The Sympathy of a United People

     THE solidarity of thought and feeling among the American people has been signally evidenced in the way that they have borne themselves since the murder of their beloved President. In the expressions of horror, grief, and indignation over this atrocious crime the voice of the people has been as one; all sections, factions, and parties have been entirely lost to sight in view of the appalling calamity.
     In no quarter of the Union have the expressions of sorrow and mourning for the departed chief magistrate been more strong, fervent, and sincere than in the South. It was a camp of Confederate veterans in session at Columbia, S. C., that unanimously adopted a resolution “praying God in His infinite mercy, if He so will it, that such a calamity as the death of the faithful head of our government be averted, and that the President may yet be spared to fulfill the great mission in the government for which he has been appointed by its people and which he has so far so faithfully performed.” And it was Governor Candler, of Georgia, who said: “I served with the President in Congress six years. He was one of God’s noblemen. He is a clean man, an honest man, and a great man. A Federal soldier, all Confederate soldiers respected and honored him. He has done more to bridge the bloody chasm between the sections than any man since Lee and his veterans surrendered.”
     Words of similar character have been uttered by many other representative Southern men. These only serve to show that the nation is truly one at heart to-day, and that that heart beats true. If the result of this national affliction shall be to further soften political animosities and make an end of personal detraction and abuse, it will be only another illustration of the great truth that the “wrath of man” may sometimes be made to serve the noblest and divinest ends.