The National tribune., 1900-07-26
THE CoMMANDER-IN-CHI At AT.
LANTA,

The inevitable happened at the Blue
and Gray Reunion at Atlanta. There was
| the unavoidable clash between those who
| think that the rebellion was utterly and
eternaliy wrong, which no sophistry can
make appear right, and those who will
persist in teaching their children that
fighting against the Government was a
''holy cause"
speech, which was otherwise enthusiastic
cally received, Commander-in-C Chief Shaw
said:
what 1 am anxious to see is the dis
appearance of all unworthy reminders of
the terrible conflict, and the culture of
present unity and righteousness over all
the Union. There can now be but one
ideal of American citizenship, one Stars
and Stripes, one bulwark of future Ma
honal glory, and one line of patriotic
teaching for all and by all.
- I'm this view the keeping alive of sec
tional teachings as to the justice and
rights of the cause of the South. in the
hearts of the children. is all out of order,
unwise. unjust, and utterly opposed to the
bonds by which the great Chieftain Lee
SoieiIllly DOuiu Ilie cause ol lne sNOuiN Ill
his final surrender. / deeply deplore all
agencies of this sort, because, in honor
and in chiyalric American manhood and
womanhOOd, nothing of this nature should
be taught or tolerated for an instant"
This was enlinently right and proper.
Less than that the Commander-in-Ch Chief,
with due regard to his position as the
head of the great, patriotic Order of the
country could not have said. He would
in him by the comrades if by silence he
had consented TO all the eXaltations of re-
bellion uttered in his presencc-if he had
not asserted the Grand Army of the Re
public's cardinal principle of Loyalty and
loyal teaching TO the rising generation.
He said what was proper and fitting to his
and said it well, with dignity and firm
ness.
Naturally it did not please those who
have been hearing and saying-teaching
their children all these years-that the
noblest thing man ever did was to fight
and die in the effort to destroy the Govern,
ment and perpetuate slavery.
At the conclusion of Commander-in-
Chief Shaw's address Gen. John 3. Cor
don, the Commander-in-C Chief of the
United Confederate Veterans, came for
ward. As his speech had preceded that
Of Comrade Shaw, this excited some re,
mark, and it was seen at once that it was
his intention to reply.
Gen. Gordon said he could not teach his
children that he fought for what was
wrong. He entered battle for what he
believed was right, and "Only the iudg-
ment day and God Himself will ever de-
eide who was right.
Let us cherish the memorials" CON
tinued Gen. Gordon, "and history will re-
cord and heaven judge, that both sides
were right i'll fighting for what they be-
lieved was right. Let lis settle once and
for all this question on a basis commen-
Surate with the manhood of the sides en-
gagged in the great struggle; let us settle
on basis of that imma culate truth that
both sides were fighting for the Constitu-
ton of their f0refathers."
This is precisely what the Grand Army
of the Republic has persistently and
sternly opposed. There is no question left
for decision at the Judgment Day and by
God Himself. ''The decision of God was
made when the victory was given to the
forces Of Union and Freedom 1t was that
the rebellion was externally wrong" and
the cause of Nationality and Liberty "eter-
nally right" No man or set of men have
the right, or any semblance of right, to
plunge peaceful country into a horrible |
was under the pretext that the Constitu-
ton means something else than its plain,
palpable meaning.
Commandcr-in-Chi Shaw met the sit |
uation gracefully, while still maintaining
his position, and closed by saying:
'Our children should be taught the true
glory and sublimity of our one country;
their fathers will teach them this. Let
them be so alike, the children Of the
North and Of the South, that no differ
anpp will hn ;,nrpantiIIa'