The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1891-09-03
THE VETERANS HOME.

by vote OF "a to 62, to accept the
new building recently erected in
Atlanta tor the home Of Confederate
Veterans. 1t will be remembered
that during Mr.. Henry Grady's life
time an appeal was made to the
citizens of Georgia for contributions
to build Confederate Veterans
Home, where the helpless, and
homeless Confederate soldiers might
find safe retreat.
The people of Georgia responded
most generously and a magnificent
home was built at the cost of about
$40, 900, for building and grounds.
But the most serious obstruction
in the way was the lack of
money to provide for support OF
those who might be domiciled there.
The present Legislature was ask
ed to appropriate $4,000 for this
purpose, annually, but they declin-
ed to do it. Then the building was
rendered to the State unconditional
ly. The Legislature declined to ac-
cept it by vote OF "a to 81.
This caused Atlanta to hold an
Indignation meeting at the famous
artesian we'll at night, during which
speeches of condemnation were
made. Tle Atlanta Constitution
contained interviews in which some
of the citizens Of Atlanta used some
very Incorporate language, one
person saying those who had voted
against accepting the home were
traitors.
This called forth strong speeches
in the Legislature, in which some
members INDUCED in violent denur-
Citations of the writer's and tie Con-
stitution. 1t looked at one time as
If there were going to be some duels.
But all this was amicably settled
without crossing over into Alabama.
The Legislature refused to recon
slider their vote and the Home will
not be accepted. The Legislature
claims that the State is pensicning
the Confederate soldiers and they
propose to do the same for the Coz
federate widows, and these old SOL
diers had rath er have pension than
go to home-that few would leave
their families, even in poverty, to
go to home, and that the State
could not afford to accept a home
that would prove costly and but few
would occupy.
Arguments were advanced that
the State owed it to these old vete-
rams to provide home for them and
not allow them to fill aims houses
and be lett to the cold charities of
an ungrateful public.
AS for our own opinion, we see no
occasion for indignation and denun-
citation of the Legislature. We be-
lieve they acted from a sense OF
duty, and il So their motives should
not be impugned. Yet at the same
time, we would have been glad to
have seen such provision made for
acceptance of this home as would
give to the State a creditable place
for those old Confederate veterans,
although their number might be
few, where they might be cared for
in their old age and restitution. We
believe in the establishment OF such
homes for the needy and helpless,
aged and infirm. A grander chart
ty could not be inaugurated to show
the gratitude we have for these old
veterans.
1t is true the old crippled soldiers
are being pensioned, but the object
is to furnish home for those who
are not pensioned and in their old
age and poverty, shelter, clothe and
feed and care for them, that they
may not be beggars and paupers.
1t would require but a small tax to
do this, and We are sorry tina. the
Legislature could not see their way
clear to accept the home and make
provisions for its support.
A HORRIBLE and feartully fatal
railroad accident occurred near
Statesville in the North Carolina