The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-10
The Union Restored and IndomitabIe

The fervid American patriotism mani
tested in Congress by both Senators and
Representatives of all parties and every
part of the Union is in itself Il great vic
tory won. 1t is likely to prove Il safeguard
of peace with Spain, hut is Of far more i'm.
p%ortancc Us q demonstration that this re-
public is now thoroughly, compactly, and
heartily united.
The retention of Gen. FITZHUGH LEI at
Havana by the present Administration was
both prudent, 30 far as concerns our rela.
tions with tuba and Spain, and grateful to
the Southern people as a manifestation
that a Republican President is not swayed
by any narrow sectional p%rcjudices, and is
altogether free from animosities created by
the civil war of n generation ago. FITz-
HUGH LEE, a nephew of the famous Gen.
ROBERT L. LEE, M himself a General
of conspicuous service i'll the Confed.
crate army, bears a name and has Il
personality which appeal TO the hearts of
the Southern people. Hence also the re-
cent suggestion that in the event of wal
with Spain he should be made n Brigadier.
General III the United States army
touched deeply the ensibilities and awak-
ened quickly the pride Of the South. II is
an appointment which not imprObabiy
would he made under such circumstances
and would be accepted by the people uni.
versaliy us peculiarly happy.
AS Gen. WADE HAMPTON of South Caro-.
lima has remarked, the South is vet too
near to the horrors Of the civil war to be
eager for n new war. The same feeling
prevails throughout the Union among the
generation which endured the strain and
suffered the hardships of that awful fratri.
cidal conflict, but Mt the South, where it
was waged with bitterness for four vears
on hundreds of battletields, the scars are
still visible IL the smart is not yet healed
completely. The South desires rather to
continue in its recovery from the disasters
OF war than to invite another conflict, in
which 1t would be subjected to the posi-.
bilities of transitory damage along It's
coast line and 70 losses occasioned by
interruptions of Its Hence, for.
%tunately for the whole country, the South
maintains special calmness at this time of
strained relations with Spain. As ex.
senator INGALLS, found during n recent
tour through the Southern States, the
people are resolved TO stand by the Gov.
eminent, whatever the event, but they are
not losing their heads in bellicose excite.
ment. They are waiting coolly and in a
judicial frame of mind and taking no
snap judgments. But this reserve is only
an indication OF resolutc strength ready
for the defence of the republic II occasion
shall demand it's expenditure. Mo one who
visits the South can fail to be impressed by
the splendid material for an army which
there appears on all sides. 1t is distinctive.
ly a fighting population everywhere are
the evidences of a physical vigor which re-
flutes utterly the notion once entertained by
people ignorant of the actual Southeruers
that 1t lacks the strength acquired in a
ruRgeder climate. Nowhere in the world
are there finer examples of physical man.
hood. The Southern grasp in the hand.
shake alone furnishes indubitable evidence
OF peculiar muscular vigor.
Ii Is, therefore, not from any deficiency
OF the military spirit that the South re-.
Trains from war buster. 1t is the calm
reserve of people confident in their power
and courage. II the need came for the
national defence there would arise an army
ln'the Southern States which would rival
the matchless Army of Northern Virginia
led Oy General LIKE.
Thus q war cloud has been transformed