Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-11-07

y
il the colofs of two hostile armies and,
the hotheads on the one side and the
DO liticians on the other can kee D the
fa m alive, still to remain hostile and sep
afate. Not so, however. if the soldiers Of
tn ose two armies have their way. They
will convert the warning tints to harmony
and join them in one badge of union. -
Dark as the prospect 10 in some quarters,
the sky still brightens with tints of dawn
One bright streak is from Vicksburg, where
the very thing we looked forward to has
come to pass, and e The Blue and the
G ray is tho name of new order, in
which Federal and Confederstes soldiers
to the number of two hundred, associate
nnder a constitution which blinds the or
der to uphold the laws" to promote
kindly relations and friendly intercourse
between the members, to repress, by teach
ing and example, all lawless and rlotous
demonstrations, to preserve the peace and
promote the good order of society, to af-
ford protection to each other and above
all to extend to the weak and helpless the
chivalrous protection of soldiers F" The
president of the association is Federal
colonel the vice-presidents colonel and
captain from each army, and the member
ship includes all men honorably dscharg
ed from the army and navy of either party
in the civil war. And the good example
is having its influence all over the South
the Confederate soldiers are especially anx-
ious for the establishing OF the new order
the true national military order, at last.
This picture may be trusted, for it comes
from the Chicago "Inter- Ocean "a pa
per not apt to lend an over-favorable ear
to things that make for peace.
At the first pnblic meeting of the Vicks-
burg encs mpment Of the order of the Blue
and the Gray, the stage was decorated
with the Federal and Confederate flags en-
twined, and an army tent in the rear with
worn rebel flags dropping over it. Sol
dlers Of both armies spoke, but the North
ern man uttered no bitterness and the
Southern man no treason. The most note
worthy speech for US, was that of Judge
Warren Cowan, who was a rebel colonel
once. He pictured with equal eloquence
the uprising of the South in rebellion and
of the North for their. suppression. The
people of the South, who made such sacri-
fees and exhibited such courage and de-
votion for their cause, do not, said the
speaker, deserve outrage and suppression
from their victorious countrymen Of the
North The conquering soldiers of the
North should not receive the distrust and
hatred of those whom they overcame in
the war, The banner of the stars and
bars was folded forever; the banner of the
stars and stripes, ever victorious, was
again the glorious flag of the Union. We
of the South may look upon it as an in
sigma of wrong and oppression when the
military arm foists upon US obnoxious
usurpers, and thsn comes an outburst of
passion, which, like volcano, pours out
its lava of wrath, and creates q terrible
upheavel of the surrounding country The
people look at New Orleans admire the
grandeur and sympathize with the groans
ofthe volcano. but all agree that the lava
and stones must be removed aud things
placed in statu quo. The orator was sor-
ny to refer to political affairs, butafter all,
they were the. business of every individual
of the nation; all were interested in hav-
ing good government, and official honesty
and capacity. 1t was the purpose of the
new order to brush away the dust of pref
udice, unite in common feeling for the
good veal, and create concert of action. -
That, said he, we want between the mer-
chant and the planter, the capitalist and
the laborer, but, first of all, between the
ex-soldiers Of the Blue and the Gray
Then, in discretion and judgment, the
debris Of reconstruction can be cleared
away, and the whole country hail new
era Of prosperity and mutual confidence.
1t is full time that peace should prevail.
Is not the Southern orator right? Are
not the soldiers of "The Blue and Gray "
in the true wayP'