Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-21
AID FOR OLD SOLDIERS.
The Bslsimsre CesfssesaN Relief ssssr'
baltimore American.

When General Bradley +. johnson,
after LAYING his stick and hat carefully
on chair on the platform Of the audi
torium in the Y. NJ. G. A. last night,
took his great-coat oil and turned
around. he faced q eood-sized audience,
the larger portion being ladies'. The
meeting was held in order 10 make q
sort Of public announcement OF bazar
which the ladies. representing the
Maryland Line. the Society OF the
Army and Navy Of the Con-
federate States. Murray Association,
and other Confederate societies. propose
to hold in the fifth-Regiment armory
April 1th to llth. The object is to
raise funds 20 help disabled Confederate
soldiers and their widows and orphans.
After few remarks of explanation by
the General, he introduced Mr.. :.
Teackle Wallis. Nfr. Wallis said it
would seem that the simple announce
ment Of what the ladies' proposed to do
was all that was necessary 10 insure a
cordial support Of the enterprise. The
fact that there we're men who had staked
their all in a cause they believed to
be true. and exhibited an unequalled
spirit of self-sacrihce and devotion and
lost everything. was sufficient to invoke
the sympathy Of every brave man.
There was, he said, a large number of
Confederate soldiers here and elsewhere
who required some succor TO stand be-
tween them and actual want. We
are sure Of your sympathy he con-
tinued, but ii is necessary for that
sympathy to be concentrated and ex-
tended in its scope. The war is over.
but the cause for which these men
fought is dear 10 them. As 10 how
long il will live depends upon how long
history will record the efforts Of
those who thought no sacrifice too
dear for what they believed to bc
true. The Union is reestablished, and
there are now no more cordial and
hearty supporters of 1t than those who
wore the gray. A grateful nation has
covered its treasury books with PEN
sions given to those whe were consid-
cred worthy Of them. Who pays for
these pensions: Every man IN the
southern country who pays his tax
helps to pay for them. and there has
never been a murmur or remonstrance
that they were taxed for this purpose.
On the other side were men for whom
fostering government has provided no
hospitals and no pensions TO relieve
, them. They cannot, in the nature Of
things. appeal to that government.
They can only seek TO touch the kind
hearts all over the land. am glad to
say that there has hardly been an effort
TO render aid where there has not been a
most liberal response. There has been
no holding back on account Of differ
enceS Of opinion. No appeal is made
to sectional feeling, but TO the gene
rosity of brave men. The records of
opinion throughout the civilized world
as regards that struggle will be not
whether the world says this side or that
was wrong. but whichever was right or
wrong they displayed bravery and a
chivalry that combined would have
been invincible. When the time OF
trial comes 10 this nation the safety OF
the land will depend upon the manhood
that was exhibited on both sides. y
Mr.. Joseph Packard followed Mr..
Wallis. He said there was no intention
to erect buildings with the funds. but to
render immediate help to the needy.
Annuities on the sliding scale might
be provided. Confederate soldiers could
not apply to a charitable organization
because they were soldiers. There
were many lying at Antietam and
Point Lookout whose burial had been
much less expensive than those
from the almshouse. The State had
appropriated money 10 keep their
resting.places in order. because il was
no common dust. A fund is needed to
honor these soldiers, because they were
soldiers. Mr.. Packard said there were
no rewards but honor for the cOnfcde-
: rate soldier. The oincerS were III the
DAYS of war worse Off than the men.
for they were at more expense. He
recalled the time when boots were t40O
pair. The consequence was none OF
them laid up fortunes. MeSsrs. skip
with Wilmer and Fielder G.. Slmglufi
also made remarks.
After the addresses the ladies' had a
meeting. when a long list of committee
was read. The enterprise is rapidly
taking shape. There will be twenty
one tables, representing each of the as
sociations, the fourteen States, and one
each for Jackson. Lee, and Jefferson
Davis.
Judge Brown. who was expected 10
be one OF the speakers, was too sick 10
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