St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-09-05
UNITED CONFEDERATE
VETERANS.
ADDRESS
OF THE
GENERAL COMMANDING.
ADDRESS

= ATLANTA, Ca, Sept. 3, 1888
: To the ex-So:diers aud Sailors Of til
= Confederate States OF America:
ri The convention of delegates from
the different states which assemble,
in New Orleans, June 10, 1889
5 effected a general organization,
] known as the United Comfederat,
|, Veterans" 1t Is designed as Al
association Of all the bodies of ex
Confederate Veterans and Sailors
} throughout the Union. The Gun.
, vention adopted constitution ans
did me great honors to elect mt
General, which position I accep,
with peculiar qualification. Pre-
liminary to the issue Of any orders
l wish to call general attention to
the
DIRECTS OF THIS ASSOCIATION
and to enlist in their accomplish
ment the active cooperation not
only Of every survivor Of Southern
armies, but also that large contin-
gent of sons Of veterans. who, too
young TO have received to baptism
Of fire lave nevertheless received
with yOa the baptism Of suffering
and OF sacrifice.
The FIRST article Of the constitu-
ton Ut the association declares {:
"lhe object and purpose Of this
organization will be strictly social,
literary, historical aud benevolent.
II will endeavor TO unite in a gener-
al federation all associations of the
Confederate veterans, soldiers and
sailors nov in existence or here
after I" be formed; to gather au-
thentic data for an impartial history
OF the war between the States; to
preserve the relics or memeutoes of
the same; TO cherish the ties of
friendship thai should exist among
the men who have shared common
dangers, common suffering and
privation: To care fer the disabled
aud extend helping hand to the
needy; I" protect the widows and
orphans, and to make and preserve
tine record of the services Of every
member. and As far as possible, OF
those vt our comrades who have
preceded us To- eternity"
The last article provides that
neither discussion OF political or
religious subjects nor any political
action shall be permitted in the or
ganlzai:on, and any association vio-
laiirg that provision shall forfei. its |
membership.
GOOD OBJECTS.
Comrades, no argument is need
ed 10 secure far those objects your
enthusiastic endorsement. They
have burdened your thoughts for
many years. you have cherished
them in sorrow, poverty and hui
milia,;nn. In the face Of miscor-
you have held them in
yonr heart with the strength OF re-
ligious convictions. No misjudg-
men.s can defeat your peaceful
purposes for the future. Your
aspirations have been lifted by the
mere force and urgency of sur
rounding conditions to a rlane
far above the paliry consideration
of partisan triumphs. The honor
Of the American Republic, the
Just powers Of the federal govern
ment. the equal rights of states. the
integrity III the constitutional
union, the sanctions of law and the
OF order have no class ,
defenders more true and devo,ed
han the ex-soldiers of the South (,
md their worthy descendants.
But you realize the great truth that ,
people without the memories Of
'eroic suffering and sacrifices are
PEOPLE WITHOUT A HISTORY. c
To cherish suoh memories and
ecall such a past. whether covered {
Nth success OF consecra'ed in de- {
eat, is to idealize principle and Z
character, intensity love a
t country AMI convert defeat and G
isaster into pillars Of support for
Lure manhood and noble woman- Il
God. Whether the Southern nee. II
lc under their changed conditions y
'av ever hope to witness another o
Utilization which shall equal that r,
'hich began with their Washington d
nd ended with their Lee. it is Ger 1
'inly true that devotion to their q
lOri.'us past il not only the surest q
naranfee Of future progress aid Il
re hottest hond of unity, but is also
re strongest claim they can pre- q
mt To the confidence and respect T
the Other sections Of the Union. II
NoN-POLrTIcAL. to
In conclusion I beg tn repeat. in b.
distance at least, few thoughts
Gently expressed by me to the
ate organization, which apply N
tn equal force to this general :.
r.
1t is political in no sense except q
far as the word "po'itical" 10 .
nonym Of the word sspatriotic."
II brotherhood over which the -
MUS Of philanthropy and patri. :"
sm. of truth and Of justice viii ne
eside; cf philanthropy, because :.
will succor the disabled, help the w
edy. strengthen the weak end
eer the discons"lute; Of patriot ~
., because It will cherish the psst .
'stes Of thc dead Confederscy -