Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-01

I
| aEce of the nation in peace towards Its
| defenders should be equal to its promise lf
them in war. The nation few weeks
| old field marshal. L. s. Grant; 1t shouio
| not forget the men whose tndomitaOle
| courage inscribed the name of Grant upon
| the highest pinnacle of fame. The men
| who did the fighting in the ranks are en-
| titled to equal honor with the commander
who planned the battle. The veteran VINO
| is honest and capable, who has done noth-
| ing in civil life to cast a stain upon ms rec
ord in Leberty's cause can present no high
| er recommendation than an honorable dls-
charge from the Union army or navy.
The Union saved, the blue levied no tri-
| butte upon the gray. In the darkest days
| 70 the civil war there had been no feeling
| of personal enmity between the followers
| of Grant and the followers of Lee; in the
| arrangement between them. They should
| tear from the states vitals the last VeStlge
of sectionalism and eXemplify by tnelr lives
that love is stronger than hate.
In '65 the blue and the gray knew each
other better than in 81. In 81 each under
estimated the manly qualities OF the other.
In the intervening years the many qual,
tiles of each had been put TO the crucial
test in the fierce ordeal of battle. To un-
der-estimate the courage the endurance,
the heroism of the men VINO wore the gray
is to detract from the courage, the endur-
ance, the heroism Of the men who wore
the blue.
"The survivors Of those contendng ar
mics and their children must dwell togeth-
er in the national household joint sharers
in its burdens and blessings, jointly re-
sponsible in shaping its policy and con con
should be discharged by them as patriots
and friends. The children of the North
and the children of the South should be
taught TO inscribe upon their banners,
My country, may II ever be right, but
my country. right or wrong
"As actors in that mighty drama. we re-
call its scenes without passion. and review
its results without regret. Out of that con-
fict came the conviction universal, more
earnest and firm than ever expressed by the
pen of Hamilton. or than fell from the
lips of Webster, that there is no mountain.
river or other natural boundary line which
can ever divide this republic. that we are
one people in custom. language, law, re-
ligion, hope and destiny.
The cause that gave US a Mason and
DiXon's line being removed. there should
exist between the North and the South a
spirit of generous rivalry; the people of
each section should be animated by a
patriotism that begets broad American
ism. a patriotism that is rot cirCum-
scribed by past differences. partisan preju-
dices, sectional animosities, or religious
bigotry. The heart of every American
should swell with just pride at the thought
that the men of 81 and IS, of the North
and South, who displayed such bravery in
battle, such endurance in suffering, such
manhood in defeat, and such magnanim-
itity in victory, We're one people. bone Of
one bone flesh of one flesh, Americans ALL
Divided then, now neither should yiel1 to
the other in love of country. they should
join hands and hearts TO advance all that
tend to the Strengthening, the upbuilding
and the prosperity Of nation conceived
in liberty and dedicated to the proposition
that all men are created equal. Let the
hundreds of thousands of boys and girls in
our public schools. the colleges of the peo-
ple be told the story of liberty. Let them
be taught to regard as the Ark of the
Covenant of their liberties our blessed con-
stitution. and that for the protecting aegis
the patriotism. the manhood of volunteers,
who in sunshine and in storm, in victory
and in defeat, followed Old Glory their
pillar Of cloud by day and of fire by night.
THE era of goOd-felowship between
those who fought en- this and those who
fought on that side of the civil war has
dawned. No man has done more TO bring
the North and South together as brothers
than that ideal volunteer. that stalwart
American, the president of the United
States. William Mckinley.
Hasten the glad coming day when the
blue and the gray as comrades tried. shall
gather around a common campfire. and
there. in spirit of fraternity, charity and
loyalty, under the graceful folds of the
stars and stripes. fight their battles over
again. In this I give utterance to the
hope of my comrades; in this l utter the
peace in this L voice the aspirations of
the great loving heart of the Apostle of
Liberty, Abraham Lincoll. Seventy mill
ions of Americans, with eager, loving
hearts, are anxiousiy awaiting the dawn
Of that glad coming day. They will usher
II In with songs of praise, and prayers of |
tHdHhSElNluBs AIOil lEe AIlanIlC 10 the IA |
cific, and from the Gulf to the Lakes.
In few years at most, the survivors
OF the grandest armies that ever marched |
to battle will have pitched their tents on |
the other shore. Before the ranks are |
1ecimated by the grim mastering officer, |
Death. let there be grand reunion Of the |
blue and gray I'm the capital of the ma |
ton. There, touching elbows. let us march !
iown Pennsylvania avenue. under the folds |
of Old Glory. keeping step to the music of |
the Union; there under the dome of the |
capitol, let the blue and the gray sing the |
hymn:
= North and South, we are met as BROTH |
ers;
East and West are welded as one:
Right of each shall secure his mothers
Child of each her faithful son.
We give thee heart and hand,
Our glorious native land,
For battle has tried thee and time en-
dears,
We will write thy story,
And keep thy glory,
As pure as of old for thousand years."