The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-26
NO HATRED FOR SOUTH
WALTER WELLMAN SAYS NORTH
 LONG AGO FORGOT CIVIL WAR.
Prejduice is One-Sided-Many Replies to the Statements of Senator Bacon to Prove the Senti-
 ments Held Today.
Walter Wellmans Washington Special to Chicago Record-Herald.


 Walter WelIman's Washington Special
 to Chicago Record-Herald.
 If this years presidential campaign has contributed nothing else of whole some and enduring character to the current of public opinion, 1t has brought about one good result in clearing the atmosphere to some extent as to the attitude of the North toward the South.
 We have additional proof that so far as the people of the North are concern ed, sectionalism is dead and distrust of or antmosity toward the people Of the South no longer exists in any quarter or form worthy serious attention. The truth is, no such proof was needed. Ev- cry intelligent man in the North al- ready knew that this was the fact. Hence there was great surprise when Senator Bacon of Georgia came out in an interview in The Record-Herald nearly three weeks ago. saying he believed, and the peo- pie of the South believed,l the North had set its face against South ern influence in the Government, and that the North was ostracising the South in the nations political activi- ties because of resentment and mis- trust borne through all the forty years which have elapsed since the close of the Civil War Your correspondent printed this remarkable interview for several reasons: First, he had no doubt of Senator Bacons sincerity. Second he had no douDt NIT. DdcoH acSul dloiy 7 reflected an opinion that Is widespread among the Southern people. Third, ne had no doubt MT. Bacon and those Who believed with him are utterly mistaken. Fourth 1t is right and wholesome that the people of the South who hold that mistaken view should be corrected and b. given to understand the true teeIlng of the North.
 Since Senator Bacon's interview was published, the North has answered the question. A great number of letters from readers of The Record-Herald have poured in upon your correspond ent, most of them from Republicans and four men residing in at least doz- en Northern States. Many newspapers have made editorial comment upon the interview Moreover, the writer mas made 1t a point to speak on this suo- ject with scores of men Tn various par of the country, East and west Not one expression has been heard confirm ing Senator Bacon's view. some rloi- cule the Senator on account or ms iacK of understanding of the Northern view forgetting that as southern man ne could not be expected to unoerstan'1I 'I q Northern public opinion. Nearly all who have passed judgment on this ques- tion properly give MT. Bacon credit Tor knowing the opinion of the people or the South, but the verdict IS unanimous that he does not know the public opln- ion of the North.
 Lack of space forbids particular ref erence to more than few or the nun dreds of newspaper cuttings contaln- r. ing comment on this interview, and It Is practicable to quote rom only Ie" of the many letters received.
 Dr. l.. F. Ingersoll of Chicago writes:
 My diagnosis would be that Senator Bacon is morbid. What law-aoldlng Godfearing citizen of Illinois, Illinois would would in the hands of Senator Bacon today than with either of our two Bills Mason and Lorimer. l most assuredly would, and I was never anything but a Republican.
 "The Booker T. Washington incident was manifestly an error, having no po- litical siguification and regretted by Mir. Roosevelt's supporters qulte as much as by the good people Of Georgla. The paramount political question of the south, i. e., the negro in politics, is the result of a mistaken philanthrophy of the young Republican Party or de- cades and probably has worked to the disadvantage of the black man in a greater degree than Of the white man of the same section.
 What the Senator says about there occasionally being a Northern man who does not know that the war Is over IS unquestionably true. W are sorry TOT 1t, and he will die sometime. The day of the unreconstructed man is past on both sides of Mason and Dixon's line. Senator Bacon is right in his defense of the loyal spirit of the citizens of the South The country does not possess a people more loyal and patriotic than our Southern brothers.
 or. Caulum of Chicago offers his testimony as follows:
 Senator Bacon Is wrong. l am a Republican, but l never voted with the idea of keeping the South in suhjec- tion. believe in protection and sound money. Besides, l think President Roosevelt an ideal candidate
 Rev. John w. Ferner, pastor of tho Congregational Church at Tabor. Iowa writes:
 senator Bacon's interview surprised me very much. Occa sionally l have | heard similar fears expressed relative | to the East and West. never could consider such expressions other thar | marks of weakness. however strong th' l authors of them may otherwise be Politicians may sometimes leave th' 1 impression of a divided country, bu you may surely trust the people tt | take care of the good will between tn, North and the South. have lived il Illinois and Iowa and have been al over both States, and I am sure tha 1 Senator Bacon need not be alarmed, for with rare exceptions, the expression O