The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-01
Average Circulation
THE JOURNAL
for month of August
!. 555,4577
COMMANDER ToRRANCE's APPEAL

UOMMANDER 1UhRANCE AT1GAu
Never since DR.. B. F. Stephenson or
ganized, the first post of the Grand Army
Of the Republic at Dakotah, Ill, in 1866,
has an order or appeal been issued by Its
communicating chief so significant, so full
Of the blessed grace of Christian charity,
,, 80 .benehcent in it's influence. as the ap-
| peal made by Commander-in-chief Tor
france to the veterans Of the order to aid
the project Initiated by Colonel Falkner,
Formerly an officer of the Eighth Con-
1ederate cavalry. to establish home for
;nisabled confederate veterans in Chiffon
bounty Alabama.
e IT know of no surer or shorter way to
g. complete unification of this country in
purpose and feeling" says Judge Tor
.annce, than the highway Of Kindness
land believe it's extreme outposts should
! be held jointly by the surviving soldiers
of the armies of Grant and Lee.
7 believe it is within the power OF the sur
viving soldiers of the great war to make
fraternity national anthem, loyalty a.
national Gre ed, and charity national vir-
tue My comrades, as we grow older, our
hearts become more gentle and tender
and next to the comrade who stood by
our side Is the brave soldier who faced
u.s.
These are noble sentiments which.
doubtless, find an echo in the hearts OF
the veterans addressed those who fol-
lowed the old flag through the fire of bat
tie or were wasted by fevers or punctured
T., NV, fro onfo af oh oil
who can recall nights of agony on the bat
tie field, wounded and thirsting.
The G. A. R. was organized, on the
basis Of practical brotherhood Of the SOL
diers who had fought for the union, te
protect and assist the disabled by wounds,
sickness, old age or misfortune. to main
tain the widows Of those who died fight.
ing for the union, and to support, care
for and educate their children. This
purpose has been nobly carried out. The
nation has provided pensions for the sol
diers Of the war for the union on {
scale never before heard Of In the world
Judge Torrance's pathetic allusion to thu
seventeen poor confederate veterans II
the little cottages in Alabama, present!
the contrast of conditions, and his cal
in behalf Of the brave soldier who face(
u.s. is the bugle note to actualize tn
patriotic feeling which would substitute
for bitterness "a perpetual contest Of goot
will and patriotic devotion to a common
country
Judge Torrance himself bears witness
to the passing away of the bitterness en-
gendered by the great war for the union
The Spanish war bore witness to tn
change. Confederate veterans fell in lin
Z of battle with the men who had Tough
f. for the union The sons Of men who fe
fighting under the stars and bars en-
dured the hardships Of the firing line an
the difficult marches Of our armies. An
tagonism and antipathy based on wa
memories are practically gone.
p Here and there in the south men Xix
Tillman are found who would perpetual
the rancor Of 1865. These did not fgt
with the veterans Of the gray. The LAT
ter, Judge Torrance found to be full
brotherly and kindly feeling toward til
veterans Of the G. A. r. when he visite
them on a. recent tour Of the souther
posts of the order he commands. Let I
: help make their few remaining days con
Portable" says Judge Torrance. And tn
will doubtless be done.
i: When Charles XII, young and impet,
Gus, went into his first battle, he inquire
Of his staff: what strange noise is thu
I hear?" "Your majesty" answered Gel
eral Renschild, lit Is the sound Of musk
balls" Then" exclaimed Charles, 9TH
shall henceforth be my music" That
an experience not confined to kings. B.
X there comes time when to the veters
soldier that music, In which he once to-
delight and inspiration, is to his memo
like the sobbing minors Of a funer
2 march. He is done with war. He wan
8 rest and peace. He has done his sha
of fighting among fiery coils Of flame al
wreathing battle smoke and shrieking ir
hail and rivulets of blood and broken gu
and gaping wounds! He wants the mus
Of rest and peace! And the union veter
says to him. Brother, we shall help y
get these!'