New-York tribune., 1895-09-19
A TALE or TWO CITIES.


Yesterday belonged to Chattanooga and At.
lania Upon hose TWO cities, typical cities Of
the New South. the sympathetic attention of the
Nation was largely centred Both were thronged
with visitors from all parts OF the Union. In
both conspicuous indeed, the salient-feature
of the gathering was the fraternal commlngling
Of the very men, or their representatives,, whose
hostile meetings there first made the places
famous. In the one there was looking back
ward to the deeds Of long ago, and reverent
dedication OF historical memorials. In the
other there was looking forward, and a proud
eXutation in the achievements Of the present
and the prospects Of The future. Together the
two cities and the two celebrations present in
eptome the history OF great people for a full
generation.
1t was especially appropriate that these two
celebrations occurred on the same day. and d.
vided between them the interest Of the Nation
Different as they were in character, the connec-
ton between them is very close 1hiriy-two
wears ago Chattanooga and It's envlrons were
made famous by some of the most bloody, most
daring and most s,ubbornly contested battles in
the worlds history. little later great gen
eral set ont thence on a march such as the an
nails of war have seldom recorded. From the
slopes of Lookout Mountain 10 the sands Of the
Atlantic shore he ploughed broad. red furrow.
The ploughshare struck Atlanta. the old Atlanta.
and destroyed IT. and there were desolaton and
loud lamcnts through all the Empire State OF
the South But from the seed thus planted in
that dreadful furrow has sprung the genius OF
the new and incomparably better Atlanta and Of
the whole New South
Men can now see clearly. whether they wore
the blue or the gray, that Thomass immortal
stand at Chickamauga was the stand OF right
and civilization against wrong and barbarism.
They can see that Shermans wondrous march,
in.spte OF all the wrath and ruin that 1t brought
was on the whole the march OF human progress.
Those rude shocks tumbled down the old order
and made place for the new. The price paid was
heavy one. bu, the results attained are ines
Unable To-day when men think OF American
progress and enterprise they think Of Chaita-
nooga as well as of Pit,sburg of Atlanta as well
as Of Chicago When they think Of American
freedom they can do no better than to think of
Booker r. Washlngton's Grafton at Atlanta
When they think Of American unity they may
well think Of an electric spark from Massachu-
sctts opening Worlds Fair In the capital OF
Georgia.
Words Of congratulatlon and Of praise for
the great exhibition which was opened ycster-
day come readily to tongue and pen. They
are not empty words. the hollow formalites Of
courteous ceremony. They express the genuine
feeling Of the whole Nation, which Is partlcpat-
ing IN the Fair and contributing to II. but Is
clad 10 give to the South still more TO Georgia,
and most of all TO Atlanta itself the chief credit
for It's great success. even as theirs have been
the chief thought and labor in creating II. II Is
thus that we express-and, we believe. express
truly-ihe spirit OF New-York and OF all the North
in bidding this latest great enterprise of the
New South heartfelt hail and goodspccd