The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-11
aailg ~ Z 81 c
M. Nj. MURDOCH, Editor
GREAT YEAR FOR REUNIONS.
Nj. Nj. MURDOCH, Editor

This has been the greatest reunion year in the his
tory of Kansas 1t cannot said that is the greatest
in oint Of attendance infrities and and death
have aed sad havoc in the the Union veterans
of the civil war but it is unquesuonaby the greatest in
the manifestation spirit Of comradesho which is
growing stronger year by year among the who wear
the badge Of the Grand Army of the Republic
reunion of today is different from the reunion of
twenty years ago. Then the othe war were in
the prime Of le buoyant ambitious and comparatively
perfect in physical constitution Today the major por-
ticn Of them are broken in spirit bereft of ambt
ton wrecked in constitution hopeless by reason Of
their age and by their inrmities Of prohting
by the wave OF material prosperity which prevails SO IN
precedenedy generally throughout the entire country
There is little comfort them in the fact of extraor
binary existing opportunity throughout the land, save
the comfort in knowing that their day is declining as
their sun is going down. they left behind them the
greatest nation on earth the blessing of which in larger
liberty greater institutional stability wider respect for
human and property rights, more glorious fame
throughout the civilized world and increased and more
diversified opportunities live Independent lives they
leave for the enjoyment their children grandchildren
and great grandchildren
The quietude and seriousness of age pervades the
reunions. The veterans less demonstratve They
hear the orator extong the achievements of the country
with greater solemny They listen to the history Of the
past with greater reverence The levity of the spell
binder does not provoke their merrment it did OF
wore They are less responsive the wit or humOr of
his Joke The late campfire story has less fascination for
them In word the veteran has become very sedate
and serious person.
Twenty years ago the war was a drama to the old
soldier; today he in it great tragedy. He has
softened too in his feeling toward the old enemy He
realizes that the mistaken gray suffered too and
that age to most Of them, cannot be otherwise, from
consequent physical impairment and disability, than
They positive ever they were IN their
belief that the Johnnie" eernaly wrong, but in
their generous sympathy for hmsympathy born of their
own experience in war and in the consequences Of war
they are more inclined they have ever been to be-
leve that he thought he right They give him the
hand of fellowship their reunions and admit him into
their comradeahip with magnanimous welcome Twenty
years ago Confederate would be considered an intruder
In the camp ground reunion of Union veterans in
Kansas; today he feel much at home there as if
- had sustained the Union cause from sumpter to
AppomattoX
Twenty years more and there will be reunions of
civil war veterans few at best Practically all those
who survive the coming decades will be octogenar
ans and too old and feeble to leave their chairs The
reunions popular will be entirely on the other
great river where the blue and the gray alike
will see with immaculate vision the merits of the cause
which made them and kept them enemies this side so
long.