Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-11-12
FOR THE BOYS OF THE BLUE.

4
DEAR COMRADES 1t is not unexpect-
ed that now and then one of the old vet
Grams expresses the fear that the combi-
nation of "The Gray" with 1.-THE Blue"
will tend to retard the progress of the
Prohibition party in the North from the
fact that old war principles and preju-
dices are yet strong in many henrts. In
response let me say that there is nothing
in the combination which calls for any
abatement of the deepest feeling of pa
triotism or loyalty to the principles that
actuated the Union soldiers in their self
sacrificing devotion to their country's
flag during the dark days of the late
war. When the blue met the gray in
many a well.fought and hotly contested
battle, and each found the other worthy
of his heroism, as the gray fought for
God and home and native state, and the
blue fought for God and home and native
lind. But whatever there was of re-
yenge and of sectional hate mixed with
our loyalty it is high time that the true
and loyal citizens of both sections should
lay it all aside, and AS those having the
one common dae and common national
destiny we should unite to sustain the
right and seek the good of our COM
mon country. This demands that the
best elements North and South should
bury all animosities and join heart and
hand against our common and arch foe,
King Alcohol. The ex-Union soldier
should be the first in the North to extend
the hand of welcome to every fraternal
hand out-stretched from the South. IT,
deed he is generally the first to extend
i. the hand of brotherly kindness towards
;, his late antagonists in that section. 1t
needs only to be added that the Prohibi.
: ton army of the Blue and Gray proposes
( only union of hands where a union OF
1 hearts has already occurred in the COM
|. mon devotion to the old flag, and in love
!; for the cause of temperance and abhor
.. ence for the rum traffic.
If it may be lruthfully said that bitter
sectional feelings are still cherished in
l
that hold them are not expected to joir
this army, They will still train in th'
Democratic party and contend for sol
i'd South" 1t may also be answered
that there is plenty of sectional hatreC
manifested in the North, and those who
hold it are not expected to unite witt
the army. They will remain in the Re
publican party and by persistent wav
ing of the "bloody shirt" help to keel
the South solid. But those who are fire.
from sectional bitterness and VIII c
believe that the best interests of thi
grand old country and of all sections
tiona should fraternize, and that an err
of good feeling should be brought abou
and who are one with us in our gram
designs these will enter our army, o
put themselves in line with it, and unit
ing IN long pull, O strong pull, and
pull all together, will help to carry on
prohibition principles through to fina
complete victory. The liqnor interest
will not divide on old party lines, an
we ought not and must not.
SO, forgetting the past, let MS pres
forward towards the mark of the priz
of our high calling, and with unite
front against a united and desperate 10
let US strike for truth and temperance.
eve will rally round the fiag boys,
Rally once again"