Evening star., 1902-09-01
TO END SECT|ONAL|SM
Should Be the Purpose Of the
G.. A. Z.
WAR OVER LONG AGO
OPEN LETTER FROM GEN. TOR
RANCE TO HIS COMRADES.
Encampment Headquarters Closed To-
day-Corps of Buglers to Form
Concert in Pension Bureau.

Gen. Ell Torrance. commander-in-chief OF
the G. n r., has issued under this date an
open letter to his comrades of the Grand
Army. This is an entirely new departure
for the executive of this order, but is warm
ly commended by such veterans as have
been given an outline of Gen. Torrance
purpose According to these men. General
Torrance admonishes the G. A. r. to win
the hearts as we'll as the flags of the mer
who wore the gray" gives testimony tc
their cordial friendship for their former an
tagonists. and expresses his sincere wish to
help the confederate veterans establish a
home for their INDECENT and disabled com
Tades under the confederate flag.
The text of the letter follows:
In April last ! made my first visit to the
south. and it was naturally one of great in
ttrest to me. especially as 1 went in my Of
fetal capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic. The depart
ments of the G. \. R in the south are
werk numerically, and / had no personal
knowledge of the condition in which | would
find them. 1t was, therefore, very crafty
ing to discover the happy relationship exist
ing between them and the ex-confederate
soldiers.
At the close of the annual meeting of
the Department of Alabama held in Mont
gomery / was honored with dinner, and
between every two comrades at the table
sat an ex-confederate soldier. The fellow
ship was delightful on the following even
ing the members of the Department OF Ala
bama were the guests of the camp of Con-
federate Veterans, and the good feeling
manifested on that occasion and the patri-
OtiC sentiments expressed by all the speak
ers would have made any patriot glad. AT
Atlanta | visited the Confederate Home
and shook hands with every old veteran In
IL and when ! left they were as reluctant
- lot me go as if 1 had been a brother.
War Long Since Over.
Everywhere l went 1 was treated kindly
and again and again assured that the war
was long since over, and that we are now
citizens Of common country and followers
of a common flag. The sentiment was also
expressed that We, the old soldiers, could do
more to bring the people of the north and
south together than any other class or citl-
Zens. and that 1t was our duty to DO so.
have always believed that the most disas-
trous results of a civil war were the ami
mOsities and bitter feelings engendered
thereby, and l am convinced that the most
patriotic service We can render our coun-
try is to earnestly aid in removing every
barrier that separates or estranges the peo-
pIs.
The great victory won at Appomattox
will produce imperfect fruit if We cannot
win the hearts as we'll as the flags OF the
men who wore the gray.
A Home for Confederates.
when at Montgomery 1T was my pleasure
10 meet Col. J. NJ. FaIkner, district attorney
for Alabama, formerly an officer IN the
Sth Confederate Cavalry, who for some
time past has been earnestly directing his
efforts toward the erection of a confederate
home at Mountain Creek. Chiffon county.
Ala. The erection Of the first cottage was
commenced April last on forty acres of
land donated by Col FaIkner, and today
two comfortable cottages have been COM
pieted. which shelter seventeen old con-
fcderate soldiers, not one of whom could
earn a living in a land of plenty against
the competition Of a child.
The plan is to build forty OF these cot
tages. that many or more being required
10 accommodate those whose disabilities are
and II is the last one | shall address TO you
as commander-in-chief, is to afford the
members of the Grand Army Of the Repub-
lie, individually or as posts. a n opportunity
70 contribute 10 the shelter OF these needy
veterans. The dignity Of their demeanor
and the accomplishing soldierly way in
" nicI they bear suffering and privatiOn
render them worthy of cur respect and sym
pathy. and it becomes a privilege to assist
In ma king their last days comfortable.
A Highway of Kindness.
''T know Of no surer or shorter way to a
pose and feeling than the highway of kind
ness. and / believe its extreme Outposts
should be Jointly held by the surviving SOL
Giers Of the armies of Grant and Lee
There was n time when the nearer We
came together the worse it was for all but
now the closer We come together the better
FOR all.
The old order TO XIII has given place to
the gentIer command TO make alive and
for the bitter contest forever ended at Ap-
pDma-tox has been substituted a perpetual
contest Of goodwill aud patriotic devotion
20 common country. / believe II is within
the power Of the surviving soldiers of the
great war to make fraternity a national
anthem, loyalty national creed and char
ity national virtue.
My comrades, as We grow older our
hearts become more gentle and tender,
and next 70 the CGmrstde who stood by
our side is the brave soldier who faced us
"COntTibutions should be forwarded to
Col. J. VI. Falkuer Montgomery. Ala. who
Will acknowledge receipt and gladly fur
nish such additional Information as may
b. desired
General Orders Received.
Secretary Buckley received this morning
the draft Of Il general order issued by Gen.
era Torrance. 1t Is OF especial interest in
that it fixes definitely certain features of
the encampment which have heretofore not
been assigned to specific days The order
reads as follows:
headquarters will he established at the
Ebbitt House. Washington. ID. G. Monday
October e. at 1G o'clock am
The executive committee Of the national
council Of administration will meet at head
quarters Monday, October Il. at 3 O'Clock
pm