Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-04
WALKERS REPORT
The Grand Army Commanders
Review of the Year.
HIS TUSsLE WITH CHAs. L. DANA

Confederate Reun;on-O Objections to the
Plan That Caused Its Abandonment
The Gray Uniform "A Feature Walker
Did Not Approve.His Course Univer-
sally InGorsed-Military Training in the
Schools.
st. Paul, Sept. 4-The feature of yes
t:rday morning in the Grand Army en-
rampment was the annual address of the
commander-in-chief, General Walker. AZ
ter passing over the reports of staff Of
| hcers General Walker gave the CORE
spondence he has had with Charles A.
Dana relative to a proposed grand reunion
ci Union and Confederate soldiers in New
York city. The first letter was from Mr.
Dana proposing the plan. General Walker
; states that during my visit TO New
| York, in November, | learned that this
scheme was being agitatcd by few ex-
Confederate residents of that city. who
hoped to advance their personal Interests,
| and that they were seeking to secure the
support Of the prom ncnt professional and
business men of that metropolis to aid
them in their plans"
| Coinman,Icr-i Chief Objects.
I
objections. the pith of which is the fol-
| Ing: If, however, it means that they
| are to march, the one in blue and the
! other in gray, as the representatives of
the two great hosts that then con-
tended for the victory. another and
much graver question would be pre-
| sCntcd for determination. If they are
| so to march as to be distinctly repre-
| sentative of the lines that then divided
| them, logically they should march un-
! der different banners. and |. for one
! would he unalterGbly opposed to seeing
! column il Sray marching under the
| stars and stripes. These two columns
| would not represent the same idea nor
| did they eve heretofore. While We
! fully appreciate the valor of the men
who bore arms against us. and gladly
| receive ana welcome them as citizens
| to all the privileges and honors of a
common country we both love, it is the
| unalter2ble conviction of the Grand
Army OF the Republic that those who
wore one uniform and fought under one
flag, fought for their country and We're
! in the right. while those VINO wore the
| other uniform and fought under the
other banner. fought against their
| country and were wrong.
| States His Position More Fully.
! II he trand Army of the Republic has
for the cardinal principles of its creed fra
| tcrnity, charity and loyalty and its mem-
bcrS everywhere and at all times heartily
extend in their broadest and friendliest
| sense the sentiments these tcncts cmbody
| to those who fought so valiantlv against
them in the armies of the rebellion. At
the same time they do not forget the great
danger into which our Union was brought
and the sacrifices and patriotic services of
those who so bravely offered and freely
| gave their lives for Its salvation and be-
| hcNinG that this memory is of momentouS
value and should live through all &c lcra-
tions they would not encourage anything
that would tend to etface il from the
minds of the plcoplc.
| One Flag. Then One Uniform
You say that ii is intended that there
shall be but one flar, that Of the IInjtel
states, and that it shall float over the
whole parade Why not not REQUIRE the
same rs to uniform: The gray uniform is
Just rs objectionable as the flag that il
fought under. The distinctive color of
the Union is blue. The sooner those who
Wore the gray cease trying to symbolizn
tine lost cause by flag or uniform. and
representing themselves as u distinct part
cf the people of our common country. the
sooner Will "A fuller realization of the
festival of patriotism and fratcrnal CO.
operation which you suggest, be brought
about"
| Pensions and Sons of Veterans.
After stating that his position on this
matter vas universally indorsed by the
| veterans Colonel Walker proceeds to
discuss other matters. on the subject
of pensions General Walker suggests
that all be paid by checks from Wash
inGton. He speaks of the Sons of Vet
Grams as our natural successors. They
sing the songs we sang. and carry the
same flag under whose starry folds we
fought. As we come off guard and take
up our line of march to the eternal
camping grounds We shall he more con-
tent II the picket line is still manned
and the uniform is still blue"