Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-06
UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
Address ofthe General Commanding, John
Is. Gordon, of Georgia

UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
Address ofthe General Commanding, John
Is. Gordon. of Georgia
The following address will be published
in the newspapers throughout the South
today and is worthy the attention of oil
Confederate veterans, emanating as it does
from one of the most trusted aud devoted
of Lees Ieutenants:
ATLANTA. Ga, September 8, 1889.
To he er-Soldiers and Sailors Of the CorJede-
rate States Of America:
The convention of delegates from the
different States which assembled IN New
Orleans June 10, 1889. effected general
organization known as the United Con-
federate Veterans" 1t is designed as an
ASSOCIATION of all the bodies OF ex-Confede-
rate veterans and sailors throughout the
Union. The convention adopted constitu-
ton and did me the great honor to elect me
general. which position / accept with pc
culiar qualification. Preliminary TO tho
issue of any orders / wish to call general
attention to the objects of the association
and to enlist in their accomplishment the
active cooperation not only OF every sur
vivor of southern armies. but also That
large contingent of sons of veterans, VINO,
TOO young to have received the baptism OF
fire, have nevertheless received With you
the baptism of suffering and sacrifice.
The first article of the constitution of
the association declares: The object
and purpose of this organization viii DO
strictly social, literary. historical. and be-
nevolent. IL will endeavor to unite In a
general federation all associations or the
Confederate veterans. soldiers, and sailors
now IN existence or hereafter to be formed
to gather authentic data for an impartial
history of the war between the States; to
preserve the relics or mementoes OF the
same; to cherish the ties of friendship
that should exist among the men who have
shared common dangers. common suner-
ing and privations; 20 care for the disabled
and extend helping hand to the needy;
TO Drotect the widow and orphan, and TO
make and preserve the record OF the
services of every member, and. as Tar as
possible, of those of our comrades VINO
have preceded US III eternity"
The last article provides that neither
discussion of political or religious subjects
nor any political action shall be permitted
in the organization, and any ASSOCIATION
violating that provision shall forfeit Its
membership.
GOOD OBJECTS.
Comrades. no argument is needed to Sc
cure for those objects your enthusiastic
endorsement. They have burdened your
thoughts for many years; you have cher
ished them IN sorrow, poverty, ana humili-
alton. In the face of misconstruction you
have held them in your hearts with the
strength of religious convictions. No mis-
judgments can defeat your peaceful pur-
poses for the future. Your ASPIRATIONS
have been lifted by the mere force and ur-
gency of surrounding conditions to plane
far above the paltry consideration or par
tisan triumphs. Tho honor of the Amerl-
can repu bllc, the just powers of the Fed
eral Government, the equal rights OF
States, the integrity OF the constitutional
Union, the sanctions of law. and the en-
forcement of order have no class OF de-
tenders more true and devoted than the
ex-soldlers of the South and their worthy
descendants. But you realize the great
truth that people without the memories
of heroic suffering and sacrifices are a peo-
pie without a history.
To cherish such memories and recall
such n past, whether crowned WITT sue
cess or consecrated III defeat, is to ldea1Ze
principle and strengthen character, lnten-
sify love of country and convert defeat and
disaster into pillars OF support tor future
manhood and noble womanhood. Whether
the southern people under their changed
conditions may ever hope TO witness an
other civilization which shall equal that
which began with their Washington and
ended with their Lee, 1t Is certainly true
that devotion TO their glorious past is not
only the surest guarantee of future pro-
gress and the hottest bond of unity, but IS
also the strongest claim they can present
to the confidence and respect of the other
sections of the Union.
In conclusion ] beg to repeat. in sub
stance at least, few thoughts recently
expressed by me to the State organization,
which apply with equal force to this gene
raj brotherhood.
II is political IN no sense except so far as
the word political" isa synonyme of the
word patriotic" 1t IS q brotherhood
over which the genius Of philanthropy
and patriotism, of truth and of justice
will preside; Of philanthropy because It
| will succor the disabled, help the needy,
strengthen the weak, and cheer the dis
consulate; of patriotism because IL VIII
cherish the past glories of the dead Con-
federacy and tTansmuto them into living
inspirations for future service to the living
| republic; of truth because 1t will seek to
gather and preserve as witnesses for
history the unimpeachable facts which
shall doom falsehood to die that truth
| may live; of justice because 1t Will
cultivate national as well az southern
| fraternity ana will condemn narrow-mind
edness and prejudice and passion, and
cultivate tnay broader, higher, nobler,
| sentiment, which would write on the grave
of every soldier who fell on either side
Here lies an American hero, martyr TO
the right as his conscience conceived It,"
IrejoIce that a general organization too
long neglected mas Deen at last per-
| fected. 1t IS brotherhood which all homo
| rable men must approve and which Heay en-
| itself Will bless. call upon you therefore
to organize i'll every State aud community
where ex-Confederates may reside and
rally to the support OF the high and peace
ful objects of the United Confederate
Veterans" and move forward until by the
power of organization and persistent effort
your benefcent and Christian purposes are
fully accomplished. J. b. GoHDoS,
General Commanding.