Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-07
REPLY OF THE POST.
THE TEXT OF THE CHICAGO Q. A. ~
LETTER TO LEE CAMP.
Farmer stnteno nts Reiterated--The final
Settlement Of Issues-Profess'ons
OF Regret.

lie, OF Chicago. TO the answer OF bee Na"p
20 tho nost,s query whether the camp
endorsed the sentiments OF new i'ooe
G.. Cave uttered In his address de"'eie'
at the unwilling OF the Confederate SUI
dlers' and Sailors Monument In this>eHS
on May last. 1t will be remembered 'hat
Lee Camp. In It's answer to the costs
first query stated that 1t heartily endorsed
DR.. Caves address.
THE POSTS LETTER.
HDQRS COLUMBIA POST, NJ. 40
DEPARTMENT ILLINOIS, G. a. Il.
CHICAGO, September %. 1884.
Messrs. George l.. Christian Charies o.
Stringfellow, Archer Anderson Johh b.
Cary, and Thomas L. Pollard commit
tee. Lee Camp No. /, Confederate 'ete-
rams, Richmond, Va:
Gentlemen.-Your letter OF july e'h'
replying to ours OF June 18th, Is at hand.
In view of the public expression or GER
tain sentiments which prompted Columbia
Post TO address you ON that date, IL -
hardly necessary for me TO say that your
reply was received with regret, inasmuch
as we had hoped that the brave veterans
of r. f.. Lee Camp did not share in the
sentiments thus publicly expressed. Your
reference to the purpose OF Columoia
Post TO provoke sectional controversy
or to add fuel to the dying embers OF
section hate" We can but feel implies
a charge. even though you disavow such
an idea. which Is utterly unjust. and one
which the past record Of this post will
most effectively answer and refute.
REITERATE FORMER STATEMENTS.
There can be little. IL any. doubt in
your minds in regard to what particular
s-..s,tf, mt .tsar ~ a
letter. From your suggestions we can
readily see that you are fully conversant
with them, and while giving due weight
and respect TO your suggestion that IL
would have been wiser and better if
Columbia Post had "pardOned something
to the spirit OF the place and OCCASION"
we must respectfully, though firmly.
re!terate our former statements, and
would refer you 10 the published COM
ments of numerous leading southern Jour
nails, to show that not alone Columbia
Post. but your own people as well. depre-
cate the time and the words there uttered.
WITH SORROW AND REGRET.
We would call your attention to the fact
! that such sentiments could be uttered in
no other country but this without being
pronounced dsoyal to existing govern
ment. Fully realizing this fact. we have
here the spectacle Of a people who. but
generation ago, were arrayed against
their government. to-day enjoying to tho
fullest extent the privileges and blessings
of that government. yet clarifying the
very principles which involved the whole
/ land in woe and sorrow although. almost
at the same time. expressing the oft-re-
peated belief that the results OF that
awful war were to them a rich blessing.
3 Surely 1t IS not strange that Columbia
nd 9TH III iii l.
| citizens. should hear with keenest sorrow
and regret such sentiments as were ex-
pressed on the occasion referred to.
B Realizing as social fact" that the
old regime OF social life has forever passed
( away; realizing equally that the his
torical facts" Of our nations life cannot
be written In one key for the South and
another for the North. but must be one
and the same for the entire country:
/ realizing also the political facts OF all
the long and stormy period leading up 10
actual clash of arms; we yet fail to see
how you, our brothers OF the South. can
gain aught by thus publicly clarifying
those mschievous principles which have
been proclaimed buried forever"
Entertaining these views, We can but
suggest to you. that il would have been
wiser and better had such sentiments
ne'er been uttered; and wiser" stlll and
better still were r.. r. Lee Camp as
loyal citizens OF our common country, to
forever and utterly repudjate them.
FINAL SETTLEMENT
We must differ with you in regard to
the final settlement OF those issues
For long years our Legislative halls were
the arena wherein the points at issue
were fully discussed and argued For long
years in judicial forum were these issues
. dwelt upon and only after failure of set
% .. h.
ment and compromise alike had failed,
only when that flag. born in the throes
OF our common struggle for independence.
was pierced by bullets from rifles aimed
? by It's sons. was war resOrted TO. You
actno Wedge the settlement by this means
as final and complete" II II then wise
10 drag the dry bones OF these dead issues
70 the light Of day. rehablitate them and
publicly parade them before the rising
generation under that flag which you say
was "furIed forever at Appomattox? "
Is II not a better plan for you, who
! have breathed the hot breath Of deadly
conflict between brothers. TO use all your
influence 10 Danish forever from public
sight and sound such thoughts such
words?
WITH QUALIFICATION.
We note with qualification your quota
ton from the immortal words Of Abraham
one under discussion. and we would most
respectfully suggest that the spirit which
anmats that eloquent address might
well be studied and emulated
We have ~ word Of regret at the "oc-
casiOn' which called you together on the
Goth Of May last. For the fallen soldier
and sailor W. hold naught but kndliest
ieel~gs. Let the monuments to their
memory tower heayenward throughout
lxF D..
Yankee army" bat O, let not this fair
land Of ours b~ again endangered by such
words of eulOgv for those mistaken prin-
ciples which cost so much OF life and treas
uTc.
Remembering all the pleasant times OF
social meetings with you, We only de-
sire to see full. unanswerlng allegiance
TO our common nag; then shall be obl.j-
Grated forever oil reference to dead and
decayed issues. Then shall we see the
unfolding Of that glorious era In our
country's history wherein shall be nc
SECTIONS"
a COMMON DANGER
Even while the echoes OF that speech
TO which we have referred were yet sound.
ing throughout America, yea and be.
yond the sea; behold a common dan.
ger confronts our country.
From the halls Of legislation arose the
| voices or patriots, southern men, veterans
Ike yourselves Of that great conflict, OF
like faith with yourselves. ana what the
burden Of their cry? All they denounced
in no measured terms those very prin.
cipies. Settled" at Appomattox. with
splendid. convincing eloquence they rallied
to the support of the Constitution. and
we are glad to believe these men are
the rule and not the excetion amons
our brothers OF the South
Keenly regrettins the utterances which
have called forth this correspondence
and sincerely hoping that the future hold!
no repetition of such utterances. re
main, yours truly. J. c. EVEREST.
Chairman of Committee.
Attest: Henry Stephens Adjutant.