The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-14
TWO PATRIOTIC EXPRESSIONS.

was abandoned because il was opposed
by the chief of the Grand Army, the
News and Observer contrasted It with
the action Of the Chicagoans who gar
landed the Confederate monument IN
that city.
1t is gratifying to know that the
spirit of sectionalism that actuated the
letter of the commander-in-ehief Of the
a. A. II. is not shared by the press Of
New York Two of the leading Repub-
can papers of that city repudiate IT,
The Mail and Express says:
"In bidding a final adied to the pro
iect for q reunion of the Blue and the
Gray in this city, we do 50 not in bit
tel,nees. but with keenest regret that
men who have eyes to see, are yet
blind. Il have shot mine arrow Der
the house, and hurt my brother might
ttly be the epitaph of the chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic. II he rs
right in his expressed contempt for tie
gray which once covered the breasts
OF brave but mistaken men; If he rep
resents the majority in his refusal to
take by the hand the foe of a genera
ton ago, or to recognize as halioWed
ground the earth which covers the
Confederate dead, then we fail to com
prehend the lesson of Lincoln's life or
the nagnanimity of Grant at Apo
mattox. TO that patriotism which
cannot be as great in peace as in war
we refuse to pin our faith in the re-
public's future.
1T was a splendid dream, this pro-
posed reunion; and it has had rude
awakening. To those responsible for
the result we are willing to accord the
credit of honesty. They are not will
fully wrong; but that they are wrong
a dav not distant will prove. A single
weak link destroys the value of the
strongest chain; and so the utteranee
| of one man in official place has destroy
ed the hapDiest demonstration OF the
greatest fact in the history OF the Ma
tion. The farther we get from this
abandoned scheme by the lapse OF
time, the more wildly will be presented
the narrow line of prejudice which
separates personal pride from patriot
ic purpose. We had hoped in this
dream of ours to paint a picture more
inspiring i'm theme, more thrilling in
treatment, than all the scenes of car
mage that ever held us with silent elo-
uuence before the canvass of genius.
But one who doesn't know, and there
fore cannot appreciate, has thrust his
inky pen into the colors-and so 1T
ends"
Leslie's Weekly, edited by VIM. J.
Arlxell and Mr.. Russell Harrison, son
of the ex-President, also speaks out
in similar vein showing that there is
broad spirit of nationalism and justice
in the santum We quote its editor
ial:
'tThe ommander-in-chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic is evident
Nv unworthy of his place. Certain
ly ne does not represent the domin-
ant and peryading American spirit.
The great body of American citizens
have outgrown the resentments and
exasperations of the Civil War. They
are broadly national in their sympa-
thies and iedas. The Grand Army COM
mander is sectional, narrow-minded,
and rancorous of temper and purpose.
This is shown conclusively by his hos
tility to the proposed joint parade in
this city, on the Fourth of July next,
of veterans of the Union and Confed-
crate armies.
The suggestion that parade Of this
kind be held on the one hundred and
twentieth anniversary of our national
independence has been received by men
Of all parties, in all parts of the coun-
try, with enthusiastic approval. 1T is
almost universally felt that it would
strengthen greatly the sentiment Of
national brotherhood and afford an evil
dence of the absolute unity Of our
people which would immensely inn
press foreign nations. But General
ivan n Walker thinks otherwise, and
so he grayelg announces that Grand
Army men cannot and ''Will not join
any public demonstration and march
with those who fought against the
Union. clothed in the uniform" Of the
Lost Cause.
I'VE must be permitted TO say that
we believe General Walker to be mis-
taken ia this statement. The veterans
of the Union army are not controlled
by any such feeling of sectional preju-
dice or malignant hate as he displays.
On the contrary, they are encouraging
everywhere the spirit Of fraternity.
Down in Georgia, a town established
by men who wore the blue, and which
has to-day population Of ten thou
sand, has given to its streets, alter
nate1y, the names of Union and Confed-
crate generals. In Louisiana Union
veterans parade with Confederates on
Southern Memorial Day. There and else
where the bloody chasm has been clos
ed forever. AS class, the survivors
of the loyal Federal host have not for
gotten General Grants patriotic ex-
| ample and counsels in the direction of
national rehabilitation along the lines
of amity and goodwill. They remem-
Der that all the influence of his domin-
ating personality was constantly en-
ployed for the obliteration of section
al antipathies, and they believe that if
| alive to-day he would welcome eagerly
an opportunity to ride side by side
with Lee and jackson in such q process
| sion as that which is now proposed.
| ca xxya ra nfiHpnf that. they