, 1886-01-05
A NOTEWORTHY INCIDENT.

hNn WIN AAOAI NAAAI HAD0ANk hNAlAis
Considering all the circumstances and
antecedents this seems the incident most
strongly marking the close OF sectional
difference and emphasizing the truth that
the federal union once more constitutes a
union in 80 large a sense that the particu-
lar part is no longer specially regarded,
either as commentator or objection. in
the distribution of honors.
The president of the senate is a strict
partisan and has many followers who share
his extreme views, and whose convictions
have led them to believe that a large
number Of the states are under a form of
legaliked misrule which wholly fails TO
meet the conditions of equal statehood.
Therefore it may be concluded that the
selection of Senator Walthall by a repub-
lican senate for n position completely in
consistent with General Walthalls record,
aud with the campaign utterances of
republican leaders, surely indicates that
the war-already prolonged for a genera
ton after the last battle-is over and
done forever.
In the only other great civil strife
waged between parties who followed the
observance Of English law and recognized
traditions which are our own heritage, as
well, it required nearly the same lapse of
time to bring about final Cancellation.
Yet 1t would be hard 10 find one Of Crom-
wells Major Generals holding Parliamen
tary position under the Restoration, by the
choice of a cavalier majority.
The incident suggesting this article
derives a more important significance
from the character of the appointee wen
than from the extreme u~tterances of
| Senator Sherman and his confreres. This
is true both of General Walthall's military
and of his civil career.
II is matter of history, recognized By
generous tribute in official report of the
gallant Gen. Thomas, that Walthalls
work in covering Hoods retreat through
Tennessee. saved the beaten and broken
remnant of that army from determination.
1t is equally matter of repute in the
recollection of survivors of both armies,
that. after the heroic death eff Gen, Pat
Cieburne, on the works at Franklin, Wa
thall at once succeeded to his pre-emi-
nence as an intrepid and steady leader.
Ii is also known that Walthall was the
youngest division commander in the army
with which he served, without military
training, and consequently entitled TO be
regarded rs Il typical American volunteer
Certainly nothing but conspicuous merit
and effective service would So notably
have procured him the post of honor
above his seniors,
As soon as the war ended the young
general returned to private lite,
aud became u leading member of
u small band Of extreme conservatives,
who have since succeeded almost
in dominating the politics OF their state
and in offering formidable resistance to
all recourse to machine methods. Lamar
was probably the first conservative, and
at a time when it required the eager eye
Of faith to descry hope for the future or
oblivion for the past. Walthall stood
with the man whom he has since wor
thily succeeded in the senate, and this
succession was a matter of popular de-
mand which the governor was forced to
recognize.
The new senator has never been an
Office seeker, but has repeatedly declined
high place A supreme judgeship and
the %governorship have been within his
grasp. He declined both, and when he
accepted his present position it was in
obedience to 50 clear call as not to admit
of refusal.
The recognition ofthe eligibility of such
a man to the committee nomination marks
the end Of definite luminosity, and the be-
ginning of concord and thorough union,
it completes the work begun by Lamar in
his funeral eulogy of Charles Sumner,
when speaking for the defeated South,
aud in view of issues as surely impossible
to revive as those Of the feudal system
This Grafton voiced the conservative
thought of the whole South and revealed
its existence to the corresponding North.
Ii has been the main spring of much of
the political action which has. IN great
measure, restored Northern confidence
and led TO Southern relief from unprinci-
pied adventurers
This annoin,mer, further accom-. Tho
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