The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-06-19
Draw me Line.

How far and in what way should leve
headed and patriotic man affiliate with
ex-confederates in public meetings com
memorating the late civil war;
This is practical question at the pres
ent time. 1t is a question that good
many people would like to have answer
ed. Instances which show the need Of
a right answer are occurring all the
time. Only yesterday a Geographic
dispatch from Mississippi told OF the
chef mastering officer in the G. A. r.
who won great applause by marching
in parade of Confederate vetrans las
naturally as if he had been one oil
them" The applause, it is needles to
remark. was bestowed by Confederate,
not Union veterans or their sympathiz-
ers. At the late Cincinnati convention
the welkln rang with shouts caused by
a demonstration intended to signify
that the blue and the gray were hence
forth to be blended colors. Last
week more or less we'll known
Washington periodical predicted
that soon there would be on
memorial day, north and south. public
posed OF the stars and stripes and the
stars and bars in combination. Some
instances were reported this year of adj
dresses at the graves of union soldiers
delivered by ex-rebel brigadiers. and
we may expect to hear of eulogies upon
the confederate dead pronounced by
former officers in Grants or Sherman's
army. The Press does not need to be
reminded that the war is over. At the
same time we must beg to remind our
somewhat effervescent countrymen,
north and south, that it is over because
it was fought to a finish. That fact
seems somewhat to have slipped the
memories of some well meaning people.
who appear to be laboring under the
impression that the result was a draw.
We yield to none in desire for the bur-
ial of all sectional animosities. None
can be more anxious than we are for by
cones to be bygones. We would fain
have the bloody shirt washed white.
We are more than glad to believe in the
new south. We hail every sign that
1.-THE states lately in rebellion" are now
linked TO the union by golden chains OF
loyal affection. with malice toward
none, with charity fOr ALL" is a maxim
that the Press cherishes as among the
most Godlike words that fell from the
lips of the martyred Lincoln. But re-
Numbering those words. we ask others
not to forget tho words that follow.
with faith in the right" LET us
have peace. we say with General Grant:
but we insist upon it that the glorious
motto shall stand in the order of
thought where its author put it in the
order of time. after the terms 'uncOn-
iltional surrender In brief. the
Press is in favor of reconciliation. but
DOT qualification: in favor OF peace. but
not of pusillanimity. In answering the
question with which this article begins
We say: -
!. Affiliate with ex-confederates on
such occasions as far as, and only as far
Is they are willing to affiliate with you
On the basis of acknowledgment that
here is and ought always TO have been
mt one country and one flag: Kindly
,ut firmly decline, rs in duty bound by |
oyalty and self-respect. to even for one 7,
lour seem to say that it was a right /
hing to fire or that lag and seek TO de- |
troy that country. !
:. If hOnors are TO be paid to the
memory of the dead who died for the !
,ause OF disunion. If the confederate flag /
: to be saluted let them do these /
Kings who can without conscious dis
honor, You cannot.
3. Learn from the example of Presi-
lent Harrison. On his late tour he de- !
ivered many speeches in the south and ,
Ook part in many public receptions.
lie alluded freely and frequently to the |
var OF the rebellion. He never once
Ipologizcd for treason or for his share .
n putting down a reasonable conspir- |
ICY. Yet he was courteous. magnani- |
nous. fraternal. He commanded en- !
husiastic respect. He did vastly more /
o cement the union of north and south /
han he could have done by Stepping
,ver. New York Press. ,