The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-28
d sap ed Confederate Sold :ers.
New York Herald.

New York Herald.
4 commi. zee of citizens gathering
help 20 build home in Texas for dis
abled Confederate soldiers is, we are
very glad TO see, receiving letters of
encouragement from such eminent
Union soldiers and sailors as General
| Sherman and Admiral Porter and
Others. That is right, and we hope
the needed subscriptions will flow in
to the committee.
Its now twenty-four years since The
war closed. The men who served in it
on either side are growing old fast.
Those who were crippled by wounds or
disease are already feeble old men.
The animositics which grew out Of The
strife between the sections have so far
died out, at least among those who
fought, that Union and Confederate
survivors have more than once pro-
posed to decorate the graves of their
comrades Oil the same day together.
In many Southern States the people,
by their Legislatures, are supporting
homes for disabled Confederate SOL
diers. That is right and as it ought to
be. But why would it not be kindly
and gracious act for Congress, when it
reassembles, 70 appropriate money for
the construction and maintenance Of
several soldiers homes in the Southern
States? Why would not President
Harrison do we'll to recommend this 10
Congress?
There is money spare in the federal
Treasury. The sum required would not
be great, and the Southern people,
who pay their share of the taxes out of
which Northern pensions and Northern
soldiers homes are provided, world
see in such deed, done as it would be
by republican Congress, the most
conclusive proof of good will-ihe best
evidence that those politicians ia the
South who continue to gable about
Northern i'll will are mere demagogues
and do not tell the truth.
IF soldiers homes were established in
Southern States by an act of Congress
these would not, of course, be eXclu-
sively for disabled Confederates. Union
and Confederate men would gather in
them to spend their few remaining
years in comfort together. Many men
| now in Northern soldiers homes suffer
from The rigors of our Northern win
ters, and as the old soldiers in these
places are now by law allowed to
change from one home to another,
under proper regulations, many of
them would be glad of a winter in
Southern home-where, besides, they
would be made happy by change of
scene and by the opportunity, dear to
every soldier and sailor, of talking over
battles with former antagonists.
Moreover, large number of Union
soldiers now live in Southern States.
When, by reason of poverty and a dis
abled condition these become entitled
to entry in soldiers home, they must
| now 60 North. For these, who will in
crease in numbers from year to year,
| soldiers homes at well selected points
in Southern States would be boon.
The country can afford to do this
thing, and we believe it would have
the hearty consent of mu!titudes of
Union soldiers. We should like to see
the question taken up in the Grand
Army assemblies and in the Loyal
Legion meetings. Possibly there might
be some opposition at first, but We be-
lieve it would melt away before sensible
and kindly counsels. The Union veter-
ans would do well to ask themselves
whether the time has not come, nearly
a quarter ola century after the close of
the war and when they themselves
begin to feel keenly the burden ofyears,
when it would be we'll to make pub
lie provision of homes, not for the
wealthy, the educated, the influential
Southern leaders in the war, but for the
poor fellows who were deluded or
forced into the Confederate ranks, and
who are now crippled and poor, desti-
tute and suffering.
They were the victims of designing
or mistaken leaders. They did what
they supposed their duty-for they had
been taught for generation to stand
by their States. They are Americans,
fellow countrymen; and we believe
Union veterans, while they may dis
trust the Southern leaders in the war,
cherish no animosity-have nothing
but the kindest feelings for the men
who faced them in the ranks.
|