The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-02-23
THE VETERANS.
a Movement to Organize Camp
to .fOita the United COn1cd-
crate Organization.


to join the United Confederate
y Veteran Organization. This section
5 of Louisiana should no longer re.
main unrcpresented in this srea,
association Of the sturdy patriots Of
/ the lost cause, and it affords us no
early date call will appear in these
columns requesting those who wore
the grey in the ''late unpleasant
ness" to meet in Lafayette for the
purpose Of organizing camp.
The following eloquent address
Of Gen. J. B. Gordon, Of Georgia,
to the veterans, is, although
issued since 1850, just as appropriate
at the present time.
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept. ;, 1850.
To Me E~-.Sakajf,-s and Sailors
If Tie Cox<eAzaa<c .Siu<es Of
due1Ica:
! The convention of delegates
from the different states which as
sembled in New Orleans, June 10,
1889, effected a general organiza-.
ton known as the .United Confed-
crate Veterans" 1t is designed as
| an association Of all the bodies of
I exConfederate Veterans and Sailors
throughout the Union. The conven-
ton adopted a constitution and did
me the great honor of clecting me
General, which position [ accept
with peculiar qualification. Prelimi-
| nary to the issue of any orders
wish to call general attention to the
OBJECTS OF THIS ASSOCIATION,
and to enlist in their accomplish
ment the acti1e cooperation not
only of every survivor Of Southern
armies, but also tina, large contin-
gent of sons Of veterans, who, too
young to have received the baptism
Of fire, have nevertheless received !
with you the baptism Of suffering
and of sacrifice.
Tie first article Of the constitu- |
ton of the association declares: |
t'Ihe object and purpose of this
organization will be strictly social,
literary, historical and bene VIOLENT. !
1t will endeavor to unite in a gen
eral federation all associations of
the Confederate veterans, soldiers
and sailors now in existence or
hereafter to be formed; to gather
authentic data for an impartial his
tory Of the war between the states; to
preserve the relics or mcnlentoes of
the same; to cherish the ties of TREND
ship that should exist among the
men who have shared common dan
gers, common suffering and priva-
tiOns; to care for the disabled and
extend helping hand to tho needy;
to protect the widow and orphan
and to make and to preserve the re-
cord of the services Of every mem
Der, and as far as possible, Of those
Of our comrads who have proceeded
us in eternity"
The last article provides that
neither discussion of political or re-
ligious subjects nor any political
action snail be permitted in the or
ganization and any association ;
that provisions shall for
felt its membership.
GOOD OBJECTS.
Comrads, no argument is needed
to secure for those object your en-
thusiastic endorsement. They have i
burdened your thoughts for many ,
years. you have cherished them in
sorrow, poverty and humiliation.
In the face Of misconstruction you {
have held them in your hearts with t
the strength of religious convictions. t
No misjudgments can defeat your y
peaceful purposes for the future. T
Your aspirations have been lifted f
by the mere force and urgency of :
conditions to a plane
ar above the paltry consideration
IF partisan triun,phs.. The honor s
IF the American Republic, the just
bowers of the federal government,
he equal rights of states, the in
egrity Of the constitutional union,
he sanctions Of law and the enforce
nent of order have no class Of de
enders more true and devoted
han the cx-soldiers of the South :,
nd their worthy descendants. But C
GU realize the great truth that 81
'eopIe without the memories Of $,
eroiC suffering and sacrifices arc =, ;,
A PEOPLE WITHOUT a HISTORY. b.
TO cherish such memories and l.
ecall such past, whether crowned -.
nth success Or conseCrated in de- s.!
eat, IS to idealize principal and w
srensthcn character, intensity love ~
f country and convert defeat and ~
isaster into pillars of support for to
lture manhood and noble woman r
God. Whether the Southern people
ndsr their changed conditions may -
hone RI