Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-02
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY Q, 1898.
A Military Mistake.

A Military Mistake.
Every southern paper one takes up now
Adays has some mention OF the memorial
bazaar TO he held IN Richmond during the
month OF April for the joint benefit of the
funds OF the Private Soldiers Monument
Association and the association of LADIES'
organized 10 establish library and
museum in the house which was the resi-
dence of the Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS while
he was the President of the Confederate
States.
Along with these notices are many kind
words tor Richmond, both with reference
TO her historic past and her prosperous
present. They are evidences of love and
kinship. which are very precious TO our
people and are alone worth all the trou BILE
that has been taken to put on foot the en-
terprise In question.
But what will our sonthern friends and
brothers think when they read the bare
announcement that the First Regiment of
Virginia Volunteers, through ITS officers.
refuses 20 give its assent TO the use OF its
drill-room for the ladies' bazaar? Here in
Richmond where the merits of the officers
contention are better understood than
they can possibly be by outsiders. VIC are
sure that the general verdict IL that the
military have made a mistake; but people
at distance from us will be apt to charac-
terize the objection of the military by
barsher term.
We believe that the chief purpose of the
officers is 90 secure for themselves for the
future the right TO control the Armory
building, and that they have no sort
Of wish TO antagonize the bazaar but
they have beer most unwise in choosing
this opportunity to make test case.
The Armory was built by the city for
The Joint use of the public and the FIRST
Regiment. At the suggestion of officers of
the regiment when the City Council was
debating the Armory appropriation. the
newspapers of Richmond urged the Coun-
ell TO vote the money because the building
was needed by the general public as well
rs 10y the military. At that time this city
had fewer large halls than IL has now;
even now II has no hall as well adapted to
bazaar purposes as the drill-roOm of the
Armory. So 10 deny the ladies the use of
tions that eau be secured no where else IN
this city. as Sanger Hall is 10 be used as an
Annex, and is TO impose upon them the
expense of hiring an inferior hall.
The immediate question at issue is large
ly one of courtesy. The control of the
Armory is lodged by law in the hands of
the City Council Committee on Grounds
and Buildings. and it might have been well
for them TO have advised with the rogl-
ment's officers before granting the use of
The Armory to tho ladies. That they failed
TO do so until after they had acted was
doubtless mn oversight.
The ladies also erred IN not mentioning
their wishes TO the officers, but we are sure
that they will at once make the amend and
bring about peace.
As we understand. the ladies' will hardly
need the drill-roOm moro than three
weeks ut most. the company rooms Will
not be interfered with at all, and in April
IL will be no hardship for the COMPANIES TO
drill in the streets. particularly as all of
our streets are now lighted by electric
lamps.
1t is true that the resolution of the COM
mittse tenders to the ladies the Armo-
~" for the month of April whereas 1t
should have rendered not the Armory but
the drill-room of the Armory; but what
is wanted by the ladies must have been
well known TO the officers. especially after
Captain CUNSISGHAM stated that the drill
room only was desired.
We cannot believe that to have to drill
in the streets of Richmond during the
balmy month of April will " threaten"
the very existence" of the regiment.
No: that was a mere rhetorical expression.
The sons and grandsons of the men who
carried arms from the field of Manassas TO
Appomattox; who often marched over
frozen ground with bare feet; who stood
at their posts when rain and sleet fell upon
them and hunger cnawed their vitals, will
not yield their regimental existence be
cause after holding their company meet
ings in their comfortable company-roOms
in the Armory they will for few weeks
have to 90 into the streets to drill.
We believe we ascribe tile right motive
10 the regimental officers when we say that
they are opposed to the law which permits
tue VI hAiN boIN VI ~ w 10 NANbAANN
from their uses without their consent, but
they have erred in sei1ng this opportunity
10 utter their protest. When this city has
another hall equally as CONNEXIONS as the
dr,ll-room Of the Armory doubtless the
Council will cease to ask the regiment TO
surrender II for any but extraordinary oc-
casions; bat this would DO such an ocoa-
SION.
The private soldiers monument stands
on the crest OF hill which juts out INTO
Main street, aud Is therefore always to be
in the sight OF our people. IL but needs
10 be surmounted by bronze statue to be
dedicated 10 the memory OF the private
soldiers and sailors OF all the States who
fell fighting under the southern flag. IL
sacrifices are needed to flush 1t those
sacrifices must be made. Ii is a monument
which We hope will stand longer than
PoMPEY's pillar, after which 1t was
modelled. The DAVIS Library and Museum
appeals TO us almost as strongly. Both are
objects sacred to southern patriotism. We
Fhall therefore count upon the officers OF
the regiment to make no further opposi-
ton TO the use Of the Armory and 10 fall
into line with oil the other good people
who have enlisted under the leadership of
the ladies 70 make the bazaar great
social success and the means Of raising
great big SUN OF money for the purposes
indicated.
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