The Lake Charles echo., 1889-04-19
EX-CONFEDERATE MENDI
GANCY.

The Atlanta Constitution has been
protesting most earnestly against the
begging petitions, some Of which are
still abroad and are being hawked
through the northern press with Yari-
ous degrees of gush, ridicule or re-
prOaeh, and which are made the pre-
text for limitless self-glorihcation by
carpet knights and political hueksters,
and which, under any circumstances
could be only source of the deepest
humiliation 70 southerners, and espeel-
ally to the survivors of a cause that
sunk in endless death, but which must
remain eterBalIy cmbalmed in sacred
memory. We find it dif1ieultto believe
that anyone possessing the instincts of
southern gentleman and soldier
could for q moment occupy the posi-
tion in WHICH the self-constituted
soliciting committee of the Texas
Confederate Home now sees itself be-
fore the world, or indeed that any
sueh could have been induced to un.
dertake the errand. Texas had the
means and has used them to splendidly
endow educational and eleemosynary
institutions. Most OF the latter are
located at the State capital, in fact
the principal dependence of the Texas
State capital is upon these institutions,
and they even make an occasional
grab for those of national and inter
national character. A Confederate
Home was, however, a notable excep-
tion in the charitable designs of the
large and rich State of Texas, and the
Austinites are driven TO the necessity
of going abroad for aid to the few
Confederate veterans who can be col
lecGed there. Texas law prohibits the
contribution of State funds except to
enumerated charities and reIiefs, and
fine as is the discrimination necessary
to distinguish these, there is never
any mistake made in favor of the
Confederate Home. When drought
sufferers, two years ago, required re-
lief, 100000 WAS appropriated, a
distinct violation of that constitutional
law, and when the State treasury was
bursting with So, 600 900, necessitating
an extra legislative session for its dis
bursement, the Confederate Home
could not be relieved, though the
money was wasted right and left
In this connection we reproduce
some of the comments upon this con
dltion as taken from Texas papers and
others:
"a few days since the Post (Hous
tom took occasion to criticise the plaI
of begging aims in the North for the
Austen Home. Texas is big and ricl
enough TO take care of its old defend
ers and helpless x-Confederatei
without asking grudgingly giver
| GaVOrs from the North" "
"Here are enough noble and patri
otic examples for Texas, the Empir
State Of the South, in area, popuIa
tion and public treasure to follow
Louisiana, one of the least of the Con
federate States, giving her veteran
relief through her Legislature; NortI
Carolina, generously taxing herself TO
their support; South Carolina, givinl
them a State home; and Georgia, i
ten days, raising $4,000 for a lik
pnrpose.-Ne0 Orleans Times. Demo
crGt."
"The peripatetic begging con
mittee, of winch Major Joe Stewart
chief spokesman, lately sent North /
ask aims for the Confederate Home
will BOW return to Texas. The new
paper pressure is too strong to Fesis
f and besides, after all the pleading an
cajoling that has been done, only tn
pitiful sum of 81 500 is in the treasur
to show how niggardly the North ha
bestowed its contributions. In thi
e connection it may not be out of plac
to say that the Atlanta Constitution
fund is RAPIDLY growing and will 500
even exceed the $4,000 asked 70
and may reach 100000. While th
result has been reached-or will
E reached-in Georgia within a week {
I two for the disabled ex-Confederatt
Of that State, the fact remains tha
Texas has practically done nothing fc
its own, although, as the COnStttptio
} says, we are better off financially tha
D any other State IN the Unlon.- WGs
q Day."
These are extracts from many Leaf
ing editorials of newspapers of recer
date, presenting Texas in the light
which the State is viewed through Ii
r action of some of her citizens.