Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-26

The Camp Douglas Monumen'
One OF the great military prisons OF the
United States Government, In which Con-
fcderates were confined during the war.
was at Camp Douglas. near the city oil
Chicago. There. on the bleak lakeside
on ground raked by winters winds and
scorched by summers suns thousands OF
our soldiers were confined and suffered
from cold and from hunger and other
privations.
The mortality in this prison was fright
full Our men we're unused TO such a
climate, were ill-fed, ill-ciothed. ill-housed,
and hopeless OF exchange. and in the win
ter. particularly. they died by oattaiions.
Six thousand Of our brave sons ana
brothers persisted there. Thousands OF
others who were released s1on went TO
their graves from diseases contracted In
that prison.
The horrors OF Camp Douglas have been
often described by ConfederateS. We do
not propose 10 recount them here. the
six thousand graves tell the story In part
The growth Of Chicago has neeessitated
the removal OF these graves twice. In
their present location, In lakewood, IL IS
believed that they will have persnanency'
And there, on Thursday next, 4O-foot
granite monument, which has been erect
ed TO their memory. will be unveheu'
The Confederates now resident In Chicago
aided by a few Union veterans ana
others. raised the monument fund.- ana
among them IL was agreed that the monu-
ment should be unveiled on Decoration
Day.
But the selection OF Decoration-Day for
these ceremonies has been made the text
for vigorous protests and violent objur-
cations from a number OF Grand Army
posts and numerous so-calied Union vete-
rams.
There seems 70 be no apprehension that
rebel flags will be displayed on the
OCCASION the inscription on the monu-
ment is not objected to; It is not feared
that the orators OF the day will utter any
incendary sentlments-but the silly OBJ
lection is made that Internationally
should not have been chosen for the
unwilling. General Lawler, who is at
the head OF the Grand Army OF the Re-
public. declares that no Grand Army post
will participate in the ceremonies OF the
OCCASION: which is as much as to say
that they shall not-for he knows that
many Union veterans had offered TO as
sist the Confederatss in their good work.
and he hopes TO make them relinQuish
their purpose.
Before Lawler and other meddlers be-
gan to utter their objections there was
every prospect that the unwilling would
be made a pleasant reunion OF the Blue
and the Gray of Chicago. Many OF the
Union veterans of Chicago have been
very sympathetic and liberal in helping
our people In this work, and purposed TO
participate in the ceremonies; but now
they are confronted with what Is almost
a command not TO be present.
The howl raised In some parts OF the
North about this Confederate monument
is largely the work OF Republican poll
ticians and pension jobbers. Good. old,
lighting veterans never would have made
any objection, had they not been led on
by agitators, who wished to make polti-
cal capital out OF the affair. Now many
northern papers are inveighing against
the "Insolence' of the old rebels" in Sc
Letting Decoration-Day as the day for
clarifying the Confederate dead. The
fact is, as is well known, Decoration-Day
was selected because 1t is a holiday. and
because It was understood that many
Union veterans. after decorating the
graves Of their fallen comrades, would
be glad 10 join the ex-Confederates In
lnveiling a monument 10 those heroic |
soldiers who hnguished and died in |
prison far away from home and friends. |
But now we find nearly all Of the influ- |
.nce OF the Grand Army Of the Republic |
Welded to prevent the attendance OF |
Union veterans, and 10 cultivate public |
sentiment against the Confederates who |
ire engaged in this work.
After all that has been written and |
aid on the subject we shouldn't won
we're small. Many Of them will be I'M
lble to resist the appeals made TO them
rot to "desecrate" the day by their pres
'nce az the unwilling. Let 1t be so; there /
will be all the more honor for those |
Union veterans who attend-who are I
'rave and independent enough to show
heir good will to us by rejecting the opin-
ons Of mischievous leaders.
There are veterans and veterans. Some
we're in the war. and some were not
Of men enlisted In the United
states army were never in A battle; never
aw the smoke Of 'rebel' gun. Thou
ands of others saw field-service for
rief time only. Others were at the front
N the time. They Gid not enlist for the
ountes offered. These old fighters are
ne best friends that Confederate vete-
ans have in the North. As a rule, the
lore fighting a Union soldier saw in our
var, the better his opinion of and the
Under his feeling towards US "old re-
els"
We do not know what will lie the re-
ult OF the Chicago unwilling. OF course.
he Confederates will go on with their
york. but we doubt II they will have
hat cooperation that they expected from
x-soldiers of the Union army. II so. 4
viii be but another instance Of the ability
4 politicians to quench a fraterna move
nent in order to promote their own
elnsh purposes.
How We Won at Houston.