The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-29
ALABAMA.
LATER INJURIES BURIED UNDER THE MEMORY
OF EARLIER GLoRIEs.


OF EARLIER GLoRIEs.
MONTGOMERY. July "a, 1875.
The great topic OF conversation is the Centen-
nial and 1t may be OF interest to your readers to
know how the people OF Alabama stand affected
toward this great event. Since the proposition
for a Centennial celebration Of the independence
oil the United States was first made, some three
years ago. there has come great change OF senti-
ment in all sections OF the country, Then q Bit
ter and mutual irritation, consequent on the bad
feeling engendered by the war, still antagonized
the people OF the North and south. What the
Southerners conceived to be unwise proscriptive
legislation and harsh administration. which par
tisan ill-Wll so relentlessly enjotned toward the
South; fostered feeling OF CALLING injustice In
the hearts OF the people OF the South utterly at
variance with those sentiments OF fraternal re-
gard so necessary for the preservation OF
any government, and more especially repub-
lcan government. In those days 1t seemed
certain to the wise observer OF men and
measures that the hundredtn anniversary of our
independence would, in all probability, be char
acterized by such bitter sectional animosities
that 1t would require no prophet to fOretell the
imposslbillty OF the government existing to cele-
brate another centennial OF It's history. But a
change has come over the hearts OF this people as
great as it is sudden. II seems that the eyes of
Northern men nave been opened to the fact that
their fellow citizens south OF Mason and Dixon's
line are something better than the incorrigible
"stiHnecked and rebelous people" whom they
have long been taught to distrust and hate. This
change OF feeling has, by Gods blessing, found q
free expression in the Northern press. and the
voice OF returning confidence meets with a gen.
erous echo in the imDulsive Southern heart that
speaks more strongly Tor the stren gth and stabL-
ant han nRu hat hna
marked It's history Tor years THIS long estranged
people again feel the force or the natural ties that
bind them together, and
THE PATRIOTIC UTTERANCEs
OF the press North and south In reference to the
Centennial are the true expressions OF the ma
toms great desire for union and peace. Those
who entitled to the credit OF inaugurattng TINS
scheme for great Centennial cele Dration almost
or quite deserve to be ranked side by side in
American history with the trainers OF that glorious
Declaration so loved and revered by the Amerl-
can heart. As the people OF the south in l776
molly responded 10 that sturdy assertion oil right
against tyranny, so even more universally do
tneir descendants respond TO this new CALL and
aim to show an Observing world an indissoluoe
Union oundea on something stronger than mere
power oil words or the bay0nets point Az unit
do the people Of Alabama sanction this great
tional Passover. ms true that our efforts must
be comparatively feeble In pecunlary sense-the
State, but just recovering from long period Of
mlsrue, Is in the most sadly straitened circUm-
stances, Still she can offer 10 the general govern
ment and 10 her sister states some thing ihhnitely
more valuable than mere money-the reawakaned
sense o. national confidence.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF the Centennial celebration has made most
happy selection or a Commissioner for the i've
states oil Alabama, Georgia. Louisiana, Misss-
sippi and Tennessee. With q sagacity that does
the Centen nial managers great credit. they have
chosen perhaps the most truly representative
Southern man OF unDemlsned public record that
could poss bly, be found. ! alude TO the Hon.
Robert Tyler, man who has kept an untarnlshed
character amid the rubs and Wrenchlngs Of time
when noble names have fallen with such frlRhtrnl
rapidly. In honOring this gentleman with his
appointment the committee nave gone lar toward
convincing the people OF this state that the
North Acknowledges the SouthiS claim 10 a por-
ton In the noble heritage or glory which we are
to celebrate next year. And this Is one OF the
great results aimed at, as we take II. Your cor
RESPONDENT, when the Centennial was
men express the opinion that the
North intended to ignore the South In this matter
and TO arrogate to Itself all the honOrs gained by
our common ancestors. But tlis dlstrustlul opn-
ion Is rapidly wearing away, and the majority of
the Southern people now feel that they mar come,
not as un welcome, alien tntruders but as true
HDerties,D and celebrate with their reconciled
brethren OF the North East aud West the great
actions OF a hundred years ago.
Intelligent gentlemen nave been appointed by
the State government as Commissioners from
Alabama TO the Centennial Exhibition, and, though
just experiencing the return Of prosperity, yet II
Is believed that the industries oil Alabama VIII be
wei represented among those OF ner sister States
Renewed hope, both political and financial,
dawns upon long suffering Alabama once again.
The plan ting prospect was never more bright, and
next autumn will doubtless show the State more
able TO toward the successful cee DTation OF
the nations great festival