Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-12
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY.
Southern Minister'S View of the u
A. n. Incident I'm New York.


Rev. ]. r. Deering. who was one OF
the most valiant OF Confederate scouts.
when asked by the Harrodsburg Ky)
Democrat what he thought OF the re-
fusaI Of the Grand Army of the Republic
people to endorse the marching in New
York procession of ex-Confederates wear
ing the gray. replied:
"Well, / think we will survive It, In
deed. IT suits us II 1t suits them. You
know II was no affair of ours. The Con-
federates didn't ask or wish or expect
such a thing. Nor do we see how II
could benefit us. 1t Is not easy to Inn
agine Confederate veteran In any
need OF II. We are so conscious OF our
rectitude, so satisfied with our record,
so sure of the vindication Of posterity,
that we are content We have gained
already so largely the worlds admiration
for principle, prowess, endurance, mode
ration. and moral worth that we are not
wanting Grand Army Of the Re
public favors. But We get honest
tributes in every book they print,
in every song they sing, IN
every eulogy they speak, in every monu-
ment they set up, I'm every pension they
draw. They can't glorify themselves
without Witnessing to the patriotism.
valor, and constancy of the southern
people They may not love us, but they
are bound 10 respect us. We need not
turn coats and go into the parade bust
ness. 1t does seem sad. however, that
thirty years of peace have not grown
enough generosity in our northern friends
to afford this scant recognition of southern
sincerity, heroism. and love Of country.
You know that is all that 1t could have
been And there is no possible peril TO
the Union-nor even an implication of
bad intention-in the gray Uniform or
its battle-scarred wearers."
"Will the official correspondence end
matters?" asked the reporter.
"Of course. Confederates can't now join
the procession. Self-respect forbids. To
cast off the coat he wore and disown the
flag that he fought under-that bears the
names. Manassas. Gaines's Mills, Cold
Harbor. Shiloh, Chickamauga, Franklin,
Charlottesville. Fredericksburg, Gettys-
burg-the flag wet with the tears OF fair
women and stained deeper red with the
blood of our bravest-to expect the old
soldier to do that TO get TO march with
those people--is 10 expect the impossible.
In all the country, and In thirty years
of public life, have met but one man
that ! think was sorry enough to do
that. It's only southern sentiment. OF
course, but there's lots of II, / tel your
OWL it not be said that the old rebs
lack love of country and for the old
hag%' asked the reporter.
mo, Their loyalty is like Caesars
wife-has not been questioned. They love
the country, the whole country, as much
as ever They love Dixie better than
ever Fire and sword, pillage and pow
erty, and political subsection have made
her doubly dear; when we forget her
may God forget u.s. We try TO love the
Of ha DannhIi0 Int
such slurs don't aid us much. Isn't it
strange, by the way, that this bitterness
belongs to the victors rather than the
vanoulshed? No such spirit lurked in the
invitation made by the Confederates,
two years ago at their great reunion
| in Birmingham, to the Grand Army Of
| the Republic men to meet us In Atlanta
| the city sacked and burned by them In
| 1864 There was no wish to see them
wear our uniform or cast away their blue
| clothes, when they came last fan TO our
| southern Louisville. They wore the garb
| in which they fought for they marched
| i'm the character Of Federal soldiers.
| But Confederate soldiers must march in
some other costume or not at all! Very
| welll We can stand the snubbing. The
day isn't far distant when all men OF
| soul, who admire valor and love liberty,
who value patriotism and respect devo-
ton TO duty-all who bow to moral worth
| and venerate good citizenship; all who
| appreciate the sublime in self-sacrifce
| for political principle-when all who
| stand for the right of local seif-govern-
| ment will exalt the men OF the South,
| and uncover their heads in honor of our
| stainless Davis, our sainted Polk, our
| dauntless Smms, our terrible Forrest. our
modest Ashby. our mighty Jackson, our
| knightly Johnston, our gallant Pelham
| our peerless Lee. They are as worthy
as our Henry and jefferson, our Marion
and Washington. The same land gave
them birth. holds their ashes and guards
| their fame. We can waltz