New-York tribune., 1898-12-25
A SOTTHERN INCIDENT.
PHILADELPHIA reader sends us letter from

A PhllIdclpnla rcauer seIuS w i''''' '''"
which wo quote rs follows:
have looked in vain for any comment In The
Tribune on the recent exploit Of the President
NJ the United States at Macon. Ga. whore he
wore a Confederate to badge a whole DAY during
the public festivities. ! am very anxious. along
with many solid Republicans and rev Deho-
Gratis tn know your honest sentiments upon
that performance, and also what YOU would
have said Of the same If it had been done 10y
Mr. Cleveland when he was rresiaeAt, Some rd
we are anxious really anxious. To know the
best that can be said about 1t. for we are con,
tinualy asked disagreeaDie oonuhdruinS. am, am,
Predictions are frequent that the matter VIII
COVE home TO roos. on a very uncomfOrtabl ble
bush
We infer from our correspondents letter that
in his opinion il was wrong. or at least unWiS'
for thc President TO wear tho badge when. ac-
cording 10 the published accounts OF the Incl
dent. he permitted Confederate veteran 20
min unon the lapel Of his coat. after some slght
manifestation Of surprise and hesitation IL Is
not improbable that good many other North
crn mon experienced the same feeling when
orr Philadelphia friend signifies, ana We nave
considered It rather remarkable that so little
has been said about the matter. so long as
nobody's suscoptibilties seemed TO need sooth-
ing we saw no necessity for expressing our
Is perhaps worth accepting.
, c-rat deal has been said and written dur
ing the Inst six or eight months about the com
nle,cncss Of the reconciliation between North
and South which followed the demand for
united service against n foreign foe. ana 10
which the President above all men has con
tributod The fact has been recognized and
nroclaimcd with every appearance OF JOY ana
Gratitude in all parts Of the United States ana
we see no reason to doubt that the apparent
satisfaction is real and deep and practically
universal Now. If that IS the common feel
,nc wo think il is fully capable Of enduring the
nrcssure of the incident to which our corre-
sno,dont rofers If the reconciliation Is any
whern near rs perfect as it Is proudly ana
,ho,,,r,tr ranrcsented 10 be- II Is not nj all
likely to be disturbed by The circumstance that
= %or,horp President wore a Confederate deco
ration while receiving overwhelming proofs
of Southern devotion to the flag and to the
Government which he directs. The badge
he accented IN Macon Is relic or ca"se
herolca,lv defended. but in the judgment Of its
defenders happily lost. II Is not prociaiha-
zion Int n reminisccncc. \ host should show
tho most delicate consideration for the le'nhES
and oven for what hc may deem the prejudices
Of his guest. and 1t may be that 'h' 'oniVu'
oratr veteran at Macon was not periec'I! us
crcet in his attentions; but II appears 10 uS
,hot the President made the best possible use
Of an unexpected opportunity to verify 'h' Sl'i'
ccrltv of his conviction that no trace o' lhe
old arrangement is left or any basis Oh whlcn
II can be revived
As for that part Of orr correspondents le''or
uhicb olludes to Mr. Cleveland. it IS pfopapiy
safe and sufficient 70 say that II ii had peeh
Nr Clcveland's fortune TO lead the country
through a glorious and successful war III winch
oil soctlons WED with one another in demon
.trations Of exalted patriotism. hn might there
actor hovo worn a Confederate badge at Il
Sorthorn ncocc Jubilee without offence.