The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-07-09

Before Appomattox North and South
were two different nationalities, bound
togeth by the force of circumstances,
but struggling to get apart and seek
ing some excuse for taking the first
step toward divorce. We were the
political Sinmese twins, united by a
constitutional ligament which it might
be fatal to cut, but with such diverse
temperaments and modes of thought
that our life was passed in mutual
ordinations.
The two sections were in a state OF
constant exasperation-they chal-
lenged and defed each other, nursed
their animosities with such zeal that
prophets trembled for our future and
predicted that the whole experiment
of popular government would be
swallowed up in the vortex of hatred
Toombs boldly declared his desire to
call slave roll beneath the shadow Of
Bunker Hill, or was so reported, and
all New England was ablaze with hor
ror. Wendell Phillips, whose elo
quence was as sharp as the sword o.
Saladin, and Garrison, who rhetorically
swung the battle axe of Richard, re
torted in language which was fire tC
gunpowder
When Hamlin was in his prime ant
one of that group OF giants in which
Lincoln stood head and shoulders
above the rest, the whole country
North as well as South, suffered the
pangs of measureless agony. Both
armies fought with desperate cour
age never before exhibited on the
planet. The irresistible and the i'm
movable apparently came into col
lision. And while these contendinl
forces fought in the arena of East anC
West the heart of England was stub
born. Monarchy in Europe longed TO
the death of republicanism, ant
cheered our defeats with the hope tina
they would prolong its own WORTHLESS
life. 1t extended no helping hand t.
us, but stealthily offered succor to tn
opposition.
What magnificent spectacle tina
long series of battles presented 1
tragedy big with the fate OF this natiol
and of republicanism the wide worl
over. A million men, and brothers a
that, digging trenches for the dea
who fell by thousands until there wa
hardly home in the land that did nc
suffer bereavement. Five years Q
mortal terror, impoverishing one hal
the country and almost exhaustin
the material resources of the othe
half.
But all this seems ancient histor
now. Most of the great generals VIII
led the armies have passed over to tn
majority. The statesmen who won fc
themselves place on the historic pag
lie in the dust where mortality rest
in dreamless sleep. The ranks of th
veterans are being rapidly thinne(
They have left their riddled banner
to their heirs, and a new generatio
have bent their shoulders to the bu
den Of political responsibility.
Less than thirty years have bee
counted off, and yet so rapid has bee
our progress that the old wounds hay
healed and the roar of the cannon hs
become distant echo. Our hatred
have been washed away by the incon
ing tide of national prosperity. Ono
in awhile the old cry comes from SON
Northern stump speaker in search (
Office or from some unreconstructe
and unregenerate Southerner, but
rouses no response. The people b
yond the Potomac are diving into iro
and coal mines, building factories an
telling forests, The people Of the Ea
and West are demanding a larger ma
ket for their products, and are conten
ed prosperous and happy.
AS one by one the great souls
lang syne take their departure, we +
call the stirring scenes in which the
were actors, the hair-breadth escape
the nation during the perils of WI
and the hard earned victory which
last crowned our efforts. We also CO..
graduate ourselves that when Il
great issue was settled it was settle
forever. 1t left no remnant benin
which can breed discord in the yea
to come.--N. Y. Herald.
A California lawyer, it is said, h;