The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-16
THE WAR STILL CONTINUES
A Few Suggestions al TO The Uniform of
the National Brotherhood OF Soldiers.
A Democratic Grand Army Man Warns His
/, Comrades Againstthe New 0rgapization-A
Plea for the Monument Commissioners.

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
The country is to be congratulated in
hat there has been Incorporated in our
city an organization to be known as The
National Brotherhood of Soldiers" 1t is
just the thing the people have long been in
need of. in view of the ~well-known fact
hat the Southerners have. these many
years. just been "honing" for an oppor-
tunity to display their intense love of
those who wore the blue. The information
is impaired, as published IN the newspa-
pers, that only Democratic soldiers are
eligible to membership. the ex-federal
and the ex-rebel to be received
on terms of perfect equality. The
fact that the membership Is lin
tied to soldiers of only the Democratic
house of faith detracts nothing from tho
value of the organization, as the presence
of q Republican soldier might be construed
as an indication that the war is not over.
and that would exert o Observation-Disclosures
on the time-honored gag that has been
adopted as q motto for the ~socIety-'The
wal is over" / rejoice exceedingly that
peace has been declared at last, and feel
to say" like saying: Put it thar.m The
more think of il the more / am delighted;
snd yet can but feel a sense OF depression
when / wonder what kind of a uniform will
probably be worn. A noble beginning is Sc
cured by adopting 'Old Glory" to lead them.
That's most excellent; itcannot be improved
upon; it's the very best that can
be obtained in all this broad
land of ours, and that's q mortal
fact. even if it be carried by one of the
gentier sex-she can'thelp that. Of course,
the shoes TO be worn by the Nationals will
not cut much of a figure. But the trousers.
Will one leg of the same be blue and the
other grey. or will the front part be gray
and the back blue, OF will they be hinged.
streaked and striped~llke the proverbial
side-sh0w tiger. alternating with the gray
and the blue. OF will they be gray cloth
spangled over with blue stars' / confess,
this gets me. But for the coat. | think the
correct thing would be to do as the ladies
do-GOd bless 'em!-make the garment of
one kind of material and the sleeves of an
other; that is, have the coat of rebel gray
and the sleeves of velvet blue, or vice
versa. with red. gray and blue but
tons. made of anything but Amer
lean tin. The epaulettes might very ap-
propriatelv be constructed OF old brass.
which could. no doubt, be obtained from
vited down Soutn before the war and used
by the rebel grey, possibly successfully,
against the loyal blue. As for headgear.
how would il do TO have the grey slouch
hat worn on dress-parade, and the blue
cap in the ~"fortss" Or for the ex-federal
TO wear the grey slonch and the ex-rebel
the blue CAPT Any way. so that the hereto
fore antag onistic colors be caioled into as
sumlng the pleasant task of furnishing to
an admiring world the loving spectacle of q
disunited country placed again In good
working coalition. For q cockade | would
suggest An English sparrow, holding in his
bill the cotton-brench of peace. which
would help to complete the picture with
England on top, as usuan. Boom the
brother Hood Ell.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. Is.