The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-09-23
BLUE AND GRAY BLENDING
COmmander-ln-Chief Of the Grand
Array Of the Republic


Atlantic City, N J., Sept 23.-With
fine tribute to the soldiers or the
Confederacy, in-Chief S.
X. Van SAINT of Minnesota yesterday
formally opened the business session
OF the national encampment G. A. r.
on the steel pier here
While the roll Of the grand army is
steadily shortening. the commander
in chief urged that every effort be
made to keep the organization up to
it's fullest possible strength. He quot
ed the figures showing that the G. A
r. at the beginning of the present year
had still 213,9O1 members in good
standing. as against 22O.6O0 at the be-
ginning Of 1909. The loss during the
year was 6.7S1, of which 5.323 was by
DEATH The commander urged that
recruiting measures be taken among
the large number Of former Union SOL
diers who are not enrolled as grand
army members.
The commander in chief expressed
himself as particularly gratihed at the
increasing determination of the BLUE
and the Gray" He voiced his pleas
ure at the cordial reception given him
during his recent official visit to the
Southern departments, not only from
the former Union soldiers. but from
ex-Confederates.
I'm all cities, when possible he
said, Il urged joint meetings Of the
blue and the gray We had many
gatherings of this character, and no
more loyal and patriotic sentiments
were ever uttered than by the men
who fought on the other side.
"Are you not pleased to learn that
our comrades are living in peace and
harmony with out late enemies? This
| is as it should be. Both armies were
composed Of brave men and they
should and do mutually respect each
other. We OF the north can testify
that no braver troops were ever mar
shalled for conflict than our late enc
mies-and we now realize that no men
f. ever made greater sacrifices for what
they believed to be right than our for
mer foes.
Praise For Southern Soldiers
Comrades, We were victorious, and
we can afford to be magnanimous to
our old foes. 1t is easy for the victor
| to forgive, but when the vanqufshed
absolves himself from all bitterness he
has truly gained the most cherished
trait Of a noble character. We won
| they lost. We returned to our homes
| with the shouts Of victory ringing in
our ears-our cause triumphant. They
| were defeated, their cause lost. and
they returned to homes destroyed,
barns empty, money worthless. slaves
| free and ruin all about them. Any but
| a brave people would have yielded to
these adverse condftions-not so with
| them Bravely as they fought during
the war, they now fought the battles
Of life, and the splendid growth and
development of the South since the
close of the war is the SOuth's grand
| est and most enduring monument.
| United we are now. Our country Is
destined to make a new era of pro-
gress We have by our united efforts
advanced to the highest pinnacle of
fame. and became mighty world
power, with our influence everywhere
potential Who does not rejoice that
our Union is one and indivisible, and
will remain SO forever"
About $4,000 ON Pension Rolls
! The veterans showed no i'll effects
from yesterdays long march. Many
matters affecting the welfare of the
VETERANS are to come before the en-
Icampment In regard to pensions, II
will be urged thai the lowest be con
isiderably increased. Latest informa'
|tion shows that about $4,000 names or
|the pension rolls.
1t appears as though John e. Gil
man of Boston will be elected com
imander- in chief. Los Angeles seems
to be leading as the place for the 1911
encampment. The department of Ken
lucky wants the national hymn
t"America," to include the name of Lin
lcoln in a new. verse.