Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1900-06-08
TO BLUE AND GRAY
Shaft Concentrating Antietam
Presented to Government.
A GREAT DAY At HAGERSTOWN
President and Cabinet Onhccrs, Members
OF Congress and Others of Prominence
Take Part In Exercises.

A special from Hagerstown, Md,
says: Another link in the chain which
binds together the once warning iac.
tions Of the north and south was
forged Wednesday by the dedication
Of q monument erected to the memory
of the men who wore the gray rs we'll
as those who wore the blue, and who
died In mortal combat on the bloody
field Of Antietam.
This event, which is possibly with
out a parallel in the history Of the
world, was graced by the presence OF
the president Of the United States, ac-
companied by many members OF his
cabinet; a score or moro Of United
States senator's, as many members Of
the house, the governor Of Maryland
and prominent men Of the states.
There were present hundreds OF
veterans who fought for the ''lost
cause" and thousands who fought for
the side that proved victorious. Side
by side they stood with uncovered
heads throughout the ceremony.
Colonel Benjamin F. Taylor. as
president Of the Antietam Battlefield
Commission OF Maryland, then pre-.
sented the monument to the national
government and Elihu Root, secretary
OF war, in brief address accepted II
on behalf Of the United States.
Then followed short addresses, main.
~ Of q reminiscent character, by Con
erals John b. Brooke, James Long
street, Orlando b. Wilcox, j, Z. Dur.
yea, Senators Foraker, Burrows and
Daniel and others who were promi-
nent on the opposing sides in the
great struggle. These were followed
in turn by Representative George b.
Mcclellan, OF New York, and other
members of both houses OF congress.
The band played "Hail to the Chief"
and General Douglas introduced Presi-
dent Mckinley, who delivered the al.
dress of the day. The president said
in part:
"Mr. Chairman and Ny Fellow Citi.
zens--I appear only for q moment that
I may make acknowledgment for your
courteous greeting and express in Q
single word my sipeere approval OF
this occasion .fos--zbich ve hate as.
I'm this presencdl "a on this memo.
rable field / am glad to meet the fol-
lowers OF Lee, Jackson, Longstreet
and Johnston with the followers Of
Grant and McClelland and Sherman
and Sheridan, greeting each other not
with arms in their hands or malice 10
their souls, but with affection and re-
spect for each other Ia their hearts.
(Applause.)
"Standing here today one reflection
only has crowned my mind-the diff
ference between the sections and that
OF thirty eight years ago. Then the
men who wore the blue and the men
who wore the gray greeted each other
with shot and she'll and visited death
upon their respective ranks. We meet
after oil these intervening years with
but one sentiment-thas Of loyalty 10
the government Of the United States,
love for our flag and free institutions,
and determined men Of the north
and men Of the south TO make any
sacrifice for the honor aud perpetuity
Of the American nation Great APP.
plause.)
"Afy fellow. citizens, I am glad,
also, Of the famous meeting between
Grant and Lee at Appomattox. ] am
glad We were together. aren't you"
tories Of yes. yes1-'glad that the
union Was saved by the honorable
terms made between Grant and Lee,
under the famous apple tree. and there
h one glorious fact that must DO OIL.
ways gratifying TO us--ths American
soldiers never surrendered but TO
Americans. (Applause.)
"The followers Of the Confederate
generals, with The followers Of the
federal generals. fought side by eide
In Cuba, In Porto Rico aud In the
Philippines, aud In those fsY.oa islands
are standing together today fighting
and dying for the flag they love, the
flag that represents more than any
other banner In the world, the best
hopes and aspirations Of mankind"