Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-11
JOHNSTON AND GORDON.
The Two Southern Veterans Talk OF the
New Era of Peace.


From, sAe Neao York Herald
At various times since the close of the
war there has been talk about san era of
good feeling" having set IN. Men have
''clasped hands across the bloody chasm, y
and as hand was clasped in hand there
have been mutual assurances that there
was no longer any occasion for the men
OF the South and the men of the North who
had stood up against each other with
drawn swords to feel that they came from
different sections Of the country, between
which there had been the shedding of
blood.
But probably never since the war closed
has there been such fusion of feeling as
that which has taken place within the
last few days. The bier of Grant has
served to be the tangible chasm over
which the men of the North and the men
of the South have taken each other by the
hand and agreed that bygOnes were BY
cones. Last night, however, this senti-
ment stood out in a more pronounced way
than 1t ever has done before.
THE TALKS OF RECONCILIATION.
The Fifth Avenue hotel, where od-time
Federals and Confederates came in con-
tact with each other, was the scene Of it,.
Together they had marched behind
Grants body during the day. They had
each uncovered as his remains were laid
away in the tomb, they had ali, during
the interchange Of sympathetic feeling
that took place about the tomb, become
convinced more firmly than ever that there
was no longer any North or South, any
East or any West.
And last night they talked it over in
the corridors of the hotel. Tho lower
floor was filed with men who wore the
Federal uniform, or with Grand Army
badges upon their breasts, and with other
men who had come from south of Mason
and DixOn's line, and between them all
there was a fraternity of feeling. Gen.
Phil Sheridan came down the central
stairway and was at once surrounded.
Gen. Sherman followed him, and the two
became the centre of a throng composed
Of men who were anxious TO forget that
they had ever been enemies. But when
Gen. Joe Johnson appeared, accompanied
by Gen. Buckner, there was an Outburst Of
applause that had hardly died away be-
fore 1t was renewed by something that
Gen. Sheridan said, as, standing couple
of steps higher than the crowd, he looked
over their heads. 1t was only half a
dozen words that he gave utterance to,
and Just what they were nobody but those
who stOod near by could hear; but they
were evidently in sympathy with the oc-
casiOn. The cheers showed that, and i'm
medIately afterward the crowd surged
about the two Confederate Generals and
insisted upon shaking them by the hand.
And so it was throughout the evening.
GEN. GORDON's VIEW OF IT.
Gen. John b. Gordon, OF Georgia. was
the centre OF a thrOng during the entire
evening. He wore a smiling face when a
reporter accosted him, and responded en-
Enthusiastically to his greeting.
81 have no doubt" said he, "that the
circumstances attending the death Of
Gen. Grant must of necessity Obliterate
the last vestige Of anything like sectional
ism in this country. IL cannot exist in
the face of the present situation. And
then another thing that must strike the
Northern mind is that the universal eX-
preston OF good feeling throughout the
South must necessarily be an honest and
sincere one, because there is no tempta-
ton 10 anything else. The government is
already in the hands Of the people with
whom we sympathize, and therefore it fl
impossible 10 charge that for any political
motive the South has taken the action IL
has with reference to Gen. Grant. 1t is
simply an expression of the honest senti-
meDts of the Southern peOple. The scene
that has been witnessed here tonight, it
seems TO me. should be sufficient OF Itself
20 wipe out forever any lingering feeling
Of a shade of luminosity that may still find
a lodging place in the breast OF any man
OF the North or OF the South"
GEN. JOE JOHNSTON.
In speaking OF the events of the day,
Gen. Johnston said:
II think it was the grandest demonstra-
ton that was ever made in this country.
IL was certainly the greatest manifesto
ton Of popular affection that ] ever wit
messed. / was especially pleased at the
opportunity Of adding my tribute 10 the
universal evidence Of respect and aifec-
ton In which the memory Of Gen. Grant
is held"
"Have you been pleased at your own
reception in the EOrthP'
III have been greatly pleased with the
hospitality and kindness which find on
all sides. have had a great deal Of In
tercOurse with Northern men since the
war. but this occasion seems 20 illustrate
in a marked degree the unity and good
will between all sections Of the country.
don't know whether IL increases this
good feeling. but it certainly illustrates
and emphasizes IT,"
''You knew Gen. Grant well, did you
nOt?v
yes; knew him and respected him.
He had great many fine and noble quail
tiles. He was always steadiast In sup
port Of his friends, and that is a royal
quality.
HEALING THE SCARS.
"Gen. Grants conduct Immediately
after the war did more than anything else
10 heal the scars Of defeat and the bitter
ness between the sections. he aroused
In the South a feeling Of gratitude and re-
spect by his generosity IN victory. The
terms OF surrender that he offered b. Lee
were such as 10 make a great change In
the feeling OF the Southern people. There
was an apprehension throughout the
South after the death OF Lincoln that
President Johnston intended tO deal harsh
ly with the defeated leader. IL may have
been "A mistaken idea, but that was the
impression. IL was believed that Johnston
intended 20 make an example Of some Of
the Southern leaders, and particularly Of
Gen. Lee. But Gen. Grant, you may re-
member. declared that Gen. Lee was
under the protection OF the government OF
the United States. That protection gave
him, said Gen. Grant, In substance, when
was vested with the authority TO do 20,
and / mean that be shall be protected.
That incident did much 10 change the
whole course OF feeling in the South"
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