The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-04-10
THE BLUE AND THE GREY.
Ola Soldiers in New York JOiniu
Hands tu n Noble Purpose.

Hands tu n Noble Purpose.
Fifteen hundred people gathered In the
large hull Il the Cooper Union, New York, last
night TO take art In the inaugural public cor
emonies relating TO the establishment OF
home for disabled ex.Confederate soldiers at
Richmond, Va. A band played patriotic
music, and the opening strains OF "Dlxie"
called forth loud applause.
Colonel Jnmos II. O'Beirne called tho assem-.
blage to order and named tho we'll known vet.
eran, Corporal Tanner, OF Brooklyn, as chair
man, tin the forced absence OF our great cap
tain, General Grant. Loud applause.1
Corporal Tanner, who had both legs shot
away in battle and walks on two wooden legs,
came forward amid cheers and began his
opening address by saying that he was with
the movement with his heart and soul, aud
from the crown OF his head as far down as he
went" He did not forget General Granite
words TO General Lee at Appomattox, when no
said TO the great Confederate General to tell
his men 10 take their horses home, as they
would need them for spring plowing, and then
distributed 100000 rations among the de-
feated army. Grant In this epitomized the
feelings OF every man who i9 willing to give
credit to those who have stood the hard
knocks OF the battlefield In the cause they be-
llevCd TO be Just.
the thing over and see that those OF the other
side have not the same pictures TO look back
upon that we have, The great majority OF
thom went out to 0ght for what they Thought
was right just as we went out to light for what
wo know 10 be right. know that tho old bit
ternoss Is dying out. II we are mon We Will
see to IL that the sufferers who differed with
us will ind out that humanity still lives.
[Applause.l France gathers up In honor the
remalne OF Its great men, whether they fought
for dngdom go empire or republic we
q successful end. lApplausel We can do 1t
and we will" tGreat applause.l
Theispeaker told how IL was frequently his
mission to 60 to Washington to procure pom
slons for our soldiers, and how the Southern
Members OF Congress, without exception, wore
always to be relied on for their support OF
such relief measures for their old enemies. He
said that tho building OF this asylum would
be another bond between tho North aud the
South. Mr.. Tanner told an anecdote OF n little
son OF his and the child-daughter OF an OK
Confederate who lived next door to him. one
summer evening no and his friend were sitting
on his front porch when the little ones had
taken up q position on tho "picket fence" In
front. Presently kiss passed between the
two youngsters. "John," said the Corporal to
his neighbor, 81 guess tho Union Will be all
right In tho next generation" loud laughter
and applauee.l
Major Quincy, OF Maryland, read lettors of
regret from several distinguished persons.
General Grant wrote ~ am In hearty sympn-
thy with the movements, and you can rely
upon mo for doing oil can In carrying out the
purpose OF the meeting. promise support,
financial and otherwise"
General Hancock wrote: "You have the as
surance OF my best wishes and efforts for your
success in the accomplishment OF this long
deferred benevolent enterprise"
Senator Hawley, Rev. 4. De Witt Talmage
General O. T. Christensen, General Samuel W
Crawford, O. p. Huntington, General Roger A.
Pryor, Generals Wilcox and Lilly and others
also wrote letters OF regret. Then the chair
man introduced General John b. Gordon, one
OF the inaugurators of tho movement, who
spoke at some length, being warmly welcomed
whom he took tho platform and many times
interrupted by applause during his remarks
General George A. Sheridan and others then
spoke, and tho meeting was, In all respects q
Elrrnqa. in1ipnfpQ n fnF0 "a
home viii be fully supported by the Union
soldiers.