Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-21

Although the Grand Army at its
encampment rejected a proposal that a
Joint reunion be held with Confederate
Veterans, the public voices hope that
such a meeting may still be held.
Survival of the feeling OF Civil War
days is laid to the intensity of the
spirit of the conflict, and to memories
of the past. In the South there Is
regret that the Northern soldiers verdict
should have been coupled with a speech
demanding that the South acknowledge
that it was wrong and that it furl its
battle flags.
"It is best to let the matter go at
that, and pass the action of the Grand
Army by without denunciation," says
the Boston Transcript. THE present
generation may respect this sentiment
without sharing 1t. For the people OF
this great and reunited country the war
is over. A new day has come. Peace
to the souls of the hundreds or thou-
sands on both sides who are long since
past the animosities of the conflict, and
peace also to the surviving veterans who
can't quite forget the old, sad thing!"
This sentiment is echoed by the Cln-
cinnati TimeS-Star, which feels tnat
since I'VE are one country and have
proved it in two wars since Appomat-
tox," the acceptance Of the offer OF the
United Confederate Veterans Woulo
have been graceful act and IN con, :,
sonance with the spirit OF our times.
TT would be a fitting close 10
tragedy of threeScore and ten years
ago" declares the Portland oregon
Journal of the proposed reunion. AL
hut a few of the warriors in that con-
flict of brother against brother went 10
sleep long ago in the cities OF silence:
The antagonists Of yesterday can wen
be comrades today in the thlnneo ranks
of the two great armies that IronIeo
each other In the grim days OF 1901 90:
..Passion is long since burned OUT,
h,,t memories still live" comments the
Charleston Evening Post, offering an
exclamation of the situation, Greetings
and farewells in all good Will may pc
waved across the chasm as the last OF
the mighty hosts go down INTO tne
valley but there seems something
ARTIFICIAL and forced about staged
determination. Doubtless the reJecCion
of the idea by the veterans OF the Union
armies will be the last word on the SUD
oat "a r. should be accepted without
800 eorat or resentment" The Lincoln
S+ete journal expresses similar tears LOT
the results of this last, beautlIul
".The Grand Army of the Republic;
occording to the Fort Worth Recoro-
Teieoran1. "was given the greatest OPP
nortiInitv for an outstanding gesture
and the registry OF an aii-AmeIIcan
spirit that probably ever Will come r, Ull
, nitv has been muffed. The South is
e,,fitled to much consolation in tne
ohvinus fact that its spirit in deteat
h.s heen more wholeSomely generous
than that displayed by its victorious
onnonents, Being wrong in 1861 is one
thing. Being wrong In 1879 Is some-
thing else" e,,4t
not admitting that 1t was wrong, stateS
the Flint Daily journal. Inc me- ne@o aen ?
of the Confederacy, many years aeo,
Said that It was best that the war hao
the ending that it did, that the country
was united rather than divided. Inc
worn and faded battle flags OF the South
are not those of another country" But
| the Journal adds: IF there is to be no
reunion of the two veterans organlza-
lions, that ends It. It Is Tor them 10
make the decision"
called disappointing" by the Water
bury Republican, which feels that there
| is no profit in keeping alive hatreds
| that ought to have been decently buried
more than generation ago.. Inc
Charlotte Observer concludes that with
them, it will be the closed fist, rather
| than the open hand, to the last" The
Asheville Times remarks: 1t is easy 10
understand why the old soldiers on both
sides might prefer to hold their own
| encampmentS. What is rather puzzling
is this passion in the breasts OF the
victors."
"Their points Of view were different.
and still are, but that should make the
| campfire "reminiscences all the more en-
PERTAINING" contends the Ann Arbor
Daily News, with the suggestion: THE