The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-09-28
PRAISES THEM HIGHLY
NO Drawer TROOPS WERE EV-
Err MARSHALLED FOR
Conflict Than Southern Soldiers,
Says Commander Samuel Il. Van
SAINT to Union Veterans.

SAINT to Union Veterans.
With a fine tribute to the soldiers
of the Confederacy, COMMANDMENTS
Chief Samuel R. Van SAINT, of Mime
sofa Thursday formally opened the
business session of the national en-
campment of the Grand Army Of the
Republic at Atlantic City, N. ]. The
commander spoke earnestly as he
expressed his qualification at the i'll
creasing determination of the blue
and gray"
When he said that no Drawer
troops were ever m~arshalled for con-
flict than the Southern soldiers, and
that the Union veterans now real
ize that no men ever made greater
sacrifices for what they believed to
be right than their former foes, the
commander was applauded.
The Commander-in-Chief express
ed himself as particularly. grasiiad
at the increasing determination of
the BLUE and the Gray" He voiced
his pleasure at the cordial reception
given him during his recent official
visit to the Southern Departments.
not only from the former Union sol
diers, but from ex-Confederates.
I'm all cities, when possible" ne
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 our late enemies? This
is as it should be. Both armies
we're composed of brave men, and
they should and do mutually respect
each other. We of the North can
testify that no Drawer troops were
ever marshalled for conflict than our
late enemies-and we now realize
that no men ever made greater sac
rifces for what they believed to be
right than our former" foes.
Comrades, we we're the vi'tors,
and we can afford to be 'grani-
nous to our foes. 1t is easy for the
victor 10 forgive, but when the van.
pushed absolves himself from all Bit
terness he has truly gained the most
cherished trait of a noble character.
We won-they lost. We re- lrned
to our homes with the shouts Of .
tory ringing in our ears-our caus"
triumphant.
'They we're defeated, their cause
lost, and they returned to homes de-
Stroyed, barns empty, money worth
less, slaves free and ruin all about
them. Any but a brave people would
have yielded to these adverse con-
ditions-not so with them. D"ave,y
as they fought during the war, they
now fought the battles Of life, ami
the splendid growth and dNelop-
ment Of the South since the close Of
the war is the South's granda5t and
most enduring monument.
United as w are now, U coun-
try is designed to make a new err of
progress. We have by our united
efforts advanced to the highest pin
nacle of fame, and become a mighty
world power with our influence every
where potential. Who does not re-
joice that our Union Is one and in
Invisible, and will remain so for
ever"
Many matters affecting the welfare
of the Grand Army veterans will
come before the encampment. he
question of pensions will come up.
the veterans urging that the loves;
pensions granted be considerably in
creased.