The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1889-08-01

GRAND Akaf Asb HEskRAL BiiAse.
A quaftsf Of i century has passed
since the close Of the civil conflict
that threatened the life Of this
nation. So great IL the sacrifice Of
human life entsiled by the war that
a. we look back upon IL from this
distant date, We stand appalled, at
the price paid for the liberty we
enjoy. And now as 10 the survivors
Of that conflict. Would IL not seem
that the hardshIPs they encouD-
tered, the Privations they endured
and the annual depletion Of their
ranks since that date, by wasting
disease or the encroachments OF old
age, should bring them very close
together and strengthen the bond Of
that union that had Its origin In
the tented field and was dedicated
and tempered by the fierce flash OF
deadly conflict, or.in the prison pen.
Individual chickering's and jealousies
and lack Of confidence In each other,
eVeIl.When opinions clash on public
measures, should be all buried from
the world beneath the mantle Of
soldierly love In the organization to
perpetuate the memories and pre-
serve intact the fraterDal relation =
ships Of the long ago. Who, among
us, that have attended q reunion OF
old soldiers and noted their gray
heads and Bonded forms and tOtter-
ing steps, have not felt the justice
OF their claim upon our liberality?
Pleasantly do we extend TO them
our profound consideration for the
posts organized for their mutual
benefit. Through them IL vouch-
safed that annual interchange Of
social greeting, which IL proving an
important factor In the incubation
Of . spirit Of patriotism, that will
make the youth Of the land earnest
defenders Of our sacred shrine. But
II the old defenders of our country
would continue to merit the uni.
verssl respect Of the people they
must keep their order free from in
ternal strifes. They must not allow
their passion to control their judg
meut In their efforts to adjust q
fancied wrong. They must not pun
ish and traduce and prosecute mem
bers Of their own order because, for
sOoth, they have been pronounced
against politics aud measures they
favored.
General Bragg was rs brave q sol
der as ever faced n Southern gun
Through the process Of fire ant
blood he has established his exalted
patriotism which endears him 10 tn
hearts Of his cOuntrymen. He maj
} not measure up TO our standard a.
political leader and statesman, bu
the part he contributed toward
beating back the tide Of rebellion
establishes, In our mind, the sincerity
Of his motives, and condOnes for hi
errors Of judgment. The Grand Arm,
post Of Fond du Lac, Wis, has mad,
q fatal mistake In declining to recOg
niZe him as q cOmrade and In refus
ing to reinstate him to the position
he formerly held in that order
Every member Of the post Is IA
miliar with his brilliant arm,
record. Honorable service and al
honorable discharge from the arm,
are the essential requisites for nd
mission TO the order. Refusal 10 nd
, nit an applicant when possessed O
these, especially when his standing
rs n citizen IL above reprOach, Is
reflection on the unselfishness an,
!, patriotic purity Of the order tina
will create . distrust OF its useful
ness on the part Of the PEOPLE. TIL
indignity General Bragg IL bette
able Ia endure than are those VIII
, took Il upon themselves To insul
the courageous commander Of th
Iron Brigade.