The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1946-02-07
Let's Bury the
HotChet and Bury
1t Deep

BY Charles d. Rowe

The Civil War-or should we say
the War Between the States?-is
about to be ended This good news
was carried in Sundays newspapers
under an Atlanta. Ga, dateline,
The item said the Atlanta Histori-
cal society had decided to bury the
Ratchet left there by General Sher-
man on his march to the sea 80
years ago.
The Atlanta society is starting a
national organization consisting of
descendants of 100000 Federal SOL
diers and $4,000 Confederate SOL
diers who fought in the battle of
Atlanta. By uniting an estimated
two million living descendants, the
society hopes to create IAN era of
good feeling" that will end section
al prejudice growing out of the
conflict
That's the good news-the at
tempt the end the sectional preju-
dice that has lived much too long.
1t is natural, we suppose, for peo-
pie of land that has been ravaged
by the horrors of war to feel ran
cor and resentment against their
winning opponents. Now that they
are starting a. movement to wipe
out that long-held feeling, it is
cause for rejoicing.
The War Between the States was
a regrettable thing. The difference
that ended in armed conflict in
those dark days split apart people
with the same glorious traditions.
Both sides paid generous tribute
to the same national heroes who
had fought and died that this ma
ton might be established. Both sides
sprung from the same roots. Both .
revered the memories of Washing +
ton, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton,
Ethan Allen, John Paul
Jones, Light Horse Harry Lee and
many others It was a sad and a
tragic day when d desperate lam
lily quarrel split asunder people
with that same magnificent heri-
tage and destined 10 create a nation
with such great and wonderful
future.
We were glad when sons of the
Blue and Grey fought side by side
in the Spanish American war, be-
cause we hoped that would help
to smooth out the scars left by
he regrettable war Again in
World War | we found a second con-
ISOLATION in seeing sons of the North
and South fighting side by side
IS comrades. And again the same
has come from World
War H. Grandsons of the fathers
who fought at each others Threats
low fought common enemy I'M
Ter the common flag. Once again
we are a united nation. Now any
feeling of rancor should die an easy
and a natural death
Several years ago we took de-
ightful trip through the South and
ound almost no evidence of that
,ne-time prejudice Instead we
we're extended a generous hospital
ty on every hand. However, two
title incidents crept in to recall
he tragic war.
One day we drove into one of
he larger cities of the South. A
lead of us at a wide street inter
ection we noticed a monument. AS
his was our first visit to the South
nd as we were out to see the
lights. we circled the monument
nd stopped to read an inscription
ut into the stone at its base We
annot quote the inscription but we
that at the time we were
hooked and incensed by what it
aid. Because it voiced a bitter
nd open rebellion against the IN
On government We suppose the
was a relic of war days
ut we thought at the time how len
ent is a government that permits
o rebelHioHs q sentiment to still
tand on a public monument.
Another incident was of a some
that different nature It was told
D us by man at Tampa, Fla, one