The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-08-29

the better.
We wish that everybody south OF
Mason & Dixon's Line-everybody
who served in the rebel army, every
body who sympathized with, aided or
abetted the rebellion then, or who
laments for tie Lost Cause now-could
be al Louisville to see the Grand Army
Oh parade, and TO meet Its members In
closest and most intimate social inter-
course. There cannot he too much
intermineling, for all Of this Will be to
the advantage of the Grand Army of
the cause of LOYALTY.
The more the Southerners see Of the
Grand Army the more intimately and
thoroughly they become acquainted with
the men who fill Its ranks the more Will
they be disposed TO an acceptance of the
facts that the war was fought through
by men of the highest character, whose
minds were imbued with the Hottest
patriotism, and who conquered the rebel
armies moi by numbers, but by superior
determination, intelligence, and patriot
ism.
We are willing-we are more than
willing, we are eager-to have the COM
rades placed on exhibition in closest
comparison with those against whom
they fought. We would have them
compared, man by man, or in bodies,
large and small. Livery time this is
done we will gain by it.
The most cherished delusion of tie
rebels is that they monopolized the de-
votion, the seli-abneration, the selt-sacrl-
fee. Their leaders and their newspapers
have filled them with stuff about fight
ing for a principle, and for the dearest
rights of man, while the Union soldiers
were actuated by a whole gamut of lower
motives, ranging from money-greed TO
fanatical haired.
When they come to meet these veter-
ans Of the Union, and to really know
them, they will have forced upon them
the conviction that while there is less
efferyescenee and vociferation about the
men of the North, there Is a depth and
strength Of sentiment in them that will
literally move mountains. They will
understand, then, Of what stuff the men
were composed who forced their flags
through hopeless slaughter to within a
few yards Of the impregnable crest of
Marvels Nights, who withstood with
courage that 10 terrors could shike the
overwhelming assaults at .Chiclsamauga,
and who marched with unfaltering step
through the prolonged horrors of the
Wilderness campaign. Men who did
this were no ordinary soldiers; they
were mo mere mereenaries and time
servers. Such deeds as theirs were only
possible with men who had convictions
Of principle which were stronger than
love Of life.
And though they make less parade Of
their sentiments than is customary south
Of the Ohio River, though they are
seemingly absorbed in matters of per
sonal concern, they are just as resolute
and inhexible in their ideas Of right and
loyalty az when, without cheer, with
ont drum-beat without the slightest
parade of enthusiasm or military osten-
tation of any kind, they rushed upon
the works at Cold Harbor, and fell,
thousand every minute, under the mur-
derous fire they encountered.
Let the Blue and the Gray comningle
Is much as they will in Louisville. Not
with envy mush and slop about forgiv-
ing and forgetting" with no nauseating
maundering about "God knows who was
right" Not a syllable Of that inanity.
Every man in the Grand ARMY knows
beyond a peradventure who was wholly
and forever right and who was entirely
and perpetually wrong. We know it 50
well that there is no need Of reminder.
The Blue can meet the Gray as fellow
Americans, who fought calamity and
devotedly in dispute which was de-
cided wisely and justly by the Supreme
Court Of the Sword. The decision was