National Republican., 1878-11-29
THE SUUTU.
Gratitude Not the Reward of Charity.

Gratitude Not the Reward OF Charity.
To hc Editor Of the National Republican,:
SIR: The wall Of distress in the scOurged and
fever stricken districts ofthc South has scarce
ly had time to die away when there comes
another equally appalling and Of vastly more
Significance when viewed in the probable light
of future events. Tho one seems to have been
Occasioned by visitation OF providence, doubt
less for some wise purpose evidently not yet
understood and appreciated by the people of
that section, though 1t is but one Of a series
Of calamitics which for successive years have
bclallen them. The other Is brought about by
tho veugc'ul aud intOleraut thirst of race
superior in all the advantages of culture aud
civilization. but which secs no better way Of
elcvating itself than that founded on the
ruins and perpetual degradation of the infe-
rior, struggling to rise out Of darkness. To
one who has been q careful OBSERVE of events
in this country for the past twelve years, there
Is presented in this picture, family outlined
as it Is, a field for wide range of thought ;
aud he must either be a dot or a cold and
bloodlcss misanthrOpe who loves himself more
than his country or his fellows, who eau con-
template 1t without o plng.
There Is something nonstrous in tho breast
of that man who can calmly resist u direct
appeal for aid as 1t comes wcling up from the
soul depths of helpless follow being, no matter
what may be the character or condition of that
being, nor how little the interests of the suf
ierer are IN common with his own. 1t Is said
this touch Of nature makes the world akin.
And so II Is that good people everywhere have
witnessed with pride aud delight the liberality
shown by the North in the munihGeut d0na.
tiOns Of money aud supplies which have been
lavished upOn the people OF the South in the
hour of their late distress. IL Is right that
this is So and as long as these conditions re.
mained II was not for us " question what may
have been the real spirit 10 which these friendly
overtures were received bat rather to encourage
increased liberality on the part OF those who
were abe TO give, aud 10 stand ready to repeat
the experiment should the same conditions DC
placed upon US again. To do this is but the
result oil one Of the better prOmptings OF hu.
man uaturc, and while this sentiment may en.
able Us 70 close our eyes Tor the time being
| against a painful truth, WHOM called to witness
evcuts which have transp!red in the South
since tho abateme ent OF the yellow fever scOurge
one may be pardoned, perhaps, FOR inviting
| the reader to take a casual view Of that SIDE oI
| the picture which reveals human nature IN its
most revolving form.
Daring the progress Of tho fell disease, which
carried into eternity $4,000 fellow. beings aud
| brought woe aud desOlation TO so many homes
| al. hearts and minds were absorbed in the
work v! alieyiLting the suffering before them
| An .ntimatUn that the charities offered could
be accepted in any other than the most crate
Cul spirit would have been at once repelled
for It seemed to be feeling entertained by
many that the generosity of the NOlth would
prove magic wand TO sOOthe and charm away
all the litter sectional auimOsties known t.
exist in the breasts Of Southern men. Every
body, therefore, was exhOTted 10 keep quiet
pour in their bounties and trust in God fp
those benefits so much desired. Under tn,
softcuing influence Of the desoatiOn spreat
about them, when fresh appeals for aid wer
answered by renewed efforts 10 suCcOr or re
lieye, n few Southern leaders had the temerity
to publicly express hope that the rod whicl
smote aud the hand uplifted to comfort nigh
uuitedly form aud cement band Of lastinl
fealty and brothcrly love between the sec
tons. As il to make this result dOubly sure
the Government fitted out ID ship, lreighted |
with gifts more precious than costly stones
oiliccred aud manned 1t with surgeons ant
skilled nurses, aud, like white winged mes
sGnger of mercy, 1t went down into the plague
stricken land. How far these hi gh hopes hay
been realized, or to what extent our kindly OF
fcrs have been appreciated, let an impartia
review of the past aud subsequent events de
| tCrmine.
In every instance where great calamity la