Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-29
DIR. j. william Jones Says They Have
Been Misrepresentcd.
atlanta Journal)
To tho V-Ift,r Of tho To,r,,.l.

NAtlaNtd JOuGnGl)
To the Editor Of the Journal:
Wll You allow me space 20 utter an
earnest protest against your recent edi-
torial in which you say:
THE bitter sectional speeches Of Gene
raj R0sser and the Rev. Mr. Cave, at
Richmond on the 30th OF May last. do
not represent the feeling Of the southern
people. They We're repudiatci by almost
every leading southern newspaper. our
people have 10 desire to keep alive the
sectional animOsities of the past. They
feel that this is their government and are
as loyal To IT as the people of any other
part OF the country
/ heartily endorse all that you say in
commentator Of that able. accomplished,
and gallant soldier Lieutenant-General
stephen j.. Lee, OF Mississippi and warm
i approve OF the quotation you make
from his Fourth-0f-July speech.
| heard President Davis say more than
once that General Stephen ID. Lee was
zone OF the very best soldiers that the
war produced" I count il an honor 20
number him among my cheri he'd friends
and | am glad that he uttered the man
ly. patriotic words" which he did at Jack
son on the 4th Of July
But I respectfully submit that in con
traSting General Lees speech win the
rawlings OF Rosser and Cave and In de-
nOuncing these last IA bitter sectional
speeches." you (unntentionally. OF course
DO the graYest injustice u the gallant
clValry1nan who followed the feather OF
Jeb Stuart, and the heroic private soldier
who WAS one OF the most faithful or y.
T. Hirs famous Old Thirteenth Virginia
Regiment
As for General ROssers speech II was
not on the programme Of the unVehng
ceremonies, was an imprOmptu made at a
gathering Of his old comrades OF the
cavalry, was very imperfectly and on
some points Incorrectly reported. and
while containing some things perhaps.
which General ROsser would not delibe-
rately utter and which we would not APP
prove. had In IL not one word which in
Dictated any failure 20 accept the situa-
ton" or any dislOyalty To the United
States Government. General ROsser has
written defence and explanation Of his
speech, which. IL seems to me, ought to
be satisfactory 10 all except. perhaps, to
those who were bounty jumpers" during
TIA war, and have been 'pension-grab-
berg since.
But l desired more especially to defend
the speech Of my old comrade, Dr. Cave
bob cave I used 10 call him when We
were both "high priyates" in the old
Thirteenth Virginia Regiment
You must surely have gotten your idea
Of Or. Caves speech from tho garblcd
and Incorrect reports Of tie northern
newspapers, and not from the speech It
delivery. and have carefully read IL twice.
and | respectfully challenge you 70 pro-
duce paragraph from the speech which
is "bitter,' which tends 10 keep alive
the sectional anlmosities If the past" or
which shows any disloNalty 70 the pres
ent order Of things. Or Cave did ably.
elUQuently, and triumphantly show that
tn men whom he represent ed-the pri-
Vate soldiers and sailors Of the COnfede-
racy-Were not "rohcls." not traitors. %
lfaF frf.. ~
saw, and that they made against over
whcimiug numbers and resources" a
struggle which illustrates the brightc-
pages II American history and has writ
ten their names among the worlds i'm
mortaIS lie diI show that the South
WAS right I'm its "gr1t struggle FOR con-
stitut0nal freedom ms g neral Lee was
accustomed a. put iO. hut "A careful pe-
rusll Of the correct report OF the speech
will show no paragraph or sentence which
inculcates any perpetuatl0n Of the con
test. or any failure 70 fully accept the
situation"
II the Journal will look AT G neral 8.
d Lees able report 70 the United Con
frleTate Veterans on the "-chOOl history"
question. f. will find 'manly, patriotic
sentiments in full accord witt Or. Caves
spc ch.
Allow me. also, to take Issue with the
statement of the Journal that Or. Cave
speech docs not represent the feelings
Of the southern people" and that n was
"repudlated by almost every leading
southern newspaper" The L ,hmoni pa
mrs have warmly inlOrsed and defended
n. and nearly all 81 the southern pap rs
that ! have seen have done the same.
TIL. r. T. Lee Camp ~ Confederate Nete-
rams. OF Richmond dn letter 20 thi-
caep Post. Grand Army or tie Repuui %,
unanimously adopted by The camp. mas
warmly lud0rsel and ably Tended the
q rF - veterans ALI over
the State are taking similar ton. ana |
am very much mistaken II the sentiment
Of the speech, fairly understood would rot
meet the hearty approval Of nine tenths
Of our Confederate people.
VIII you allow Or. Cave 10 give MS
own Interpretation ~ his speech? The fol-
lowing IL the conclusion Of recently
published letter from him:
"Nv northern critics generally se-'n -
have interpreted my speech In The lshi OF
the sectional feeng ina their Jwn hearts
rather than in accord with tie spirit tn1
urompt.d M hay. been accused y
animosity which ! have never felt, ami
personal abuse has been 3 'ap+i ul"n M
Tor what did no, say. II my critics VIII
Infarpret my speech fairly. aud critic.s-
what Is I'm H. rather than what their ~
cit 4 imaglnati1ns read into II, | N"
not complain. I spoke In q plain way,
who. while Loyalty acceprinc me results
cf the war, and chcrishng 90 d viii and
hrotherly love toward all persons, believes
that. AZ regards principles
Blue + blue and gray Is pray
And will be so TIL the judgment day.
"AppOmdtt0x settled conditions; il id
not settle principles. II the cause OF the
South was righteous before General Lee
surrendered, II is righteous s,!ll.
"Respectfuily yours, r. {. CAVE
Please excuse me for taking 50 much
az Your guace I'm my desire { put right
before vour readers an old co'nrade, who
was true 70 duty In the dark "a ys Of war.
and Is true 10 principle and the truth Of
history in these days OF blessed peace
and returning fraternity betw en- all Sec
lions OF our common country.
J. WILLIAM JONES.
University OF Virginia, July d. 1894