The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-01
SUNDAY, MARCH /, 1896.
THAT PARADE OF THE BLUE AND
Tile GEAN.


From the time the joint celebration or
Confederate and Union veterans In New
York was announced, though we did
not oppose, We did not encourage H.
The Southern people fully recognize that
this IS now one country, with no South
no North. no East, and no West. Ihey
.fraternize" so to speak, entirely with
citizens from all other parts OF the Onloh'
The Southerners are citizens OF TIE
United states. ana. outside their citizen
shin Of their own States, they know no
other except citizenship OF The United
States.
But this relates 10 the new Unior con-
structcd after the war. IL has no rela-
ton whatever TO the Union under the
Constitution which antedated the war
nor 10 the period OF the war. The Old
Union. formed in 1889. left 10 each State
,ts right to withdraw from IT when that
State pleased. a number of them eXer-
cised that right, cruel and relentless war
was made upon them TO coerce them
into abandoning that right they resist
ell this coercion until they were beaten
beyond further resistance; and then they
agreed to form new Union, without
the right Of secession, in consideration OF
being allowed TO rise from their pros
trate state They propose to live and
abide by this new Union with all the
loyalty that they had for the old one.
But "fraternizing" in respect 10 the
new Union calls for no "fraternizing' IN
respect TO the old Union and in respect
10 that death struggle which we made
for our conception Of IL. If We were
right in that conception-and there Is not
"a reasonable doubt about that-then the
other side was wrong in its conception OF
IL, and there is no more possibility OF
'fraternizing' in respect TO that con-
ception OF it now than there was from
1861 to 1865. Whenever we make turn
out or a show Of Confederate veterans,
We are taking of our hats to and testi-
flying our reverence for n lost but right
eous cause. We are holding funeral
services over the remains of a departed
but a loved one.
General 1. n. Walker. the commander
in-chief Of the Grand Army OF the Re
public. in an address on Thursday last
at a session of the Grand Army held IN
Newark, n. j., made the following re-
marks relative 10 the proposed parade:
There is not loyal Union soldier
who would approve of such thing.
Loyalty deserves its reward, and treason
and treachery should always be pun
ished. There is a broad distinction be-
tween Union soldiers and Confedcrates.
and 50 long as / am at the head Of the
Grand Army of the Republic this disunc-
ton shall be observed, so far a. this
organization Is concerned. / would not
for moment favor any suggestion mat
would offer to place Union and Confed-
crate soldiers side by side in parade.
wearing blue and gray uniforms, even
though they both marched under the flag
OF the United States"
Those are the sentiments that we like
10 hear. General Walker and his com
rades may continue TO think us rebels and
traitors as long as they choose. We
know that we were citizens, heroically de-
fending the dearest rights OF citizens, and
that General Walker and his comrades
were mere invaders. engaged IN a cruel
war OF oppression and conquest. We
had those opinions at the time. and we
have them just as strongly now. We are
glad, therefore, TO hear General Walker
uttering sentiments that are rebuff TO
those OF us who would forget our heroic
part. and we hope that an Confederate
soldiers will take what General Walker
has said 20 heart. and let IL remain a
perpetual reminder to them OF the posi-
ton which they themselves should tena-
ciously hold on TO at all times.