The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-15
souETuING SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO
IEARN.

sOuETUING SOME fEOfLb "H'S ."
LEARN.
movement was recently started IN
Washington to form a society OF sons oil
| Confederate veterans. At the prellmi-
nary meeting to adopt a constitution 1t
was proposed to incorporate provision
which declared that one of the purposes
of the association would be to perpetuate
the principles of their fathers. This was.
of course liable to the criticism that 1t
educated the Sons of Confederate veter-
ans to be advocates of secession, where
as the Confederate soldiers had agreed.
upon coming back into the Union, to
abandon forever all claim that state
had the right to secede from the Union.
The meeting adjourned over without
finally acting in this matter, and 1t is TO
be hoped that when it assemblies again
the resolution will be so qualified as not
to make it liable to this criticism.
Whether it was this discussion that
prompted the George II. Thomas Camp
No 81, of Union Sons of Veterans, to
take action in the matter, or whether
that camp simply wishes to make an i'm
pertinent interference with matters that
do not concern ii. We know not. but II
met few evenings back and adopted the
following preamble and resolution:
Whereas, ii has come to the attention Of
George II. Thomas Camp, No. 81. Diys-
ion of Maryland, Sons of Veterans L.
5. A.. that a a meeting of the Confederate
Thursday
evening. March l. 1895. at go Pennsylvania
avenue. Washington, ID. c., the organiza-
ton was considered of a body TO be
known as Sons OF Confederate Neter-
ans" TO be located at the national Capt.
tai; therefore, he il
Resolved. That. believing that it could
not be for the best interests OF true pa
triotism: thai IDEAS and sentiments would
be taught that must necessarily be detri-
mental 10 a proper conception OF ioyalty;
that as such body would maintain prin-
clples that have-fnally and irrevocably-
been proven wrong; that as the singulari-
ty Of the American flag should be held
! inviolately sacred; that such an or
ganization would necessarily have In
| mind. if not I'm use. the flag Of past re-
| belIion. therefore, we. the officers and
members of George II. Thomas Camp
No 81, hereby express our unqualified dis
| approval of any such proceeding. beliey-
! ing that such an organizatio
could not he formed nor exist In accord
| with true American patriotism and 10y
| atty.
If this resolution was called out by the
proposition that was liable to be con-
strued as adhering to the principle of
secession. we should feel disposed to
pass it by without remark. But If it
means. as its terms would indicate. that
this camp Of Union Sons of Veterans
set their faces against the formation of
camps that are intended 10 perpetuate
the holy memories of the Confederate
cause. then we want to tell George II.
Thomas Camp, No 81. Division of Mary
land, Sons Of Veterans 4. :. A." that
it is medding most impertinently with
matter that does not concern it, II
had just as well understand right away
that the Confederate soldier and his
sons are justly proud of the part that
soldier performed between 1861 and 1850;
that he would do exactly the same thing
again under the same circumstances; that
he has no apology To make for what he
did. and that his sons under their faith
ers Instructions are going TO perpetuate
the memories of their fathers great deeds
and that their sons sons, 10 the remotest
generation, are going to do the same
thing. II had just as well understand
also that the civilized world is beginning
To rake off the coatings of lies by which
the Yankees concealed his performances
and the cause for which he fought. and
that it is commencing TO concede with an
acclaim that the Confederate soldier was
the greatest soldier that ever bore arms.
ana that he would have thrashed his as
salant as many more times as would
have been necessary to make him desst
from his attack. in spite Of the dispro-
portion of three or four to one on the
field Of battle. If he could only have got
shoes and blankets TO protect him from
the elements, and food to keep up the
body that carried his uncorquerable
spirit.
George II. Thomas Camp had just as
well understand this now as later. The
Confederate soldier did what 10 other
soldier ever came near doing. He Is
proud of it; his sons are proud OF it.
and those sons are going to keep the
memories Of it green 10 the last descend
ant and the remotest generation.
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