The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-06-11
Subscription sl5oPsr Year, in Advance.
TRANSIENT RATES.
TUESDAY..........~JUNE IL, 1901.
SOME FELIClTOUS REFLECTIONS.

SOME FELlCITOi ; REFLECIlONS.
President Mckinley has concluded
his Southern trip and returned to
Washington without the occurrence
of single incident To cause pang
of regret or a Scintilla OF remorse.
save the iudispoSition of Mrs. Me
kinlev. That her sickness should
have shortened the trip or detracted
from the pleasures thereof is source
OF general regret.
There is something OF qualification
and profit connected with the Presi-
dents trip which is worthy OF
consideration. Napoleon beholding
Moscow ablaze exclaimed: An ocean
OF flame So may it be said OF the
Presidents trip. 1t was one uninter-
rupted flame Of goodwill and enthu-
siasm. unattended 10y the impressions
of horror such as our mileproduced.
Nothing transpired To mar the pleas
IRE Of the occasion for which the
Southern people may be eldaccount-
able. This Is indeed gratifying, and
it Is convincing evidence 10 all. save
perhaps the ultra radical sectional
lists and the hot-headed eXtremelsts.
that the animosities of the past have
been sacrificed by the noble people OF
the South upon the altar of their
cOuntrv's veal. and that they are
too magnanimous a people To con
tinue 10 recognize MasOnand DiXOn's
line as the line Of demarcation be-
tween the North and the South.
They recognize the fact that the
Union i no longer severed, and that
the Blue and the Gray acted with
sincerity in extending and accepting
the olive branch.
In the display of goodwill and I'M
abated enthusiasm manifested 10y the
Southern people toward President
Mckinley and his party their forti-
tude shone in all it, golden glory and
their patriotism reached its acme. II
there were latent ill-ieelingS engen-
dered by memories OF thepast lurking
in the hearts Of any they did not re-
ceive expression. and in their silence
Southern manhood fulfilled the lofti-
est destiny Of an immaculate brother
hood. The time was when such would
not have been the case-befOre the
spirit of animoSity and the hot
headed ogre OF sectionalism had
bowed To the country'S behest; then
warm Southern blood had not as
sumed its normal condition, and the
Presidents life would in all probable
ity have been imperilled by such a
tour. Rut in the benedictions Of time
the desired change has been wrought,
and over this vast Union the sword
has been returned to its scabbard
and bayonets converted intoplough-
shares.
We are a reunited peOple-a land
of one common brotherhOOd-and
this fact is hailed with unreasonable
JOY by the men who filed their places
where the hail of death fell the thick
est during those four years OF strife
and carnage. Such are the men who
were the first 70 act thepatriOt at the
end OF hOstilities and tOlabOr for the
restoration Of peace and happiness.
Ever should il be thus: for the man
who does not serve his country in
time OF war is usually Of little honor
to it in time Of peace.
All honor to those noble men all
over this broad country Of ours who
have buried the past and hold ont
the hand Of friendship and welcome
to citizen OF the Union wherever he
may be. 1t does not require the clash
Of arms and the excitement of battle
to provide an arena OF action for the
true patriot Some Of his noblest
accomplishments and grandest deeds
may he consummated during a reign
of peace. The plumed patriot fully
realizes this and acts accordingly.
= This is being exemplifed as history
records time.
1t is safe to say that good will
grow out of the Presidents trip, and
that he and his party entertain a
very exalted opinion of and warm
feelings for the people of the South
land