The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1876-07-06
AN APPEAL FOR FRATERNITY.

There has been and is now too much
antagonizing sectional:sm ANNA ting
many of the prominent leaders of the
Republican party. They seem still in
clined to keep alive the bitter memories
of the late fratricidal war. 1t is time for
sensible men to cease this work. Sec
tional alienation persisted in cannot but
leap to open rupture. Every man that
dares ride into power by exasperating
his constituents by a rehearsal of the
inj uries his section endured during the
recent struggle should be bounded out
of Office as a positive political nuisance
and al enemy to his country. The two
sections were once hostile to each other,
but now peace is recommending them in
a truer brotherhood
Do not the teacL iugs of history en-
courage US to cherish the aspiration that
human experience has inculcated les
sons of wisdom and moderation,
which will not be lost upon the present
generation2 Is the hatred of the North
and South more undying than that of
Rome and Carthage, of York and Ian
caster, of England and Scotland2 Does
the future, if the present be wisely aud
kindly employed, promise as less of glO-
~ than Rome felt when she planted her
eagles on the banks of the EuI hrates; or
than England when Saint George cross
foated over the turbid waters of the
Ganges2 Nations march over the paths
of their predecessors, and the stone
which tripped one will throw another,
unless avoided by the light which the
lamps of experience furnish for our guild
ance 1t is true the North and South
quarreled and fought, until they made
the discovery that they could not get
apart. But it does not follow that they
should perpetuate The feelings and re-
new the causes which produced enmity
and war.
The centrifugal powers of secession
were not strong enough to overcome the
centripetal powers of the Union. The
South hopelessIy failed in the attempt to
establish her independence of the North,
and has in good faith yielded to the logic
of events. No mess of pottage can pur-
chase our invested birthrights, and we
hold them not at the will of such men as
Morton and Blaine. We derived them
from the Constitution of our forefathers.
Malignant spirits may rave with all the
mimic show of assumed justice and pre-
tended patriotism, but the great stream of
republican sense and virtue will sweep
by and leave them like water-gates-to
catch only the foam and trash which
foas upon the surface. The role of
such men is nearly ended; and happy
the day when obseurity shall mantle their
deeds.
For our part, we heartily endorse, and
would keep before the people, the senti-
Insnt of that eminent Georgian, Mr.. Hill,
in his eloquent response to Blaine on the
Amnesty bill, when he saidf {" ne are IN
our fathers house" Reverted to our
rights as legatees, claiming our portion
of the inheritance bequeathed US by our
forefathers, no power on earth shall rob
US of the priceless legacy. We have an
abiding faith that the fast flooding
tide of American sentiment will ere long
sweep with resistless force the punY
obstacles which designing and selfish
demagogues, such as Morton and Blaine,
would interpose as barriers to the peace
and harmony of our people. The incul-
cations of history and the plain teachings
of human reason all prove that there Is
no difficulty in restoring good feelings and
affection between the North and South.
Civil wars, before ours, divided people
now harm oniously united and we are
less wise and kind than they if we cannot
initiate their example.
It is more and more apparent that the
only element of discord in our country is
produced purposely for selfish ends by
artful and dangerously-designing men.
The great body of the people mean and
feel peace, but political agitation disiR-
tiers sectionalism that they may crafty
an unholy ambition for Office at the
expense of the happiness of society. ON
impotence has decreed our national one
ness, and human wickedness will plot in
vain to defeat its wisdom or impair its
value.