Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-07-19
BLUE AND GRAY MEET.
The Gettysburg Reunion a Grand
Success.

mics stood in battle array, awaiting the
contest the final settlement of which was
TO decide the nature and vitality of great
political issue How that terrible contest
ended is too recent history to need recapitu-
latiOn now.
After a quarter of century the historic
| field witnesses the return of many OF the
brave men who fought for the honor and
| perpetuity of great cause; now, hoWev-
err, to meet those who wore the gray, not as
foes to be conquered, but as brothers and
friends-memberso Of union indissoluble.
The exercises of the reunion have been
varied indeed. Monuments have been ded-
| icated to the memory or brave men whose
| lives were sffcred willing sacrifice upon
the altar OF their country's honor, speeches
delivered rccounting the valor of brave
men and paying loyal tribute TO them. The
address Of Gen. Sickles was fraternal and
patriotic, closing in tho following words:
The war of '6l . was our heroic age, II
demonstrated the vitality of republican in
situations. 1t illustrated the martial spirit
| and resources and genius OF the American
soldier and sailor. II was war in which
sentiments and ideas dominated interests.
| The lavish SACRIFICES Of blood and treasure,
| the unyielding tenscity Of the combatants,
| the constancy and hrmness OF the people on
both aides, men and women, old and young,
rich and poor, signSlized the great conflict
as the heroic age of the republic. We now
sides, ompelled 4 settlement of all the ele-
ments of disunion between tho north and
south. An earlier peace might have been
mere truce 70 be followed by recurring
hostilities. We fought until tho furnace of
war melted all our sscords and nodded us
in ono homogeneous nation.
Let us all 10 devoutly thankful that God
has sslred US W witasss nnd to share the
blessings bestowed by Providence upon our
country, as the compensation for countless
sacrifices made to establish ON just and firm
foundations a government OF the people, by
the people and for the people. For myself,
| rejoice that | am hers to-day TO meet so
many comrades and 40 many foes, and TO
unto with all of you in pledges of friendship
and fraternity. And new l ask you, one
and all, the survivors Of the blue and the
gray, To ahirm with one voice our unanimous
resolve 10 maintain our union, preserve our
institutions and defond our flag.
No less patriotic were the words OF Gov
Gordon Of Georgia. Briefly reviewing the
events of the memorable battle, and speak
ing high enconiuIns Of the fallen, he closed
as follows: OF all the martial virtues the
one which is perhaps most characteristic
Of the truly brave is the virtue OF magma
nimity. MY fairest earldom would give to
bid Clan Alpine's Chieftan live was the
noble sentiment attributed to Scotland's
maguanimous monarch as no stood gazing
into the face of his slain antagonist. That
sentiment immortalZcd by Scott in his
musical and martial verse will associate
for all time the name of Scotland's king
with those of the great spirits of the past.
How grand the exhibitions of the same
generous impulses that characterize the
victors upon this memorable field My
fellow countrymcn OF the north, If l may be
permitted 10 speak for those whom | repre-
sent, let me assure YOU that in the pro-
foundest depths of their nature they recip.
rocatc that generosity with all the manli-
ness and sincerity of which brave men are
capable In token of that sincerity they
Join in Consecrating for annual patriotic
pilgrimage these historic knights which
drank such copious draughts of American
blood poured so freely i'm discharge Of duty
as each conceived it-a Mecca for the
north, which so grandly defended it:
Mecca for the south which 20 bravcly and
persistently stOrmed IL. We join you in
setting apart this land as an enduring
monument Of peace, brotherhood and per-
petual union. | repeat the thought with
additional cmphosis. with singlencss of
! hear; and Of purp sc, ia the name Of a com.
mon country and o. universal human liber-
| " ami ~ the blood of orr fallen brothers.
we unite IN the solemn conservation of
these attle-hallowed hills as a holy eternal
| pledge Of fidelity TO the life. freedom and
unity Of this cherished republic.
Gov. Beaver Of Pennsylvania said:
A generation ago you and we lived together
as citizens Of one country, subject 10 the
! provisions of compact which had been
made thrce-quarters of century before by
our forefathers-itselft the result of SUCCESS
! full revolution-whch we called the Consti-
tuition Of the United states. From the be-
! ginning that compact or agreement had
| been the subject Of divers and diverse in
! tcrpretations. There came time when. in
| Your judgment, the administration of the
affairs of government organized under that
]
cordance with what you considered fair
and just interpretation Could YOU dissolve
| the partnership and keep a share of the
! property! This was the question. Ordi-
nary tribunals could not decide it. You
| yourselves, as we think and you will doubt
| less admit, determined the tribunal which
should try ii. It was a dread tribunal-the
last resort among civilized communities;
dernier resort among brethren. You offer
ed the wage of battle; the offer was accept
ed and the issue joined You, as honorable
men, have stood by and are bound to stand
| by the decision. We, as honorable men, are
| bound to see to IL that the decision is re-
! spccted and that you shall not be called
| upon to admit more or to promise more
than is involved in the decision. Upon this
! platform we meet here to-day. Upon this
| platform we stand as citizens Of a common
country. In standing upon it we claim no
superiority over you; you admit no inferl-
/
A touchingly pathetic incident OF the re-
union was the reading of the following tele-
grams from Mrs. Pickett, widow of the
general who made the famous charge on
the afternoon Of July Sd, 1868:
| To the Chairman of the Committee of the
Gettysburg Reunion, Gettysburg:
! When accepted the suggestions of kind
| friends that my presence would serve as a
| link in the chain of unity between the sec
tions broken by civil war, 1 was ready and
most willing TO make any sacrifice to con-
| tribute TO a perfect union of the survivors
of the blue and gray, upon the field conse-
Grated by the blending of the blood of the
| bravest mon ever upon Gods footstool, but
| knowing that the wings Of sweet peace are
| in unity blended so that no single person
can bind them more closely and the condi-
ton of my health admonishing quiet, ten
der thanks and Gods blessing instead of
my presence.
(Signed) Mrs. GEORGE E. PICKETT
Your friend and comrade has gone 10 join
the heroic columns of American soldiers in
the land o. the leal; but his widow and son
greet you from afar upon the field which
consecrated the blending of the blood of
| brave men. MRs. GEN. PICKETT.
Among the many brilliant and scholarly
addresses, the one delivered by George
H. - -. j.