Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-19
STIRRING MP strife.
New York Sun.l

new lork sum-
The general memorial committee OF
the Grand Army Of the Rspu bic for the
Eastern District Of Brooklyn, met at So
Fourth street, Williamsburgh, last even
ING, Fred j. Klrcher presiding In the
course OF business the official order re.
speeding memorial day, issued by Com.
mander James Tanner, Of the depart.
ment OF New York, in which he though,
proper TO recommend most earnestly
to the various memorial committees in
this department that they extend to such
x-Confederate soldiers as may now be
residing in their vicinity, a cordial invi-
taiion to turn out with US on decoration
day, and participate in the payment
'of tribute to departed valor," was Sc.
yerely commented on.
Captain Frank NJ. Clark said that the
Grand Army was organized to honor
aud assist Union soldiers and s~ailers
and their families, and to d~iscounte
nance %disloyalty. In the order which
strengthens the fraternal feelings engeu-
dered during the privations and trials Of
the struggle for the safety of the Union.
no man on whom the stain of treasoa
rests can ever come. And as the sad
anniversary would never have been nee.
essary but for these men and their acts.
the department commander was presum-
ing on his authority and oYer-zealous ia
a wrong direction in inviting or urging
the active participation in our memorial
services OF those ex-rebels who made
such services necessary. he urged the
continuance Of dower-strewing on the
grave OF every soldier buried in the
cemetery, but protested against accord
ing equal rights in procession or in ex.
e%rcises to men who fought against the
Union and its Gag. In CONCLUSION he
offered q series Of resolutions c%ensuring
Corporal Tanner an1 Directing to the
participation Of ex rebels.
A comrade from Post Germaine Met.
ternich said he recently Joined the order
because he could there enjoy the society
Of loyal men, but since this matter had
been urged By Commander Tanner 10
the past two months, he had become
somewhat disheartened. If be could
not have the companionship OF exclu
sively loyal men, he would leave the
order and try some other society. He
had been illtreated in the worst manner
by the rebels in the prison pen a tAsder-
sonville, and he could not accord his tor.
nentors equal rights with him on a
parade.
A delegate from Post Harry Lee
thought the department commander had
committed more than an error, and for
that reason the post would vote for the
resolutions.
Post Mansfield, by their delegates,
pointed TO the recent rebel denonstra.
ton at Tallahassee, Florida, where the
graves of the Union soldiers were not
decorated by the people Of that section,
while over the entrance to the cemetery
was erected a splendid arch bearing the
inscription, They wore the gray" The
orators of the occasion, too, had not a
word to say on the side cf national
patriotism, but eulogized the lost cause
aud principles. They therefore strenu.
ously objected to the admission of ex
rebels to position in the line of parade
or participation in the ceremonies while
such disloyal sentiments are maintained
and not the slightest exhibition of con.
triton for their treason is displayed in
the South.
Captain F. N Clark again addressed
the committee, urging that, while the
position Of o loyal soldier is the highest
in the world, the sight of rebels parading
side by side through the streets Of this
city on sucha day would be an irremedi.
able disgrace.
The resolutions we're passed uuani.
mously.