Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-07-13
BLUE AND GRAY MEET.
The Gettysburg Reunion a Grand
SucfpSS.

mics stood in battle array, awaiting the
contest, the final settlement Of which was
10 decide the nature and vitality OF great
political issue. How that terrible contest
ended is too recent history 20 need recapitu-
lation now.
After "a quarter Of a century the historic
field witnesses the return of many of the
brave men who fought for tho honor and
perpetuity OF a great cause, now, howev-
er, TO meet those who wore the gray, not as
foes 10 be conquered, but as brothers and
friends-memberSof a union indissOluble.
The exercises of the reunion have been
varied indeed. Monuments have been ded-
icated 10 the memory Of brave men whose
lives were offered u willing sacrifice upon
the altar OF their cOuntrY's honor, speeches
delivered recountng the valor Of brave
men and paying loyal tribute 10 them The
address Of Gen. Sickes was fratcrnal and
patriotic, closing in the following words:
The war OF 81 > was our heroic age 1t
demonstrated the vitality Of republican in
stituttOns IL illustrated the martial spirit
and resources and genius OF the American
soldier and sailor. IL was war in which
sentiments and ideas dominated interests.
Tho lavish sacrifices OF blood and treasure,
the unyleldlng tenaclty OF the c0mOatants,
the constancy and trmness OF the people on
both sides men and women, old and young,
rich and poor, signali1ed the great conflict
as the heroic age Of the republic We now
see that the obstinancy of the war, on both
sides compelled settlement OF all the ele-
ments of disunion between tho north and
south. An earlier peace might have been
mere truce TO be followed by recurring
hostilities. We fought until tho furnace OF
war melted all our discOrds and nodded us
in one homogeneous nation.
Let us all be devoutiy thankful that God
has spared US TO witness and 10 share the
blessings bestowed by Providence upon our
country, as the compensation for countless
sacrifices made 10 establish on just and firm
foundations a government Of the people, by
the people and for the people. For myself,
| rejoice that ! am here to-day 70 meet so
many comrades and - many foes, and %
unite with all OF you in pledges Of friendship
and fraternity. And now | ask you, one
and all the survivors of the blue and the
gray, 10 affirm with one voice our unanimous
resolve 10 maintain our union preserve our
institutions and defend 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 enCOmiUms OF the fallen, he closed
us follows: OF all the martial virtues the
one which i perhaps most characteristic
Of the truly brave il the virtue Of magma
uimitv. My fairest earldOm would give To
bid Clan Alpine's Chieitan live was the
noble sentiment attributed 10 Scotland's
magnanimOus monarch as ne stood gazing
into the face Of his slain antagonist. That
sentiment immortalized By Scott In his
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
vctOrs upon this memorable field. NY
fellow cOuntrymcn Of the north. if NAV be
permitted TO speak for those whom ! repre-.
sent let me assure YOU that in the pro-
fOundcst 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
.oin in Consecrating for annual patriotic
pilgrimage these historic knirh's which
drank such copiOG, draugh's OF American
blood poured 80 freely in dis barge OF duty
as each conceived ia Mecca for the
north, which 50 granaly defended Il:
Mecca for the south. which 80 bravclv and
persistcntlv stOrmcd il We Join YOU in
setting apart this land rs an enduring
monument Of peace. brotherhood ana per
petual union. ! repeat the thought with
additional emphasis, with singeness Of
heart and OF purpose, in the name of com
mon country and OF universal human liber-
" and by the blood Of our fallen brothers
we unite in the solemn conservation OF
these battle hallowel hills "a holy eternal
pledge Of fidelity 10 the life freedom and
unity OF this cherished republic.
Gov. Beaver of Pennsylvania said
y generation ago you and we lived together
as citizens Of one country. subject 10 the
made three quarters of century before By
cur forefathers-itself rhe result of success
full revolution which we called the COnSti-
tuition Of the United states. From the be
ginning that compact or agreement had
been the subject of divers ana diverse in
corporations. There came a time when. in
yopr judgment, the administration Of the
affairs OF government organized under that
agreement would not be conducted in &c
cordance with what YOU considered "a 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, IA we think and yOu viii doUbt-
less admit, determined the tribunal which
should try IL. II was dread tribunal-the
last resort among civilized communities:
dcrnicr resort among brethren. You offer
ed the wage of battle; the offer was accent
ed and the issue Joined. You, as honorable
men. have stood by and are bound % stand
by the decision We rs honorable men, are
bound % see 20 il that the decision il re-
spected and that YOU shall not be called
upon to admit more or - promise more
than is involved in the decision. Upon this
platform we meet here today. Upon this
platform we stand as citizens of "A common
country In standing upon il we claim no
superiority over YOU, YOU admit no inferl-
GRITTY 20 us
\ 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 81, 1873:
To the Chairman Of the Committee OF the
G"ttysburg reunion Gettysburg
When accepted the suggestions Of kind
friends that my presence would serve as
link in the chain OF unity between the sec
tiOns broken by civil war | was ready and
most willing 60 make any sacrifice 70 con
tribute 70 perfect union OF the survivors
Of the blue and gray. upon the field conse-
Grated by the blending Of the blood OF the
bravcst men ever upon Gods foots;ool. but
knowing that the wings Of sweet peace are
in unity blended 50 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.
tSgned) Mus GEoRGE +. 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. Mus GEN. PICKETT
Among the many brilliant and scholarly
addresses, the one delivered by George
William Curtis stands rs a masterpiece OF