National Republican., 1876-09-18

more than fraternal warmth those who he'd
worn the "blue' in the "late unpleasant
ness" All old differences were sunk in
the joy of feastiDg and drinking and reviv-
ing the memories of the days when the
old Bay State and the Carolinas, shoulder
to shoulder, resisted the tyranny of TIE
British Government on Revolutionary bat
tle-felds.
Such an effusion of patriotic ''gush"
has been rarely poured out as made the
air of Bunker Hill and Boston mellow and
bland on that occasion. The Palmetto
fourished in the cool air and rugged soil of
New England, and it seemed as though
henceforth the old slave marts of Charles
ton would be fit halls for the preaching of
the most radical of Massachusetts 'isms."
Andersonville, Libby, Fort Pillow, the
Alabama" and "Florida" were all ig-
nored in the common memories of Bunker
Hill, Fort Moultrie, Camden, Eutaw
Springs and Yorktown. All were brothers
Each had been true to his convictions in
the resort to the "arbitrament of war" in
later times and there was no blame to be
imputed to anybody. All was forgiven on
the one side, and all seemed willing to be
forgotten on the other. Everybody was
delighted, and everybody was going to love
everybody hereafter.
In this Centennial year Of our Inde
pendence similar reunion took place at
Charleston, S. c., on the Centennial ami
versary of the battle of Fort Moultrie.
Military and civil througs from Boston
went down to the Palmetto State to return
the visit of the chivalry, and, to the music
of more champagne corks and more trum
pets, uttered more "gush." Professions,
dinners, suppers, speeches and toasts, all
emiently patriotic and charming, succeeded
each other for some days AS in the IA
nous Philadelphia convention, General
Couch, of Massachusetts, and Mr.. Orr, of
South Carolina, locked arms to signify the
brotherly love of the two Common wealths,
so now did the wearers of the "blue" and
the wearers of the grey interlace the
tendrils Of their affection, and exhibit to
the world chow sweet it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity" The yankees
shut their loving eyes when amoug the
numerous banners which graced % the
occasion. They saw one which they had
last seen borne by a rebel army on q field
where rebel hands were striking sturdy
blows at the life of their country. Itwould
have been unfraternal on so joyous an oc-
casion to expect the lovers of the ''lost
cause to refrain from Fl hunting this en-
blem of rebellion and crime in the faces of
their guests.
The days passed delightfully."-, and the
Northern guests went home convinced
"our Southern brethren" fully accepted
the situation and were really people
oppressed by a negro, carpet bag govern
ment and deserving the sympathy of all
good citizens everywhere. A few months
only have passed since the latter of these
festivals occurred. To day the men
who pledged so lovingly and so frequently
their Boston guests, in the ''city by the
sea" are organized into bands, completely
armed and daily repressing freedom of
speech to all but those who were true to
the rebellion, daily threatening to crush
out the only political party in the country
WHICH sGdHus ny duu ueLeuus tue SItab
principles the war was fought to establish.
To-day the surest road to the favor of the
Southern white men is by denounclng
those who adhere to the Constitution Of
the United States as it is and by eulogizing
the rebellion and the rebels. To-day the
Stars and Stripes are hated in Carolina
more than they were in 1861 and 1862,
and the ''stars and bars" are held as a
sacred emblem of sacred cause. To-day
it is not less dangerous to express opinions
offensive to the mob of white Democrats
in the South than it was. to utter abolition
sentiments in 1860. Then murder for
opinions sake was rare; the populace was
generally satisfied with giving a coat of
tar and feathers, riding the victim on q
rail and ordering HIM out of the State.
Now the rifle or the pistol does the bust
ness. Thinking men will soon ask
whether the Republic is not failure, if
after spending billions Of treasure and mil
lions of lives to achieve the protection of
its citizens IN rights guaranteed by the
Constitution and the laws these rights are
less efficiently secured than they would be
II any monarchy in Europe.