New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY.

II Is full time to acknowledge that the war is
over when the rebel yell is heard with Joy anu
satisfaction in the streets OF an Ohio town. FRI
day was a great day in Canton, but that would
not be an important fact II it had not also been
a great day for the whole country Hundreds or
delegations from all parts Of the Union have Wis
tied the Republican candidate and not single
one OF these representative greetings has been
without keen interest for loyal citizens every
where or failed to elicit a sympathetic and In
structivn response from Major Mckinley. But 1t
can be truly said without disparagcment Of any
other gathering or address that the capture OF
Canton by the Confederate veterans Is the most
significant incident Of the campaign and that in
the speech which they their old antagonists, and
the thronging multitude of all parties and condi-
tons heard with delight and punctuated with
ringing cheers Mckinley accomplished the not
able feat Of surprising himself.
In former campaigns and on many occasions
Of patriotic celebration, the South has given as
surances Of devotion 10 the Union and Of readi-
ness to unite in its defence against any foe.
These earnest professions Of loyalty have gener-
ally. and with increasing confidence and pride.
been accepted at their face value. Now. for
the first time they being put to a
nominally marching under an alien flag, but be-
yond the shadow Of a doubt he IL making a
treacherous and deadly assault upon the Nations
character. which is its life. 1t is pre- eminently
suitable time for patriots Of every part and party
of the country to join ranks in defence Of COM
mon heritage Of honor.
Say, what is honor? IT'S the finest
or Justice which the human mind can frame.
Intent each lurking frailty to dsclaim.
And guard the way of life from all offence
Suffered or done.
There Is no difference in essence nor In the ag-
| gregate consequences Of individual defaults be
| tween the honor of person and the honor Of n
| country In either case the loss means ultima e
| ruin At this moment concerted abandonment
of the standard of integrity by an uncertain nun
Der of citizens. whether with or without full
consciousness Of what they are doing Is prophetic
| of National degradation. and that will inevitably
be its result, if their propaganda Of folly and
| wicke(ness wins this fight. And therefore the
| Confederate veterans who assembled at Canton
| last Friday and the yet unnumbered host whom
they represented In a superb demonstration OF
| loyalty. can never hope to find a nOblcr oppor
tunity to prove their devotion to their country
| 1.-THE las. full measure Of devotion all hope may
never be exacted: but If 1t ever should be, the
service so rendered could hardly be more indis
pensable than that which this emergency de-
| mands
The heroes in gray who once sacrificed all they
had in possession and in prospect for cause
which they deemed sacred. testify In the most i'm
pressive manner possible to their appreciation OF
the existing crisis when they rally In support OF
a candidate who, under other circumstances
might have represented only political policies
which they will never advocate. but who now
stands for the one principle which they will never
surrender National honor is not mere decOra
ton. II Is a necessity. That Is the pre-eminent
issue at stake in this contest. and that IL thu
| meaning of the visit which thousand Southern
veterans Of another war involving the integrity