Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-05
Len,a Birthday az q Holiday.

as we did recently, IN q number OF
northern Republican journals editorial
articles raising serious objections to the
Georgia proposition to mako General
LEES birthday a holiday. The mailg-
nants were expected to denounce any
suggestion which looked to recognl-
ton of any southern "robcl." II is
part of their stock in trade. They are
always on the watch for something with
which they can fire the northern heart.
But we are surprised to find so liberal
and Independent paper as tho Proyl-
dence JourRai, which, though Republi-
can in its politics, has fine reputation
for fairness, enlisted on this question
with the South-haters. That the Jour-
nal is fair paper is evidenced by the
fact that in the article to which we have
alluded it speaks Of General LEE as fol-
lows:
General Leo needs no such com
memoration. His fame rs q soldier OF
genius and his reputation 0s a man OF
honor are amply secured. lie could not
be assured any higher place in history
by 80 cheap device as a public celebra-
ton of his birthday"
What objections could an editor who
thus writes of General LEE make to the
setting apart of his birthday as a State
holiday? We quote them-as follows:
"Of course, it could have no recognl-
ton outside OF the southern States, for
the North could not be expected to sym
pathize with movement TO confer an
honor upon n Confederate soldier which
has not vet been proposed in commemo-
ration OF any Union leader. Even in the
South itself opinions as to the propriety
OF tho observance must necessarily be
divided in these days, and the adoption
of the suggestion would only revive and
Tend to perpetuate feelings that may bet
ter be laid aside fo-eyer.
Nobody expects or desires the north
ern people to join in such a movement.
They have no occasion thus to honor
any Of their generals. Unstinted honors
have been bestowed upon GRANT, SHEn-
MAN. HANCOCK, and oil the other most
distinguished northern generals. Our
great heroes have no Federal treasury
whence they can draw large pensions,
and no Congress to award them honor
able mention. The southern people are
too poor to bestow upon their
heroes such pensions as the nation be-
slows upon her heroes. We could,
however, do some little honor to all of
them by setting apart General LEES
birthday as holiday. But even this
tribute Of respect our northern guardians
think we ought not to pay to "rebels. "
We are gravely told that "the adoption
of the suggestion would only revive and
tend to perpetuate feelings that may be
better laid aside forever" We think
better of the northern people MS whole
than TO bring such charge against them.
Every year we, with their full consent,
and sometimes when northern veterans
participate, strew flowers upon the graves
of the Confederate dead, and pay to them
all the honors which we could pay them
on holiday. Surely the simple fact
that memorial day would be fixed by
law instead of by custom would not
change the nature Of the ceremonies in
cident to the occasion, nor rightfully
offend any northerner, soldier or other.
We are not at oil anxious to have q
hero's holiday set apart by any southern
State, but we must insist that if any
State should provide by law for such a
holiday she would not thereby give rea-
sonable cause Of offence to anybody IN.
der the sun.