The National tribune., 1906-10-11
The United Spanish War Veterans.
(By Orville Guy Victor

(By Orville Guy Victor
The Order of United Spanish War
Veterans, who held their National En-
campment at Washington, D. c., this
week, is an OrganiZa ton composed of
those who served in the Army or Navy
during the war with Spain and the con-
sequent insurrection in the Philippines
and those who took part in the Chinese
campaign during the Boxer rebellion.
The Order has increased greatly in
numbers within the past year, especially
throughout the Southern States. where
many new Camps have been formed
and are now forming under Command
er-in-Chief Miller, of Ohio. The uni
form of the Order consists of = blouse
of army blue and trousers of gray, with
regular campaign hat. 1t is the most
military in appearance of any uniform
worn by any organization in the United
States outside of the Regular Army or
National Guard. and it serves to acccn-
tuate. in the eyes of the public. the
complete obliteration of Mason and
Dixon's line-the fraternizing of North
and South on the part of the younger
veterans of the Spanish War. many of
whom are the sons of those who wore
the blue 40 years ago, while many 9TH
ers are sons of those who wore the
Gray.-Editor National Tribune.
United are the Blue and Gray;
In serried ranks they stand
The boys from North, and East, and
West,
The boys from Dixie Land.
Their uniform is Union blue
Above Confederate gray:
The glory won by each Of these
Shall never pass away.
When Uncle Sam called on his youth
To drive out tyrant Spain
They answered with mighty shout:
.'We'1l not forget the Maine."
They thought of comrades murdered
Concealed beneath the waves;
Consigned by Spanish treachery
To unmarked ocean graves.
They seized the arms their fathers bore
Full 40 years ago.
And in resistless column marched
Against the common foe.
Ye know the rest-how gallantly
These sons of fighting sires
Repulsed the troops of despot Spain
And lighted Freedoms fires.
And how they gave to Cuba fair
The boon of liberty;
Nor stayed their hand until they drove
The tyrant DER the sea.
They raised the Flag SO dear.
While Europe watched, amazed, alarm
ed,
Nor dared to interfere.
Twas but little war" say those
Who fain would east sneer
Upon the youthful veterans"
Assembled round us here.
Twas but little war, ye say;
Riit nj yn earning
Columbia will ne'er forget
The service of her sons.
Upon the page of history
Their record plainly stands.
And once again, in very truth,
The North and South clasp hands.
And when both "Yanks" and "RebS"
are gone
To wait the reveille,
And face the Great Commander on
The final muster-day-
When G. A. r. and c. v. A.
Have passed away from earth,
We younger men will tell our sons
About their grandsires' worth.
We younger men will teach our sons
The lessons we were taught
By those who faced each others steel
In many a battle fought.
We younger men will teach our sons
That patriotic pride,
That love of freedom and of home
For which our fathers died!
United are the Blue and Gray;
In serried ranks they stand
The boys from North, and East, and
West,
The boys from Dixie Land.
Our uniform is Union blue
Above Confederate gray.
The glory won by each of these
Shall never pass awayt