Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-19
ARMY0F 1H 1.
IRE OF
Reunion Of Veterans q Held at
Hartford, Conn.
BLUEAND GRAY TOMEET
81
PROPOSED CONFERENCE OF BOTH
ARMIES FOR MAY, 1905.
Washington to Be the Meeting Place
Battlefield at Fredericksburg for
a park-Gen. Curtis Speech.

A dispatch from HartIoro, Conn., says
Veterans of the civil war to the number
of 1900 were in Hartford yesterday partici-
pating in the dual reunions Of the Army of
the Potomac and the Connecticut Depart
ment of the G. A. R. The annual meeting
of the Society of the Army of the Potomac.
which was held in the hall Of the house Of
representatives at the capitol, was presided
over by MAJ. Gen. John R. Brooke, U. s.
A. Officers were chosen as follows:
President-Brevet Col. Horatio King, u.
s. ", New York.
Recording secretary-Maj. L. c. Bracket,
New York.
Corresponding secretary-Col. William C.
Fox. Albany. N. Y.
Treasurer-Lieut Frank 8. Halliday.
Brooklyn. N. Y.
Among the vice presidents were: Mai. c.
A. Richardson, Gettysburg; Lieut.. A. w.
Converse, Washington; Cavalry Corps.
Brig. Gen. L. G. Estes. Washington: Gen.
George D. Ruggles, Washington; Lieut.
George F. Rounds, Annapolis.
A resolution was adopted urging that the
next Congress act upon the bill favorabiy
reported to the Fifty-sixth and Ftfty-sev-
enth Congresses setting apart the battle
field at Fredericksburg as park. It was
stated that the Mcclellan monument would
be completed in 1906 end Manassas. Va.
was decided as the next meeting place OF
the society.
Resolutions were adopted in favor Of the
holding Of a peace conference Of the blue
and gray at Washington during May, 1905.
The invitation to attend the g. A. r. ma
tional encampment was accepted.
Last night the veterans of the Army OF
the Potomac and Of the Connecticut G. A.
R.. met at general camp fire in Parsons
Theater. A number Of addresses were
made. among the speakers being Gen. John
r. Brooke and Gen. Nelson M. Curtis.
Gen. Curtis, In the course Of his remarks.
said:
A little more than one-third of our ma
TONS life has passed since the Army of the
Potomac completed Its history and resumed
the occupations of peace. During this later
period the countrys progress has been more
than three times as great as in all it's pre-
vious years, due chiefly to- the beneficeut
results of our civil war. In which our army
performed a most honorable part. It's or
ganization. its months Of Preparation its
winter camps, Its marches. its battles. its
defeats and its victories have been recalled
to you again and again In eloquent speech
and measured numbers, so why should
attempt task which has been so well and
so often performed by ADLER men? 1t would
indeed be agreeable to enurnerate your sac
rifices and your achievements. and you
would, no doubt. delight to recall your
hardships.
",
remembering our hardshtps. can see, in
less than forty years, the fruition OF all
our hopes; a nation sayed,-a reunited and
harmonious people, who nave attained a
power and glory SURPRISING that OF the
Roman empire in the palmy days Of the
Caesars. - ! ?
The opinion so often expressed, that our
civil war was wholly due to slavery, is a
uing difficulty was In the Constitution tt
self. go q t
Tariff Chief Disturbing Question.
The tariff was a great. II not the chief.
disturbing question. as taxation has been
in all times most difficult to adjust. The
growth of the protective principle weak
ened the attachment for the Union in the
section where it's burdens were most felt
and its benefits least enjoyed. During all
the time these principles were being adj
justed to the changed conditions the south
ern states manufactured nothing, but pur-
chased everything. In the tarin debates
In 1923 it was distinctly declared. by the
recognized leader of those opposed to an
increase in tariff rates, that the adoption
of such an advanced rate in duties would
cause a dissolution of the Union.
It Is worth remembering In this connec-
ton that Gen. Hancock. that superb soldier
who so often led the Second Corps into the
hottest of our battles. gave the truest and
simplest definition when he said that the
tariff was a local question"
South's Failure to Submit Fortunate.
1t was the opinion of many that had
the south at any time before the issuing of
the emancipation proclamation disbanded
her armies and submitted to the federal
laws on the condition that the several
states should resume their former relations
to the Union. 1t would have been accepted.
1t Is most fortunate that no such PROPOSE
ton was made or considered, for an aban-
Comment of the war would have left the
disturbing questions to be fought out at a
later day. Happily for all. both victors
and vanquished. and especially for those
who shall come after us, our civil war was
fought to a finish, giving us construction
Of the Constitution that shall forever re-
main unquestioned, ''solemnly proclaiming
that the Constitution and the laws are SUI
preme and the Union indissoluble." This
result was worth the sacrifices made to at
tain 1t.
Enlistment Of Men Over Thirty.
I can conceive of no danger to the re-