Okolona messenger., 1903-09-09
sEorloMAL srRlEE sREEDERs.

The following editorial from the
Chicago Tribune holding out the olive
branch TO the south. is full Of encour-
agement to those who are aaxious to
bury the last of the sectional animosi-
ties which have so long divided the
country. It lis particularly significant
because it comes from a paper which
has always been stalwart Republican
organ and represents the best elements
Of that party In the Northwest;
A considerable number Of Northern
newspapers, especially among those
published IN New York and New Eng
land, seems determined that the old
time hatred between the Northern and
Southern States of this country shall
never die out. To this end they let no
chance pass to taunt, insult and pat
ronizingly reprove the South. The
Southern papers, irritated by the flight
Of poisoned words darted at their peo-
pie, reply angrily and detiantly. In
this unhappy way the gradually dying
passions Of the civil war are being con-
verted into a smoldering fire of dislike
which. if kept alive much longer, will
be inextinguishable.
This is what we wish to say to the
South: The ill-will displayed toward
that section of the country hy these
Northern newspapers cannot be found
in the slightest degree in the breast of
the average Northern citizen. The
Northern newspapers which are intent
on keeping the nation disunited do not,
in that particular, reflect the sentiment
even Of their own constituencies. Far
from harboring malice against the
South, residents Of the North regard it
with positive liking-with feeling
which may be regarded as sentimental
Nothing, we believe, demonstrates the
truth of this observation better than
the reception always accorded by aud
fences in Northern music halls, CON-
ventions, theaters and parks to the tune
Of Dixie" The vociferous applause
which never fails to greet this old an
them of the Oonfederacy indicates not
only delight in its stirring strains, but
Joy that the South has become again
prosperous, progressive, loyal part of
the country, The gallantry of the
Southern volunteers in the Spanish war
evoked as much pride in the Northern
cities and on Northern farms as did the
courage and heroism of the sons of
Federal soldiers.
Lest the South should overestimate
the attempt made by some misguided
papers to prolong the old feud, we
would state that the great body of peo-
pie living in this part of the country
are Americans first. They are proud
of the whole country and are loyal to
the whole country. They do not SYM
pathize with the attempts to encourage
dissension and distrust between differ
ent regions of the United States. They
know that If Abraham Lincoln were
alive today no man would view with
more profound sadness than he the eff
forts tofoster hatred between the North
and South"
Southern people who have lived in
the North or Travelled extensively in
that section of recent years will corrob-
crate the truth of these statements so
far as the body of the Northern people
are concerned. Malignant South ha-
ters are the exception, not the rule, and
even the exceptions are becoming more
exceptional. The little press coterie of
strife breeders make more noise, how
ever, than all the rest Of the papers,
and 1t is not strange, therefore, that a
great many Southern people should be
thus impressed with the belief that the
average Yankee" lies awake O. nights
to hate the S nth. Of this 9 ass Of pa
pers there is no more pethieidds exam
pie than the Chicago PAPERS, which pre-.
tends to be Democratic, but which new
er fails TO strike this section under the
belt upon ell occasions.
The spread of enlightenment and the
mixing and mingling of the people of
the two sections is the hope of a final
and complete elimination of such pes
tiferous CAD aies,-Memphis News.
uIINoIs GENITAL RAILROAD.