The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-25
IN PEACE, FRIENDS.
THE CONFEDERATE DEAD AT
CAMP CHASE.
The Blue Honor the Grey. With Floral
Tributes of Respect-Re1ninis-
cence of the Past

The Caucasian has received marked
copy of the Columbus, O., Citizen of
June 10, which directs attention to an
editorial in the words following:
Tomorrow the Confederate Associa-
ton Of this city, with the assistance of
friends OF the North and South, repre-
senting both sides OF the great conflict
of 1904, will pay an affectionate tri-
butte to the memory of the Confederate
soldiers who sleep amid the scenes of
their former imprisonment at Camp
Chase. This. ceremony has come to be
an annual one in Columbus, and it is
not only fitting in Itself and emblematic
of the restored grandeur of the repub-
lie, but it brings Columbus into promi-
nert view every year as the chief city
of the North, where the evidence of
this restoration is thus emphasized be-
fore the eyes of the whole country.
"'The exercises at Camp Chase have
not become possible without a long pc
riod of contemplation of the real causes
which led to the fratrieidal strife of the
civil war They have not become pos
sible except through the medium of a
liberal view of the effects of that war,
and they would now be impossible it
brave men on both sides of the contro-
versy had not in recent years crowned
their achievements of arms with the
more lasting honors of peace and recon-
citation. ~ -.. -1
The country is at last ready to con-
cede with unaninity that there was no
material difference, so far as men were
concerned. between the Northern and
the Confederate soldier. Each fought
for what he believed was right and
either would have adopted the principles
and tactics of the other if their environ
ments had been exchanged. Certainly
there was no difference between the sac
rihces of the two arrnis-no difference
between the anguish of desolated
home or the pain Of broken heart on
one side or the other Of Mason and
Dixon's line.
Having adjusted what differences re-
manned after the war, and having come
to complete reunion Of all cur inter-
ests, whether those pertaining to the
government or to society in general, it
is an honor which this generation Of the
North now pays to itself to remember
with such ceremonies as those to be
observed tomorrow at Camp Chase, the
virtues and sacrifices OF the heroes OF
the Lost Cause. The annual observance
Of this day will not be omitted as long
as each returning spring blesses with its
sun and sanctihes with its rains the
grass that grows green above these
Confederate Graves.
These expressions Of conciliation and
fraternity are appreciated, and were die
tated by one who was not one OF Sher-
mans buns, thieves and house burn
ers, but by one who was at the front,
on duty, in upholding what he believed
was right. It would be gratifying to
give this soldier a hearty handshake.
The men who experienced the hardship
of the camp and the march and the
ordeal of battle and were loyal to the
end are always forgiving and generous.
The name Of Camp Chase is reminder
of sad memories, of friends as gallant
and as true as ever trod the sod, who
perished Of smallpox and other diseases
which wrought havoc in the ranks OF
the Confederates therein imprisoned.
The name Of Camp Chase recalls the
remark Of an old lady who, with thous-
ands of citizens Of Columbus, had gath
cred TO see the Confederates captured
at Nashville, Tenn. The old lady, hay-
ing adjusted her eve glasses to her sat
isfaetion, viewed intently the defenders
Of the South, now prisoners Of war, N
rags and tatters, and exclaimed, in adj
rliration: And these are the ragafilt1f-
fms who fought SO vailantly Z And to
the credit Of these ragafnufins be. # said
that although they were tempted with
release from prison and other glitterlne
promises, they spurned the temFser and
remained 1oyal TO the last. These Were
days which racked the mind and heart
of every Confederate soldier who sub
sisted on scant rations. in the midst q
plenty who suffered from the rigors
of winters blast when coal IN abund-
arace was at hand, and who did not
know when he would follow his friends
and companions to the hospital to b
seen no more alive, and who, during
dilese trials, manifested philosophy i
song and good htin1or and 4 loyalty
which challenged the admiration q
their guards, who, fat and sleek alaS
wei dressed il uirforn1, we're enioyins
the fullest idealization of the lloras
estlard. The soldier safe and at ease be,