but some
times when we reflect upon these Cen
tennial celebrations, and read the &C
counts which our exchanges bring us
of the meetings between the soldiers of
the two armies, we are not ashamed to
confess to feeling of softness about
the heart, after which we always feel
better.
Among the other recent events Of
the character of which we speak was
Point, Oh the 18th inst, the same day
rs the Bunker Hill celebration. There
were assembled ON that day at least
half dozen of Generals who had
served in each army during the war.
Longstreet, Tilghman, Mclean, An
derson and Fremont, among Confed-
crates, and Hooker, Gilmore, Casey,
HUMPHREYS, and Barnard, among
Federals, were there. Prof. Davies.
the Oldest living graduate of West