The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-01-06
for your fair portion ofour common land,
your friend and countryman.

for your fair portion of our common land,
your friend and countryman,
Afr. Catlin understands, as few men
do, the limits of the possible. During
the life time of those who were in the
thick of the fight which knit the Union
together and rent the people asunder.
there will, indeed, be room for forbear-
anco ON both sides. This generation
cannot, and should not, entirely forget
the past, however completely the real or
fancied wrongs of North and South may
he forgotten. We cannot hope to see
things as our former opponents see them.
Nor cansthey put themselves completely
in our place. There must be same frlc
ton and disagreement. But if ne de-
termine to try to think the best OF each
other, and to put the best construction
possible on the acts of each other, a
better understanding of each other will
follow. This is one great family. The
bond of union cannot be broken. For
our happiness, for our safety, we should
strive to know and value each other, 80
that no superficial irritation, no casual
offence, sbal. blind us to the sterling
qualities, the manliness, the tortitude
and the invincible love of liberty which
are the heritage of the whole people;
And not alone as between North and
South. The same charitableness is
needed to cement the union between the
States themselves in their relations as
States. It is needed to prevent jarring
and discord between one part of State
and another, aud even between uptown
and down town in the cities. Hardest OF
course it is to look with indulgent eyes
upon those at whose hands we suffered
sorely. But we should remember that
blood was poured out like water in the
North as in the South. 1t was not in
the South alone that children were made
orphans, that wives were made widows,
and that loving fathers and tender
mothers were robbed by war of the lusty
sons who were the stay of their declining
years. Exactly alike the North and
South will perhaps never be. It is nor
necessary that they should. They can
be alike in difference, and one in dissim.
ilarity. No two members of family
are absolutely the same in temperament
and aim. Yet they live in harmony.
So can it be with the family OF States,
and With the families within the States.
It needs only thatsuch thoughts as our
BROOKLYN friend utters to-day shall be
free to assert themselves. They exist
more generally than is supposed. They
are stronger than we know. We hope 1t,
and believe it!
Would that our "friend and country
man" in Brooklyn could visit the South,
and bring with him others of the same
stamp. They would then understand,
even better than they now do, the per-
plexities which have made us seem to
embrace that which in our souls we
abhor. Would that Southern men, as
large minded and big-hearted as MIR.
Catlin and his friends, could tarry awhile
in the North and enter into the spirit OF
its broad and busy life. They would
then understand how it is that the more
elevated and liberal the Northerner is,
the sterncr is his resolve never to deny
the faith for which he fought, and the
less disposed is he to demand or insist
tfatw of the South shall be false to the
faith that was ours. The brave and the
true on either side respect most those
who respect themselves.
We thank MIR. Catlin for his letter.
We wish it could be read under every
roof.tree from the Canada line to the
Gulf and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
coast. In the South, we know, thou
sands of hearts will beat in response TO
its feryent prayer, and legions who "wore
the gray" will stand ready, as they have
stood these ten years or more, to do as
they are done by. and give ungrudgingly
confidence for confidence and trust for
trust. From the stronger to the weaker
the overture fitly comes. 1t is only nat
ural chat rebu0s should not be courted
by the South. The Southern States are
in the Union because the victorious
armies of the North put them there.
Under the Constitution, one State is
equal to another. The American who
fought withsLee is, under the law, the
equal of the american who fought with
Grant. This is the theory, it is not the
practice. Not until the States in the
South are in all things dealt " ith as
other States are, not until Americans in
the South are spoken of and spoken to
as other Americans are, can the Southern
States, as whole, feel the weight of their
responsibilities, and live up to them.
As long as the white people Of the South
are chained to the benches OF the Ma
tional galley. as felons unworthy of trust,
they cannot be expected to feel it a duty
to maintain discipline among themselves.
While they are regarded by the National
Government as pardoned convicts or
prisoners on parole. they cannot, with
their traditions and pride of race, have
the public aspirations or public obliga.
tions which were theirs when they were
recognized, in all things, as free and
equal citizens of the Republic.-Netrs
and Courier.