The Charlotte Democrat., 1896-03-06
The Gray and the Blue.

The present Commander in Chief OF
the Grand Army of the Republic, Gen.
Ivan n. Walker, has found several OBJ
jections to the great parade of war vet
Grams to be held in New York this
year.
One objection is that the Fourth of
July is not good time for such parade
because so many people are away by hill
side or seaside in that month, and SO
many more, who can take only day in
the country choose that day. Another
and more serious which we may add,
was noted long ago, is that the Fourth
| of July is usually very hot, 80 that even
| military and patriotic professions, which
in former years used to be held on that
day, are now at least in large cities very
generally given up.
That is a fair subject for consideration.
The Fourth of July is the cay of days for
such parade, and it only remains to be
seen whether the objections to the heat
in marching can be so over come or re-
duced as to use this most appropriate of
all days for the reunion. If they can tn en-
this is the day to be chosen.
But Commander in Chief Walker makes
mistake in tone and spirit when he
further urges, according to report, that
Eve cannot as an organization join any
public demonstration and march with
those who fought against the Union,
was shot to death by the Grand Army of
the Republic thirty y ars ago" On the
contrary, it is precisely because the cause
of secession is dead and buried that those
who fought for it are heartily welcome to
| fhooo h1 -
1t is the cause of Union and brother
such celebration can be perfect only
when North and South JOIN in it.
| Let them come, too, by all means, as
far as possible in the gray and blue they
wore in those bygone days. Such pro-
cession will make vastly finer pageant
than one in everyday wear. but, above
all it will appeal more vividly to the
imagination in showing how the foes of
1861 are the friends and brothers of 1896.
The real trouble, we fear, is that very
few uniforms Of thirty years ago, gray
or blue or butternut, exist now. Many
were turned piecemeal to economical uses
after the war moths have done for
others, and what we now see mostly are
mower uniforms which, in the value of
association, are not at all the same thing.
Yet such fow Cf the old uniform as
may come let US welcome with their
| wearers.
Commander in Chief Walker is ell
wrong IN his present way of looking at
the parade, and will find second thoughts
wisest and broadest. 1t is not at all
necessary that the Grand Army should,
'as an organization" JOIN in the parade,
although individual Posts may find it
convent to come as such. But the
greatest interast would be excited by
organizations that existed during the
war itself. 1t is the survivors of COM
panies, squadrons, battaIions, regiments,
brigades, divisions, corps, and armies that
it will be interesting to see marching to-
gether.
From this ever memorable procession,
the like of which is not known in history
the members Of the Grand army or the
Loyal Legion or other associations are
going to be kept out. They will come
with their comrades of bivouac or battle
field, united here from many towns and
States. They will be animated by the
same spirit that last year caused Confed-
crate veteran so heartily at Louisville
The coming parade will be wholly ex-
ceptional, and as it is tho first, so it may
be the only one of the sort. And we
may add that it could come at no better
time for our relations with foreign lands
1t will show that we are hand in hand
in loyal brothhood, land all for the Union!
l-Ne1 York Sun.