New-York tribune., 1899-09-23
4 PLACE FOR THE GRAND ARMY.


II is perhaps to be expected that there shoulu
be some friction over the arrangements io' Wv
Dewey parade. The question OF Preoou'"o
WAYS and everywhere Is likely 10 pe 'n' -
of heartburnng 1t makes no dlHerence WV Wv
Il Is q public funeral in Havana or u puoi'| ="
rade in New-York; somebody WHO i w
signed TO II wants the right OF lhe ino' anu
sincerely convinced that if ne docs ho' ~,
not merely he personally VIII pe lhsui''u' o"'
.,ao .or,o couse or idea which he represents
will be dishonored. II is lfnpoSSloio =" ~,
oirornostances that everybody should he salts
fed Soothing one set or lnJureu "'""s'
on,v nrovoke III nature on the part of those
displaced for the purpose lhere c"" "c "U
=, trouh,e II anv one persons or organization
susceptbtles are allowed to interfere wiz"
smcb arrangements as the general plan of the
ceremonies demands.
The hold Of the veterans OF the NNh ""'
on the affections Of the American peop'e J"
such however that nobody would desire 10 see
them needlessly deprived OF any honor OF re-
fused the most favorable position posSiple eve"
in connection with a celebration or announcer wal
than that in which they won their 1alhe' ! i"el'
fore II is to be hoped that some compromise
may be reached which will enable the HlcIh
hers of the Grand Army 10 have their part
IN welcoming Admiral Dewey without peihg' as
they naturally fear. physically overburdeheu Ill
thpir old age and without feeling that the! are
set aside or held in light esteem. ana IL SeeliS
% us that if ought not to he Impossible 10 ar
rive at some solution which would not call for
tho overturning of carefully arranged plans or
IN onv vav detract from the parade as spec
taCle
Possibly suggestion might be found IN the
old custom which on certain occasions ol pa
rade placed the veterans of France along 'he
route of march, so that the troops passed Ne
tween their lines Thus they were honored ny
having a conspicuous place where they sa"
evorvthing and were seen by everybody anu
Of tbc same fine avoided exertions unhtted 10
tboir strength The members Of the Grand
ARMY might be invited to form n standing line
on each side of Fifth-ave.. from the arch as
for nm as their number may allow. Thus they
Norld he saved the fatigue of the long march.
Thov could he assembled in the side streets
peor tho arch long after the procession had
stor+od Tins reducing their exerton to the
minimum. and be brought into the avenue as
= crord of honor lust before the head of the
line was due. Standing in single rank at each
noss IN the occasion. The Admiral would pass
directly before their eyes. they would appear 10
the ppople as men chosen in honor TO marx out
his path. and the spectacle would he much I'M
proved by having line Of men drawn up IN
military precision. with the crowds and stands
behind them. instead Of ragged edge OF
seething humanity and struggling small Doys
encroachng on the open space wherever 20
Ucemsn's back was turned.
The labor of standing would probably he less
wearing on the veterans than even the shortest
! march that has been thought practicable for
them. They would need TO be on parade only
while the procession was actually passing the
few blocks in the neighborhoOd Of the review
| ing stand, and if that were too long time II
| might he possible to have them fall into the
| ranks after the armed bodies in the order orig
inally assigned to them had passed under the
arch and going TO Washington Square. diShand
while the other unarmed bodies were still be
ing reviewed Some such plan as this for finding
an honorable place for the members OF the
| Grand Army. suitable to their waning strength
is worthy of the consideration Of those having
| the celebration in charge.