Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-07-26
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY
The Reunion Closed With a Cen
uine Georgia Barbecue.
GORDON AND SHAW CONFLICT.

Commanders OF the Confederate Vet
ernns and OF the Grand Army of
| the Republic Differ i'm Opinion as
| to Duties i'm TenchiIs;. the children.
Atlanta, July PA genuine Geor-
| gia barbecue yesterday afternoon clos
| ed the reunion in this city of the blue
| and the gray. AlthOugh il was given
out at its inception t~at the reunion
was for the benefit of those only who
participated in the battles around At
lanta and the city's invited guests
veterans from all parts of the south
were present, swelling the crowds to
large proportions Gen. John B. Cor
don, commander r-in-chief of the Uni
ted Confederate Veterans, disobeying
his physicians orders, was present
with the other distinguished guests,
and sat side by side with Gen. Albert
D. Shaw commander-in-chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic. All the
invited guests made speeches, but the
second on the program, that of Gen.
Shaw, did not please Gen. Gordon, and
for a time reconciliation was forgot
ten.
Gen. Shaws speech was for the most
part conciliatory in tone and was well
received, yet his reference to the man
ner in which all memories Of the great
struggle should be blotted out in the
families of the south was not receiv-
ed with the favor hoped for. In his
speech he uttered these words and they
went deeply into Gen. Gordon's heart:
What | am anxious to see is. the
disappearance of all unworthy re-
minders of the terrible conflict, and
the culture of present unity and right
eOusness over all the union. There
can now be but one ideal Of Amer
lean citizenship, one Stars and Stripes,
one bulwark of future national glory
and one line of patriotic teachings for
all and by all. In this view the keep
ing alive of sectional teachings as to
the justice and right of the cause Of
the south, in the hearts of the chill
dren, is all out of order, unwise, un-
just and utterly opposed to the bond
by which the great chieftain Lee SOL
emnly bound the cause Ol the so; h
in his final surrendce ] deeply de-
plore all agencies of th.s sort, because
in honor and in chir2'ric American
this nature should be taught or toll
Grated for an instant"
At the close of Gen. ShGw's speech
Gen. Gordan came fU."-: i. fIe had
spoken briefly before, and his appear
ance again caused considerable of
surprise. The enthusiasm quieted in
stantly. Gen. Gordon said he could
not teach his children that he fought
for what was wrong, He entered the
battle for what he believed was right
and only the judgment day and God
himself will ever decide who was
right"
Let us cherish the memories" con-
tinued Gen. Gordon, "and history will
record and heaven judge that both
sides were right in fighting for what
they believed was right. Let us settle
once and for all this question on a
basis commensurate with the man
hood Of the sides engaged in the great
struggle. Let us settle on a basis Of
that immaculate truth that both sides
were fighting fI the constitution of
their forefathers."
Gen. Shaw responded gracefully to
the generals exceptions. He stated
care, and much of the matter was
gained from speeches made by Gen.
Gordon in the north.
"Our children should be taught"
said Gen. Shaw, 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 diff
ference will be "perceptible"
The incident closed with three cheers
for the blue and the gray.
The speakers of the day were Gen.
Albert d. Shaw, Gen. John b. Cor
don, Governor James A. Mount of
Indiana, Hon. w. c. p Breckenridge.
Gen. j. c. Breckenridge, inspector
general, U. S. A., Gen. A. P. Stewart
of Chattanooga and Gen. o. o. How
ard