Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-05-30
DUB LATE VISITORS.

aQmlraDl0 speech at Gn0 RECEPTION vi tuo
2sJh N. Y. by the 5th Virginia. saidI:
"This greeting you have extended to US
we will take home to our iresides, where
it is impossible to estimate the good it
will do" A Virginia orator might have
said the same thing with reference to its
effect at our own fIesides, There is some
thing about generous forgetfulness of
strife, that when put in practice by per-
sonal association makes it invincible. We
all know how far personal acquaintance
goes to break up prejudIces of all sorts in
the private life and it is not less effective
In the life of nation. We presume that
the 28th is typical regiment of the vet
Grams, outside of the large cities, who
fought on the Union side, just as the 5th
Virginia may be said to be a typical regi-
menJ of the Virginians, 1--WE have no large
cities,) who fought on the Confederate
side. These New Workers brought every
thing with them to recommend them to
our fresides; for it was there they were
mostly taken after all. in view of our linn
tied public accommodations. and they
proved themselves fully worthy of the sin
cere welcome they received. They were
genial, gentlemanly, and considerate
guests and made just as many friends as
they made acquaintance.
The presence of our visitors was in line
with what seems to be assuming the mag
nitude of general burying of the past
under kind deeds of the PRESENTLY both
parties to the civil war. Most of us re-
member, and will recollect for long time
to come one of the 2sth, whose faculty
for making friends among strangers was
remarkable. Col. F. N. Wicker. Taking
up Florida paper few days ago we
read letter to the Quartermaster of R.
E. Camp. No. l, Richmond, which was
signed by F. N. Wicker, Post Commander
of Lincoln Post, G.. A. R., in that State,
and was dated in the early part of the
year, before this excursion of the 28.h
was planned. The following extract from
the letter will repay perusal:
''There is growing impression that the
men who wore the blue and the gray are
doing more to unite the people North and
South, and cement their love and devo-
ton to the old flag than all the politicians
of the country can or ever will do. 1t IS
well-established fact that there exists
to-day feeling of genuine friendship
among soldiers and sailors, who during
the late war, looked into each others eyes
along the glistening steel and from oppo-
site ends of the death dealing carbine.
They now meet as friends, and to them
must be assigned the pleasant task of
bringing about the true peace and good
fellowship which the stacking of arms sig
| nailed.
Go on with your organization ard en-
courage others of like character. The
time has now arrived when the survivors
of that bitter conflict should feel the
warmth of their several camp fires. When
this becomes general, and may God speed
the day, may we all take seats at a ma.
tlonal campfire, the glowing warmth of
which will be felt throug hout the length
and breadth of this broad land.''
The letter enclosed a contribution to
the soldiers home about being built by R.
E. Lee Camp. With such sentiments gath
ering strength, as are contained in this
letter, the days of bitter recolections and
prejudice are numbered. 1t is impossible
for sullen hatred on either side to live
long in the genial sunshine Of national
brotherhood. And it is such visits and
hearty greetings as have just been wit
messed in Staunton that make good deal
of this sunshine. Orators in congress
may counsel oblivion, journalists of the
different sections may write in the same
strain, but, after all. it is the personal as
sociation that quickest brushes away the
cobwebs of prejudice. If the orators of
the 2Sth, looking at the dense mass OF
people before them in the Opera House,
thought those walls limited their au-
dience, they we're mistaken. Their utter
ances were carried home by every man
and woman there and will bear fruit.
They were the leaven of peace which will
leaven the nation, and not slowly either