Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-27
NOT IN BLUE AND GRAY
The Proposed Great Parade in New York
Declared OF
The Grand Army Refuses to Partici.
Honors the Confederate Emblems.

The proposed joint parade of Union and
confederate veterans in New York on the
occasion of unwilling the confederate monu-
ment In New York will not occur. The
plan was to have $1,000 veterans Of the
south in line wearing the gray uniform
and as many Of the boys in blue from the
G. A. r. 1t was on this matter of the uni
form that the idea failed. The Grand Army
refused to participate in an act of recog-
milton and honor to the gray badge OF
treason" as one of the leaders in the Or
ganization spoke of the confederate uni
form today. Col. Walker. communicating
chief of the G. A. R., told the New York
men that the Grand Army of the Republic
could not rs an organization join in any
public demonstration and march with those
who fought against the Union. clothed in
the uniform Of the cause that was shot Ia
death by the Grand Army of the Republic
thirty years ago."
When this statement of Col. Walker was
the confederates of New York in the ar
rangement of the demonstration, he said
That OF course, puts an end to the parade
The work of arranging for 1t will stop a,
once. and regret that l have been pr0mi-
nent In working up interest in 1t in the
south. OF course, no parade such as was
planned could be a success when feelings
such as those expressed by Gen. Walker
cAlSl the SITdnQ ARMY OIL the Republic.
Gen. Walker was found at the Ebbitt
House this morning, and he read the New
York dispatches announcing the failure of
the idea of a parade.
1T Is all true he said. II said that the
G. A. r. could not join in the parade If the
confederate uniform was to be worn by
the old soldiers of the south. For associa-
tons sake in their own demonstrations in
the south it may be all right for them to
wear it. yet it would look better not to do
So The gray is the color of treason, the
blue is the hue of loyalty The two will
not mix. If the men from both sides were
to appear in citizens dress the affair might
be beyond criticism. But the Grand Army
Will not recognize the gray in the manner
proposed
Il do not say this simply as my own
opinion and Independently of advice from
my comrades. l have taken pains to as
certain the wishes Of other men in the
Grand Army. and know that opinion upon
this matter is almost unanimously adverse
leading Grand Army men all over the
country, in Philadelphia, Chicago, Mil
waukee, Detroit, st. Paul, Cincinnati, Pitts
burg, ST. Louis. Indianapolis, and here in
Washington. and f1rd my comrades to a
man opposed to this joint parade arrang-
ed i'll New York. And when this opinion is
expressed it does not follow that it is par
tisan or prejudiced. 1t simply means that
the members of the Grand Army are thor
oughly patriotic and loyal, and it is fncon-
sistent and inc onSruous for them, while at
firming principles of loyalty, at the same
time to approve or recognize in the least
degree the uniform of treason. The Grand
Army has on more than one occasion dem
onstrated its respect for the southern sol
dierS and has given abundant testimony of
its earnest desire to promote peace and es-
tabish thoroughly fraternal feeling be-
tween the north and the south and the men
who fought en- both sides. But the sooner
the principles of the lost cause and the be-
lief that the south was right cease to
be cherished and repeated the better 1t
Will be for the whole country"