The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-10
BURYING THE PAST.

very remarkable thing Is going on in
Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio. The Ma
tional encampment of the Grand Army of
the Republic has opened at Louisville, the
Sons of Veterans are ssembling for their
annual encampment at Knoxville, the
Army of the Tennessee is gathering at
Cincinnati for its annual muster, and the
dedication of the National Military Park
of Chattanooga and Chickamauga will occur
on the 18th, Goth and 21st inst. Thus all
of the great gatherings in commemoration
of the Civil War are being held south of
Mason and Dixon's line except the one in
Ohio. This is the first time that such a
thing has occurred since the war.
A feature more significant than the fact
that these reunions are held on the soil of
the old enemy is the hearty cooperation
and fellowship of the old contending forces.
From every quarter of the South, Con-
federate veterans are assem- bling as visitors
20 the Grand Army encampment at Louis
vile, and elaborate preparations for their
reception and entertainment have been
made, both by the citizens of Louisville
and by the members of the Grand Army.
The old enemies are to meet on terms Of
friendship warmer than have ever existed
before. We can imagine the stories that
will be told, and the notes OF famous bat
ties that will be compared by the men who
took part in them on opposing sides.
Even this manifestation of fraternal
spirit is eclipsed in Importance by the cir
cumstances attending the formation of the
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National
Military Park. The Grand Army of the
Republic, from the very nature of its or
ganization, cannot admit Confederate vet
Grams to membership, and hence there
cannot be that firm knitting of friendship
between the two sides which would pro-
duce a perfect healing of the old sores.
The younger association, however, the
Sons of Veterans, whatever may be the re-
strictions which its constitution imposes
at present, has the opportunity to bring
together the sons of the old soldiers on
both sides.
1t is the through facts attending the insti-
tuition of the National Military Park that
perfect equality between the blue and the
gray has been accomplished. The formal
dedication Of this reservation will be con-
Quoted by the Government itself, and
hence there will be nothing sectional in
the affair. More than that, the old SOL
diers on both sides of the conflict worked
together for the establishment OF the park
and for the determination of the various
localities where occurred the more import
ant events of these bloody battles. Where
brave leader fell, on whatever side he
fought, there a monument has been
erected. In the imposing ceremonies OF
dedication the South as well as the North
will participate. These ceremonies will
constitute the most imposing public spec
tacle ever conducted by the Government OF
this country.
All these circumstances show that the
old men who fought each other so bravely
when young have returned to the natural
affection of a common blood and a COM
mon interest that was SO rudely severed
thirty-hve years ago. A remarkable
feature of the Civil War was the absence
of personal rancor between belligerents
Not single trace of that savage hatred
which may exist between naturally
antagonistic races when at war was
observable in the great American conflict.
The stories of sentries on opposite sides
hobnobbing and exchanging the news
when they were certain of not being dis
covered are endless.