Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-16

InattGX and the liberal and honorable
terms which he accorded to the confederate
feeling entertained by the entire Army OF
the Potomac. and reciprocated by the
Army of Northern Virginia. How strange 1t
now appears, in the light of the record
which the veterans of the Union and con-
federate armies have made since the war,
that there could have been a douot eX
pressed anywhere, at any time. that they
would be as faithful in peace as th.y had
been brave and honorable in war. The
country has every reason to be proud Of
the civil well as military, record CO
her veteran soldiers. The qualities devel-
oped in these men during four years of
war equipped tEem to perform, more in
telligently and faithfully al! of the duties
of an American citizen than any equal
number of men who took no part in the
war. They know, as no other men can
know. all the horrors of war; and they
appreciate. other men can aDpre
ciate, ali the blessings Of peace. Sincere
and earnest in their convic tons, and yet
full of charity for those who differ with
them. they constitute the most consarva-
tive body of citizens in this country To-Day.
Representing all shades of political opinion,
they are loyal to the flag of their country,
and whatever their political Affiliate ms
may he, Will always be found on the side
of law and order. No veteran who faced
the lannon's mouth during that war is to-
day an anarchist, d socialist, revolution
list, fomenter of sectional strife, or has
lost faith in his country. The southern
good faith, when he laid down his s-nIs at
Appomattox, and, from that time, has
given his best energies to repairing the
wastes of war, to developing the resources
of the country and to the prom otion of the
influence and honor of our county among
the nations of the world.
The Victories of Peace.
Defeated in war, confronted with loss OF
citizenship. embarrassed by the loss OF
property, and often by the loss of home. he
comm enced again the hard struggle of life
amid adverse social and physical cond
tons sufficient to have appalled, and dis
couraged any but the most resoIute heart.
But with a soldiers courage and resc-
luteness Of purpose which commands thc
highest respect aud admiration he has
pressed steadily forward. untfl today he
occupies a leading position in every walk
i'll life. His potent voice is heard in both
houses of Congress uron every important
public question: he upholds the honor of
our flag at foreign capitals: he expounds
the law from the highest court in the land
and administers with conceded ability and
success our naval affairs. Verify.
Peace hath her victories
No less renowned than war.
Comrades of the Army of the Potomac.
in extending the right hand of fellowship
to our brothers and comrades of the Army
Of Northern Virginia, and in rejoicing with
them over the blessings of peace the pres
ervation of the Tnicn and the complete OBJ
livion of the prejudiceS and bitterness of
the past. let not forget to be thankful
to our Heavenly Father, under whose guild
ance We have been permitted 10 emerge
from the darkness ard misery of civil war
into homo rable peace and complete recon-
Citation. Let us beSeech Him that this re-
union of brave and loyal Americans may
be a rebuke to thoughtless designing
men who talk fiippantly of sectional war
or a war between classes in this glorious
republic. and that it may be bow of per-
petual promise seen throughout the world,
that the Constitution and the Union estab-
iished by our fathers shall endure. and that
fratricidal blood shall more stain the
soil of our beloved country.
Veterans of the armies Of Grant and Lee
and fellC -ccuntrymen of the north ard
the south. the hearts OF the citizens of the
national CO pital are stirred with patriotic
emotion by your presence here today. They
are proud of your achievements in war and
in peace: the memories of the past are
Softened and made mere sacred by this
joyous reunion. In their name and in be-
half of the municipality 1 extend to you
a hearty greeting.
At the conclusion of Col Truesdells re-
marks there was loud and continued ap-
plause and when quiet was restored an
eloquent and feeling invocation was pro-
nounced by Rev. j. W. Sayers. the chap
lain of the Department of Pennsylvania.
G.. A. r. 1t a powerful prayer Of
thanksgiving and created a deep impress
SION
Col John w. Frazier. the commander of
the Phila ielphia Brigade Association, was
greeted with applause as he stepped for
ward to address the gathering. The politi-
cal tendency OF his remarks was noticed,
particularly his pointed words about I'M
migration Col. Frazier spoke as follows:
Comrades and Fellow Citizens: When
the people of our whole country read in the
daily papers tomorrow of this reunion OF
L fhay- fool md
that the north and the south are closer
together upon the thirty-fourth anniversary
o. the battle of Antietam than they nave
been at any other time during the present
century.
And this reunion of the blue and the
gray has not been without opposition. the
most serious having been made by clergy
man. who did more in five little minutes 10
binder fraternity AMI charity between the
Forth and the south than he could do to
establish peace on earth, goodwill to men,
we're he to preach and practice for life
time the lesson taught by the Man OF Naz-
areth upon the Mount of Olives
But despite opposition, and some or IT
came from the north also, the veterans or
the blue and the gray meet here In the ma
TONS capital not as they met thirty-four
wears ago upon Antietams field of bloody
battle but as the survivors of the Philadel-
phia Brigade and Picketts Division met in
| the bloody angle of Gettysburg nine years
ago-in paternity. charity and loyalty.
I'VE meet not in the strife of battle and
the havoc of war, but in the interest of
peace of country, of home and humanity.
THE veterans of the armies Of Grant and
of Lee meet here to solemnly pledge -hem-
selves to the supremacy of law. of order, Of
government and of Constitution. We meet
not to renew allegiance to a dead past. but,
elbows touching elbows, to stand together
for such a living present as Whimsical
of the thorns of strife and sorrow-bring
a future golden with peace and prosperity.
I'VE meet, as Gen. Aylett so bravely said
at our Gettysburg reunion. TO follow the
living flag tina; floats from Key West to
BE rings strait, from Bunker Hill to San
Francisco and here let me diverge to say
that the confederate veteran who made
| that patriotic utterance went from Apo
mattox. barefoot. ragged. penniless and in
despair. to the moke-blackened walls Of
what had once been a cheerful southern
| home but destroyed by the havoc Of war.
| That mana type of his comrades of the
| scuth-stands here today patriotic citi-
| zen of the United States as there Is in all
! this land. God bless him and all those who
| stand with him.
Eloquent Tribute to the Flag.
| I'VE meet to forever preserve. protect and
| uphold the flag that waves in peace and in
I