The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-05-12

The Union officers and soldiers of the
Army of the Potomac invite the officers
ana soldiers Of the late Confederate ar
my OF Northern Virginia to participate
with them in their annual reunion
The C0nfederates of the Western army
have rendered similar invitation to
those who fought for the Union to ioir
with them in their annual meeting at
Memphis, Tennessee. In Texas there
Is to be reunion shortly Of the survi-
wing veterans of the Mexican war of
1867, and invitations have been ex-
tended to Z. S. Grant aud Jefferson Da-
Wis, who were comrades in that war;
All this is eminently right and proper.
1t affords the best possible evidence
that the enmities between the North
and South eAgeAdered by the late war
and the previous Abolition agitation are
rapidly subsiding. The war and all be-
fore it have passed into history. 1t is
only to be regarded in that light. We
have emerged from the conflict. The
smoke of battle has been lifted. We
can clearly distinguish every part of the
field. The combatauts were all Ameri-
cans. They were all equally imbued
with the conscientious belief that they
were right in their advocacy of the
cause both at the North and the South.
They gave the highest testimonials of
their belief by periling their lives in de-
fence of their convictions. Grant that
there was mistake On one side, it is to
be pardoned on account of the sincerity
and earnestness of feeling which
prompted it. Both were equally brave.
There were heroes in each army, and
the valor and achievements of each, so
far rs it reflects credit upon the Nation
al proves, belongs equally TO the whole
country. Is there a Southern combat
ant who does not respect and admire
the heroism Of those martyrs on the
Union side, Mcpherson, Lyon, Lytle,
McCook, Sumner, Warren, Lander, Ba-
ker, and many others? On the other
hand, what Union soldier does not APP
prcciate the valor and the conscientious
devotion to their principles that was
evinced by those who fell in the South
tern ranks, such as the distinguished
EStonewall'' Jackson. A. p. Hill. Albert
sidney Johnston, Zollcotfer, Pat Gle
Dune and an equally large list which
couh be added as the complement to
the heroes whom we have mentioned as
falling in defence of the Union? 1t was
creditaNle TO General Grant that when
daughter OF the man Jackson, of Alex
andria, Virginia, who killed Colonel
Ellsworthin the beginning of the war,
was removed from some clerkship which
she held in one of the Departments, on
account OF her ancestry, he peremptori-
ly overrulcd his subordinate and rein
stated Miss Jackson in the place she
had been holding, Were General Grant
to accept his Texas invitation, we have
no doubt he would be received there by
his old Mexican War colleagues with
as much cordially at Jefferson Davis.
Brave men are always generous and
magnanimous. When tn. combatants on
both sides are thus willing to forget and
forgive and fraternize together in army
reunions, how much discredt does it re-
fleet urnn non-colnbatants who, never
Eayne risked anything in the, Wv, pre-
suae, Tor partizan purposes, f aeap up
its an;mOsities and to fan {e1avipp
embers of a fratricidal str. /, is the
duty, it is the religious dhsy, of every
American who loves his country to cease
to revive "reminiscences that are calaIla-
ted to perpetuate memories Ct q discard
and hate which can not be preserved viii
out the most serious injury to the futun
welfare of the country. The true policy}
is to bury all unpleasant recollectious in
the waters of Letlle.Y The sooner they
are forgotten the better. The Union has
been maintained. We are one people in
fact, and why we should we not We in
feeling! We at the North especially can
afford to lie liberal, iaasmuch as we were
the victors in the armed contest which
ended decade ago. Il is especially for
our interests that we should strive to re-
kindle in the hosoms of tae Southern peo-
pie their old love and devotion to the
Union aud IT'S representative flag. There
can be another-we will mt simply say
more inudicous-- more base and afro
cious than for public Journals to hold it
up us an approhrum against the people
large proportion of their Congressional
delegation from the ranks of hose who
were once Confederate soldiers. ind who |
under their own laws are eligible % every |
position under the Government, AMI who !
iidNe Slilcc accepted IcCojlStIuCGiou, ana |
who, if the Nation were invaded by for
eign enemy, would vie with the old sol
diers of the Union army in their e,er-
tions to maintain and perpetuate the h,n-
or of the flag and the inviolability of or
territory.
In this connection we give the follow,
ing extract from General Bartlet's noble
speech at the Concord celebration
"As an American, am as proud Of the
men who charged so bravely with Pick
ett's Division on our lines at Gettysburg,
as am of the men who bravely met and
repulsed them there. Men can not always
choose the right cause, but when, having
chosen the side which their conscience
Dictates they are ready to die for it, if
they justify not their cause, they at least
ennoble themselves; and the men who, for
conscience sake, fought against their Gov
eminent at Gettysburg, ought easily to
be forgiven by the sons of men who, for
conscience sake, fought against their Gov
eminent at Lexington and Bunker Hill.
II Cincinnati Enquirer.
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