Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-11
ANOTHER EFFORT TO BRlDGETHE
BLOODY CHASH

AEOTHER EFFORT TO BRIDGE THE
BLOODY CHAsM.
For some time past orr Chicago ex-
changes have been making notes Of
preparation for the reception of the
Grand Army of the Republic which
sits in that city on the 18th, 18th, l4th
and 18th Of next month. Gradually
and almost impercep6bly the prOspec-
tive festival began to assume the shape
of . grand reunion Of all survivors Of
the Federal armies, to be held under
the auspices Of the "Grand Army of
the Republic" as host. Within the
past week the project has taken still
broader and rather significant dimen-
siOns. AT a recent meeting of the
committee in charge of arrangements
General Stiles offered the following re-
solution:
Resolved, that a general invitation
be extended to all surviving soldiers
and sailors of the late war throughout
the country, East, West, North and
/ South, to meet with us at our forth
coming reunion; and that the Commit
tee on Invitations be instructed to ex-
tend a personal invitation, as far as
practicable, to such of them as n the
opinion Of the committee have aaation-
reputation as soldiers.
This amounted to a proposition that
ex-Uonfederates also be invited to par
ticipate in Chicago 3 grand reunion, and
was advoeatedas such by its author, and
favored also by Gen. Cameron, Col.
Rickaby and Capt. Mclaughlin. At
ter some discussion it was adopted,
with an amendment proposed by Gen.
Julius White, in the following form:
Resolved, that a general invitation
be extended to all surviving soldiers
and sailors Of the late war, throughout
the country, who regard the flag Of the
United States as the emblem of undi-
vided and indi7isible nationality, to
meet with US at our forthcoming re-
union, and that the committee on inyi-
tatiOns be instructed to extend person
al invitations, as far as practicable, to
such of them as IN the Judgment Of
the committee have national reputa.
ton as soldiers.
The Chicago Times notes it as a sig
nifcant fact that the resolution was
adopted without dissent, and says,
this post bellum reunion business has
at last been placed where it will do the
most good" We question the policy
or desirabilty of perpetuating military
reunions in a republic, but human ma
tue must be allowed some play; they
flourish for some years after every
war, and the form proposed by the
Chicagoans is the most limo
cent. Even our Revolutionary fathers
formed a post-bellum organization
called "The Cincinnati" of which
George Washington was a prominent
member, while Thomas Jefferson bit
terly opposed the whole thing as a germ
of danger to the infant republic. Ev-
erybody recognizes that it is not the
fighters on either side in our late civil
strife wh8haye preached and practiced
sectionalism. The bulk of voters who
have been appalled, by, the recurring
wolf cry Of Radicalism concerning
Rebels" are the stay-at-homes who
never faced a Rebel" IN the field.
Officers may have found that the path
Of promotion lay through partisan
channels, but the rank and file Of the
armies have been the most independent
voters since the ware because they
know the Southerners through actual
contact and conflict, and are
not deceived by political ca
nards. In the present case,
it is not clear whether the Chicago
gentlemen in charge Of the arrange
ments" are fully authorized TO act on
behalf of theGrand Army of the Re-
public. The Tribune, administration
organ criticizes Gen. Stiles for intro
duqing a resolution so ''inopportune."
The Times on the contrary 'trusts
that the invitation viii be received by
the Surviving soldiers Of the Lost
Cause in the same cordial spirit Of ma
tional fellowship which inspired its
movers, and, moreover, that it will be
responded 10 by the appearance in
Chicago. at the appointed time, of the
whole confederate army and navy"
! a PROTECTION organ in Chicago,