Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-09-09
UNITED CONFEDERATED VETERANS.
HEADQUARTERS UNITED
CONFEDERATE VETERANS,
= CT n.L 1001

HEADQUARTERS UNITED
CONFEDERATE VETERANS,
NEW ORLEANS, La, Sept. 9Th, 1917
The following is Gen John B. Gordon's
address to tie United Confederate Yeter-
ans, and to all the ex-Soldiers and Sailors
of the late Confederate States OF America.
It is published simultaneously all over the
South, with the view Of calling the atten- |
ton Of Veterans in every Southern State to
the importance of forming Camps without
delay, of appealing to them to join the |
'.Benevulent, Social and Historical" organi- |
cation of United Confederate Veterans.
Any details or information desi,ed copies of
Constitution or blanks wanted, will be
promptly furnished BY applying to General
George Norman, Adjntant General and
Chief of staff, New Orleans, La. Cores
pondence solicited.
Address OF the General Commanding.
ATLANTA, GA, Sept. 8. 1891.
To the er-Soldiers and Sailors OF the Con-
federote States of America:
The convention of delegates from the diff
ferent states which assembled In New Or
leans, June 10, 1889, effected a general Or
ganizstion known as the s'United Confed-
crate Veterans" It is designed as an as
ISOLATION of all the bodies of ex-Confederste
Veterans and Sailors throughout the Union.
The convention adopted constitution and
did me the great honor to elect me Con
eral, which position / accepted with peculiar
qualification. Preliminary to the issue Of
any orders I wish to call general attention
to the
OBJECTS OF THIS 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, who, too
young to have received the baptism OF fire,
have nevertheless received with you the
baptism of suffering and of sacrifice.
The first article of the constitution Of the
associate declares: "The object and pur-
pose of this organization will be strictly So
cial, literary, historical and benevolent. It
will endeavor to unite in general fedora
ton all associations of the 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 mement0es
of the same; to cherish the ties Of friend.
ship that should exist among the men who
have shared common dangers, common suf-
fering and privations: to care for the disa-
bled and extend a helping hand to the needy,
to protect the widow and orphan and to
make and preserve the record OF the ser.
vices of every member, and as far as posi-
BILE, of those of our comrades who have pre-.
coded US in eternity"
The last article provides that neither dis
cussion Of political or religious subjects nor
any political action shall be permitted in
the organization and any association violat.
ing that provision shall forfeit its member
ship.
GOOD OBJECTS.
| Comrades; no argument is needed TO &C.
cure for those objects your enthusiastic en-
dorsement. They have burdened your
thoughts for many years, you have cherish.
| ed them in sorrow, poverty and humiliation.
In the face of miGconstruction you have held
| them in your hearts with the strength of
religious convictions. No misjudgments
can defeat your peaceful purposes for the
| future. Your aspirations have been lifted
| by the mere force and urgency of surround.
ing conditions to plane far above the pal
| try consideration of partisan trinmphs. The
honor of the American Republic, the just
powers of the federal government, the equal
rights of states, the integrity of the consti-
tutional union, the sanctions of law and the
enforcement of order have no class of de-
Tenders more true and devoted than the ex-
soldiers Of the South and their worthy de.
scendants. But you realize the great truth
that people without the memories of
heroic suffering and sacrifices are
APEoPLE WITHOUT HISTORY.
To cherish such memories and recall such
la past, whether crowned with success or
conseoratad in defeat, ia to idealize princi
pie and strengthen character, intensity love
| of country and convert defeat and disaster
iutU piiia.o VI support lor iuture MANHOOD
and womanhood. Whether the Southern
people under their changed conditions may
| ever hope to witness another civilization
which shall equal that which began with
| their Washington and ended with their
Lee, it il certainly true that devotion to
| their glorious past is not only the surest
guarantee of future progress and the hottest
bond of unity, but is also the strongest claim
| they can present to the confidence and re-
spect of the other sections of the Union.
NON POLITICAL.
In conclusion l bag to repeat, in sub
stance at least, few thoughts recently ex.
pressed by me to the state organization,
which apply with equal force to this gen.
ersl brotherhood.
1t is political in no sense except so far as
the word political" is q synonym of the
word "patriotic" 1t is 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 discon-
ISOLATE; of patriotism, because it will cherish
the past glories Of the dead Confederacy
and transmute them into living inspirations
for future service to the living republic; of
truth, because it will seek to gather and
preserve as witnesses for history the unim-
peschsble facts which shall doom falsehood
to die that truth may live; of justice, be-
cause it will cultivate national as we'll as
Southern fraternity and will condemn mar.
row miudedness and prejudice and passion,
and cultivate that 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."
GENERAL ORGANIZATION.
rejoice that a general organic alton too
long neglected has been at last perfected.
1t is brotherhood which all honorable men
must approve and which heaven itself will
bless. call upon you therefore to organize
in every state and community where ex-
Confederate may reside and rally to the sup.
port Of the high and peaceful objects of the
Quilted Confederate Veterans" and move
forward until by the power of organization
and persistent effort your bene ficent and
christian purposes are fully accomplished.
J. b. GORDON,
Commanding General.
( THANKs.-Mahone Is still engaged in ru
ming the Republican party of Virg lula.