Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-19
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 10, 1894
Veterans on Appomattox.

Last week the Dispatch published lnter-
views with many distinguished Coniede-
rate veterans condemnlng the change OF
name OF Appomattox TO surrender ana
auproving our suggestion that that battle
field be purchased by the United States
Government and converted into a nauonal
military park. as Chickamauga and Shiloh
are 10 be- Yesterday, we printed express
sions Of opinion from several Grand Army
of the Republic men Of prominence VINO
are now In this city. These Union Vete-
rams all heartily favor our park idea, and
condemn the change Of name They want
Appomattox to remain AppomattoN.
1t has been apparent TO US for some
time past that the Post-Ofiice Department
was awakening TO an appreciation OF the
fact that its action was not endorsed by
any man who was willing to come for-
ward and let that fact be known Nor
does any one uphold The department IN
it's absurd position that it cannot rlght
the wrong without petition from certain
people who get their mail at Appomat-
tox. Yet. as a matter of fact, such petit
uon was filed weeks and weeks ago.
About all that the department now
wishes Is to find a way out Of its difficulty
as easily as possible; therefore, its repre-
sentatIves talk about "asccrtaining' pub
ic sentiment on the question. Nonsense!
There is but one side to this question
II may not be that the matter Wouid
have been allowed to go by default had
not the Dispatch kept it before the puDhc
for weeks and months together, but, no"
that public attention has been secured
the Post-OfiCe Department has no alter
pativc but to yield 20 the demand OF
ApponattoX county, Of the state OF VIZ
clnia. and OF tAe country at large, as
expressed in resolutions OF veteran or
Plantations. IN newspaper utterances anu
In every other way 10y which a popular
verdict can find expression.
Yes; the Post-Ofice Department VIII
have to surrender. and we hope that II
VIII do 50 completely and gracefully, ana
frankly acknowledge that II was wrong IN
ever notifying the people Of old Appomat-
lox post once that they would nave 10 give
10 the name Of AppomattoX and select
another. There the wrong began. There
tho aeuartment committed its first blum
der-a b.undcr which all the other blum
Gers followed as naturally as train OF
cars follows a locomotive.
However when we come to think about
II more II is not now very important what
the department does. The suggestion Of the
Dispatch. made ON Sunday, December
9th. chat the battlefield be acquired by
,he United States Government ana parked
Is going TO be adopted. The country now
sees the necessity for some such action.
II wants the neld properly marked and
preserved for all time. 1t wishes TO put
f. out Of the power Of any man, or any
set Of men, to confuse the public mind
hereafter as 70 the real Appomattox.
Appomattox field will make fine park.
with Il small expenditure Of money the
grounds can be made beautiful, and that
too. without destroying their topography,
or putting face upon them different
from the face that they wore in the
carly spring OF 1866. when the armies
Of Grant and lee met for the last time.
We are assured that the Grand Army
Of the Republic will urge the govern
uent TO purchase the field, and Confeder-
ate veterans almost without exception
will endorse the movement The Con-
federates who surrendered at Appomat-
tox are as proud of the record they made
on that field as the vietors can possibly
be Of theirs.
Whether you view 1t from n sentimental
or practical military standpoint, but
one other battlefield on this continent
IL to be compared with that Of Appomat-
tox. At Yorktown the war Of the ReVo-
luton eliminated. At Appomattox The
Confederacy received its death wound
u wound which valor and devotion were
towerless to avert.