The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-22
A WORTHY OBJECT.
a Northern View or the Proposed Confed-
crate Home.


crate Home.
The Boston Herald independently says
ex5itcrially: The movement to establish at
The south Home for disabled soldiers OF
Che late Confederate States, similar in It's
character to the Soldiers Homes" main
tained by the General Government for the
fDfirm veterans OF the army OF the Union.
Ii one that appeals TO the sympathies oil all
generous and magnanimVus spirits, and
Generals Grant and Sherman, and the
other Union officers who gave their ap-
proyal 10 the meeting recently held by the
ex-Coufederates in New York TO promote
this object, set an example 10 their fellow
citizens which 10 is to be hoped will lead
TO IN expression OF that sympathy In a
practical form.
No one can visit the southern cities
where Federal and Confederate cemeteries
are maintained without being struck by
the contrast in the appearance OF the two.
These "bivouacs OF the dead" typify and
will perpctuate the difference between n
successful and lost cause. The Union
Cemetery tells OF the care OF great and
rich Government. The fences are OF iron;
the long rows OF headstones are OF marble;
The walks and graves are neatly kept; flow
ers bloom i'm rich profusion, and over all
floats free the starry flag for which the
hurried brave men died. II is all as
Il should be. The Government Of
fhe Union cannot do less than TO thus honor
and care for the dust OF those who died in
It's defence. But the contrast presented in
she Confederate cemeteries is none the less
painful 10 q generous and sensitive visitor,
eyeu though all his interests and sympa-
tbies were bound up in the Union cause.
The difference is that between loving care
with and without money, organization.
and responsible direction. The burial
places were laid out during and after
Che Enr, when the southern people
were poor. at Richmond sixteen
thousand Confederate dead are laid
side by side, In long rows, with only
wooden tablets at their heads, many Of
which are already falling in decay. The
dead soldiers were from many States, and
there is no government or corporation to
look after their resting-place. Flowers
grow in profusion during the season, and
The trees are beautiful, but the Enclosure
Is practically unkept aud desOl2te in as
.eca.
The same difference exists in the condi-
ton and care OF the survivors Of the two
armies. The Government has paid out
since the close Of the war nearly 1850, 000,-
GOO in pensions to the soldiers Of the Union,
and is now distributing among them over
$50, coo, 900 a year. Disabled veterans are
provided with comfortable homes. For
the able-bodied and capable, a record OF
fHitlIful service in the army Is generally a
passport 10 Office or occupation. All
this, again, is as it should be, save
chat the granting OF pensions has assumed
unwarranted proportions, under the in-
ferested management OF claim agents. But
from all these advantages and rewards the
southern soldiers are for the most part de-
barred, and against the fortunes of war and
The logic OF events, TO their credit be it said,
they have not protested. None the less, it
= hard. The common soldiers OF the South
were not responsible for the war. They
were misled by their statesmen, and though
they made the cause their own when once
enlisted in IL, and still believe it to
have been Just, they are still Americans
eur countrymen. In a war against foreign
Soc they would march side by side with
those who fought against them. Com
pared with the northern communities, the
southern people are still poor. The 40
eual destruction and loss OF property at the
South, on account OF the war, have never
been appreciated by the northern peo-v
ple. The survivors Of the conflict do not
ask direct aid In building and maintaining
home for their disabled comrades. But,
inasinuch rs it must be done by individual
effort, they have invited the cooperation OF
those who feel a sympathy with their OBJ
feet. 1t is cause, however, which should
command something more than words.
Nothing would do more to seal the bond
Of refinion, now so nearly complete, than q
quick and hearty response to the Sug-
gcstion to assist In founding home for
disabled veterans OF cause well lest.