Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-06-13
STRANsIENT BILLs-oAsH.

WITH triumph, had you no thought. oh men
OF the North, for the foe that had so bravelv
opposed you The victory was yours. bnt
what had she Where were the ends she
had sought to reach? Lost forever aer;deh
ana misrepresentsd because defeated. Where
were the intrepid armies she hSd sent forth
asS the sTsmPs of the EirgiDiau peninsula
ASK the Ghlcksmauga, river of death! To
ner Whlts>wingod peace came not with heal,
ing. but in mockery. She saw but an ANGEL
OF death that hOvered above and cast his dsrt-
shadow over the land. I4aurels she had in
abundance, but .hickly Outwiped with tbo
cypress. a country she had, bu, it was
pinudsred and desolate. Peace she had. bpt
1t was the peace that follows uppibiIo,ion--
the stiffness which comes at midn;ybt ovor
the battlefield.
"WhAt wender that this South. lvirs
stunned aud PROSTATE, did not arise 70 life
aud to activity? What wonder that her
heart bruised with affiiction, felt most kceply
the words which spoke of her defenders ns
conquered rebels, and that, when dcspised.
she showed resentment? If she held aloof
from the Union, it was but natural. Time
alone could heal her wounds and restore her
prosperity, and time has done it. The past.
Wth Its humliiation and sorrow, is gone The
night of gloom ia over Dawn is cominr-
it has come. The dark. sulphurous osponv
is lifting. and the light of new dav shines
upon tho South. While prejudice has been
busi!y proclairing her backwnrdnoss, she has
been breaking down obstacles and advancing.
At last the eyes of an astonished world
are turned to tho evidence of her progress.
Railroads have been rebuilt. Trade is stead.
lily on the increase. Resources are being de-
velOped, nDd are seen to be boundless. I'M
migration is encouraged. Education is pro-
noted. The taunt of idlencss can no lonccr
be cast at her. She claims place of ecual-
ity in the nation. aud it is granted. Shall
We nscTibe her advancement to nothing be.
yond genial climate, and fertile soil? No.
1t is the spirit of her people, whose swords
have been turned to plowshares, whose spears
are pruning hooks.
Ia this now South there lingcr no vain
regrets for what might have been Reliant
upon her own labor, sho would have no ros
turn of slavery. However much her views
differed from those OF the North, the decision
against her was fnaI, and sho chcerTullv sc,
cepts it. Sho is ready, aye, eager for friend
ship. Elso what means tho welcome to all
travellers from the North? What means this
yearly mingling of the Bluo mud GRAY about
tho resting places of the honored dead
Nay, moro. Look hack few months to that
hour when the nation stood auxiovsly votoh.
ing'by the bedside of its dying Chief. What
meant tho thrill of sorrow which shot from
Maryland to Texas, tho sympathizing pres
sure of friendly hand in that awful silonce?
Tell me, docs it not all mean that tho storm
which iOshod the ocean has spent its force.
and, that although an occasional billow swells
upon the beach, tho calm has GOMEZ AhI
Northern men, open your eyes and see. Be-
lieve not oil tho exaggerated stories of South,
orn cumity. Study and understand tie na>
ture Of tho South as you never have before.
Forgot not that the memories of tho war arc
hallowed, and iorboar 10 trsmpIe upon them.
Estimate the South by what she has done
and is Rightly judge the past, aDd.in ovory
quality which made formidable enemy you
will ind the assurance Of valuable ally"