The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-06-14
The Blue and the Gray.

At Wichita, Kansas, Union and Con.
federate soldiers united in observing
decoration day. Of course such an occa'
sion would be almost certain to produce 8
Virginian, and in this instance it was 8
son of old Augusta. Judge j. w. Camp
tell was the first speaker, who represented
the Union side. and Col. Saml. R. Turk,
son of Col. r. Turk. was the second
speaker, representing the Confederate ele-
ment. Col. Turk has recently located in
Kansas. having removed from Hunters
vile, W. Va, few months ago. His
wife, sister Of Capt. Cary of the Virginia
Hotel. is stopping at the Mozart for the
summer, after which she will join her
husband in Wichita.
From the Wichita Eagle, of the 31st. we
copy thu following report of Col Turk s
remarks, which will be read with interest
by his many friends in Virginia:
Ladies and Gentlen,en
At the solicitation offriends who were Union
soldiers have consented to address you this
evening.
From our youth up, aye, from our mothers
knee. we have been taught to tread lightly
upon the ashes of the dead. Twas of our
earliest lessons, and it clings to us with that
melancholy sweetness which early childhood's
lessons are wont to leave upon the human
mind.
We are met here to do reverence to those who
in life were the joy of many hearts; in death,
revered aud mourned, and whose graves are
the shrine at which to-day the tears of the
grandest nation on this great round world are
poured In full libation. My friends there is
the N en- who wore the blue and the gray never
to be forgotten, a lesson to those who are 10
world.
This day brings before US again in magnificent
review who Americans are. what they can do.
and how boundless is their regard for good and
brave men. 1t is not such men as these whose
cold forms lie about us. wrapped in the cere-
ments OF the tomb, who still wish to keep gap
ing the deep wound inflicted by the wars cruel
cutlass. 1t is not such men as these whose
ashes moulder here and whose graves we have
the South by The hand when the war was over
and say: Brethren, you fought us as only men
could who were reared under the benign inf1u-
ences Of a government whose corner stone is
laid deep down in the soil of liberty. You
fought US bravely; the war is over; now let us
have peace"
These are the men who, when the poor old
rebel grounded his arms, in his rags, foot sore
weary, half starved turned his languid eye to-
ward that home whose threshold for four years
he Lad not crossed; whose inmates he now
hoped once more to press to his fast heaving
Dosom-these are the men, l say. who, when
they saw that brave but conquered foe start
upon that long, weary but delightful journey
took off their well-flled haversacks and handed
them to him. slipped some money in his hand
and turned with heavy hearts away.
did not know these men. 1t is not necessary
that should have known them to do them
honor All need to know is that they were
soldiers of the United States. No higher en-
comium could be paid for in this are he words
noble, generous, brave,
Oh, how we loath and detest q coward, but
how our hearts warm to deeds of bravery.
How proud will be the sons and daughters of
dead soldiers both north and south of at least
one Thing, sad as this war may have been. and
that is to know that when their fathers body
was found it was lying in the midst of the ram
parts of the enemy.
Would their could have been no war, but 1t
has been, with all its sorrows and terrors and
sutferings. 1t was part OF the history of this
country we We're bound to write and it has been
written. Yet firmly believe that from amid
the smoke of battle and the clash of arms the
rattle of musketry and the roar of cannon. from
amidst carnage and death, there have sprung
results which assure more lasting empire, a
stronger and better government, nobler peo-
pie. Drawer men, loveler women.
My friends, we have listened with wrapt at
tention and unmlxed pleasure to the splendid
teman who has addressed us, We are glad
then that we are here and that we have been
permitted, each in his humble way, to show
these works OF respect We have much to be
thankful for, and one thing particularly is that
the great soldier whose life has been trembling
in that uncertain balance, and whose sick bed
b as been watched with so much anxiety by a
sympathetic nation, is better to-day and That
he is still spared to command our armies, in
stead of being called to join the hosts of that
army whose silent tents are spread on fame's
eternal camping ground. Let us draw useful
lesson from these exercises which are about to
close and resolve to bury in the graves of these
dead all bitterness, all unkind feeling, all ami
mostly, if any such there be lingering amongst
us to haunt and trouble us as the ghost of the
departed, and let us together thank God that
there is now no further cause for strife. that we
are one united band of brethren banded to-
gether for one common purpose, and that is the
advancement of each other, and the preserva-
ton ofour grand and glorious union.