The National tribune., 1884-03-20
culated to benefit the soldier, should hasten
to demand of his Senator or Representative
his vote in Their favor
Is 1T ~ I,oyal Camp


ers are aware, there exists an organization
entitled R. E. Lee Camp, No. l." The
members are ex-Confederate soldiers, and
the objects of the society are said to be
purely social and charitable. In the same
hall with Lee Camp, and indeed by its
courtesy, there meets a Post Of the Grand
Army, and the relations between the two
are reported to be of the most cordial
character. In fact, these late antag-
onists of ours have, On several occasions,
entertained, at their own expense, visit
ing Posts of the Grand Army from the
North, and in turn have enjoyed the latters
hospitality, and this without it having
occurred to any one that there was any i'm
propriety in such determination of vet
Grams who, however bitter may once have
been their hatred for each other, have GER
tainly no longer any reason to maintain a
hostile attitude. So far from reviving sec
tional feeling, this friendly personal inter
course between the survivors of the Union
and Confederate armies appears to have had
the effect Of obliterating all differences of
opinion in regard to the issues of the war
and of bringing about sentiment of mutual
respect and esteem. Yank and Johnny Reb
find that they can talk over their old cam
paigns without overstepping the bounds of
friendly discussion, and are thus coming to
look upon each other as brothers once more
in the best and broadcast sense Of the term.
That the acquaintance which our Southern
friends thus have acquired with the noble
work Of the Grand Army-its touching care
for the impoverished and enfeebled; its far
reaching and all-pervading fraternity
should have kindled in them the desire to
emulate its example in SO far as that might
be possible, is, therefore, not surprising, and
when, some weeks ago, they announced their
intention to hold fair for the purpose of
raising funds with which to relieve the
wants of needy comrades and erect home
for the aged and disabled, and invited their
| former antagonists to lend their aid, THE
TRIBUNE was among the first to extend a
friendly hand. Since then it has been de-
4 lighted to observe with what free-handed
/ generosity our comrades have responded to
the call, and in what grateful. appreciatiye
4 spirit their contributions have been received.
Indeed, it is pretty certain now that the fair
I of Lee Camp viii be a great success In every
way, and yield handsome sum for charity.
There is, however, one thing that disturbs
our satisfaction with this state of things, and
that is the doubt which some of our com
rades have cast upon the loyalty of this
/ Confederate veterans society. A subscriber
in far-of Oregon writes us that after an
examination of the constitution and by
laws of Lee Camp he finds nothing to
indicate that loyalty is one of the conditions
Of admission TO this Order, and he looks
upon this as very grave objection TO the
extension of G. A. r. support. And so it is,
unless it shall appear upon further inquiry
that this omission was not deliberate or
intentional, which we are quite ready to
believe For that reason, it would be well
for such of our comrades of the Grand
Army as have already contributed to the
funds Of Lee Camp to interrogate its officers
in regard to this point, to the end that all
doubts on the subject may be cleared away
To promote loyalty is one of the three
cardinal principles of the Grand Army, and
it is, of course, upon the assumption that
these Southern veterans also are now sworn
to loyalty to the Stars and Stripes that il
has responded so freely to their cali for aid
Its members would be greatly chagrined tt
discover that such was not the case, and W.
trust our Richmond friends viii make haste
to set at rest all lingering doubts upon Thu
point.