The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-25
CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS HOME.
Meeting in Its Aid Held in New York-Speech
by Major Stewart, One of the Directors.

NEW YORK, March A-There was meet
ing at the Academy of Music, tonight, un-
der the auspices of the New York citizens
committee, in aid OF the National
Confederate Soldiers Home, at Austin, Tex.
Gen. II. II. Barnum, presided. Many Grand
Army men were in the audience, including
Gen. 7. T. Chittenden and Gen. Carl
Schurz. There were also numerous con-
federate veterans present. Maj. Jos. H.
Stewart, one of the directors of the home.
was the principal speaker He said in part:
sectionalism is being fast obliterated from the
minds and hearts OF men, and the foes of twenty
five years ago now march shoulder to shoulder in
the struggles OF civil conflict Thevalor and forti-
tude of the confederate dead is ever living heri
tage, not of the South: but of the entire Union.
Both sides of the conflict were but fitting ex-
emplars OF the American soldier. We rejoice
that many thousands of Union veterans are now
upon the pension rolls, and about $4,000 are
maintained by the government in comfortable
about about sio,oOo,ooo, sS'sf and nsnss that they Ss
All honor to these men whom the government
sustalns and upholds with its bounty, and largely
so by the votes of Southern men in the law-mak-
ward to them, and a valuable lesson to the youth
OF our land. But what may he done for the hap
less confederate soldier, who freely shed his
try that had no sponsor at its baptism among the
nations of the earth and was destined to sink,
like some bright planet of the heavens, never to
rise aga1ni 1t might be an unwise, and possibly
dangerous, precedent to aid at the public ex-
pense, those who fought against the old flag: and
men In both branches OF our Congress have ex-
pressed disapproval of this policy. But may we
not find sympathetic hearts and generous hands
to aid us with their bOuntyl
The speaker went on to say that for this
purpose the John B. Hood Camp of Confed-
crate Veterans was chartered in the State
of Texas. 1t was not their purpose to fos-
ter the animosities of the past, but to ad-
comrades. He reviewed the es,
tablishment Of the Confederate Sol
diers' Home at Austin, Tex, and
said it had been maintained for more than
two years by private charity. After speak
ing of the great commercial prospects Of
North, the speaker referred to the negro
question. He said:
The freedom of the negro added nntold bless
lngs to their former masters, though their liber-
atlon at hrst seemed to be a cruel kind of logic.
Yet, truly might it be said was there ever such a
blessing In disguise to the white man as the
liberation of the negro in the Southa
Ii freed the master and the slave.
The freedom or the slave dignified labor in the
South and taught the best lessons of self reliance.
From association, sympathy and mutual well
fare the white man OF the South had become an
educator. favored the improvement of the negro,
and elevate his former slave. In the prob
lem before it the States of the South
ment. In the North the political ques- qe
ton, of the South was not under
stood-bow the giving of the ballot to
the negro was menace to life and prop,
die-yes. we mean tide. if need be, to main
tain the honor of the grand old flag, we will
ever cherish the tenderest recOllections of "the
lost cause" and the flag that was never destined
to float among the enbleyns of the nations