Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-06-18

1 or me IIeOeHiO1.
IFrom the New York Sunday News, June q
! Every rich man has his own par
ticular hobby. Some devote them
selves to yachting and others to the
breeding of running and trottiug
horses. while still others derive their
chief pleasure in life from travel,
books, the erection of magnificent
mansions.
Charles Broadway Rouss does not
differ from the other weoIthy men OF
his time. He too has hobby. 1t
is to establish National Confederate
Memorial Association, which shall
have the custody of all the relics,
valuable papers, etc., of the late war
which are now scattered over
the country. Perhaps the word
hobby is not strong enough to express
Mr.. Rouss' sentiments in this mat
ter, for it amounts to passion with
him, and he re CARDS it as a sacred
duty to do all in his power to preserve
the traditions of the South. For this
purpose he is willing to contribute
literally from his large fortune.
Mr.. Rouss has already done a
great deal for the South and its peo-
Pile. and is prepared to do still more.
He thinks that the Civil War will go
down into history as one of the
greatest military struggles on record.
He believes that the armies and the
generals on the Southern side have
not been treated with justice or fair
ness, and that in the time to come the
war will take rank with the wars of
the Ancient Greeks, the Romans, the
Macedonians or the Persians. There
is no better way TO accomplish this,
he thinks, than by the establishment
of the Memorial Association. His
idea is to erect museum where the
scattered relics and records of the
Confederacy can be gathered together
and preserved for the future histor-
ian. AS it is now these relics, i'm
portant records and documents are
exhibited and offered for sale in all
parts of the country. By collecting
them in one museum this would be
prevented, and the people of the
South would have something of which
| IuOf IOdlA Jhobll RAOo0s
Mr.. Rouss says that there is no
doubt that the Southern people will
take kindly to the idea of the National
Memorial, and that it is only ques-
ton of short time when work on the
museum will be begun. He has
generously offered to contribute
100000 toward its erection. making
only one condition. That is that the
people of the South raise a like
amount. He says that 5000, 900 will
be sufficient to build museum and
leave surplus for the purchase of
the widely scattered relics.
In furtherauce of this idea Mr..
Rouss wrote the following letter to
1 General Stephen d. Lee, which was
read at the recent Confederate Re
union at Houston:
Naw York, May I1.-My Dear Friend and
| Comrade: As have been in correspondence
with many Confederate veterans in relation
| to the establishment of a National Memorial
| Association, and as the matter has been called
/ officially TO the atten tion of the United Con
| federate Veterans by the two department COM
| manders | assume that it will be the subjeci
of discussion at the Houston reunion. Should
this be the case. beg that yOu will furnish the
| Veterans with fuller particulars than have
i been able TO convey to them by circular oI
letter. The following statement viii explain
the reason that induced me to interes myself
in this memorial movement. and why / fell
warranted in calling upon my comrades fol
| cooperation.
Shortly after the termination of the war
became thoroughly impressed with the i'm
portautance of the South taking up the work
| OF vindication. / saw that Northern writer's
imbued with partisan feelings, stimulated by
| sectional animosity, and posing as histo-
L folsffviOV history. that 1leN
were mIsrepresenting the causes that
forced the Sou tn to take up arms and the man
ner in which she had sustained the conflict
that they were reviling our domestic institu
tions, impugning the courage and devotion Of
our soldiers, making our trusted leaders th'
objects of malignant abuse and were utilizing
the text books of the schools to mislead aUt
debauch the minds of the young. saw tina
these Misrepresentation and ISLANDERS propa
gated over a wide field and without correction
were being accepted rs facts.
In view of this, saw with great satisfaction
and watched with eager interest the growth o
n movement in the South to insure the trutt
of history by means OF truthful record OF INT
great conflict, and an explanation OF the cause
that led to K. thought that all who wore TIL
| gray would work harmoniously TO this END, ant
in addition do all in their power to preserve tn
memory of their fallen comrades and to leay
TO posterity enduring proofs of their loyalty
courage AMI devotion to duty.
When the first Southern Historical Societ
was organized, having in view the object
abOye recited, hoped and believed ste
, had been taken that would secure all the re
7 suits desired that from this nucleus woul
grow an institution embracing all the matte
and material necessary TO the future historian
| in making up a truthful record that woul
contain as valuable object lessons the relic
and mementoes of the great struggle for on
rights that would preserve the features Q
our great leaders that would be sacre
shrine for our veterans and Mecca for thei
defendants for long ages TO come.
When l saw that our noble women and goo
and true men were working Zealously and uI
tirineIy to secure these results, and thi
memorial organizations had been establishe
r in Richmond. New Orleans and elsewhere.
4 was hopeful of success. II was only after II
lapse of many years that commenced TO eI
tertain doubts of the perpetuity of the wor
: that had been accomplished. 1 saw with col
cern that q multiplicity of effort to accOn
plish the objects of general desire was endaI
gering success. That, Notwithstanding II
evident design to make these memorial inst
: tutions national in character. they were n
4 garded by the veterans as limited and loea
and that they were never so generally an
literally supported as to ObViate the necess1i
e of recurring appeals for assistance. sa
! that the old soldiers were reluctant 10 nav
relics aud records removed from their resPe
tive States without an assurance OF 1elI
made part of national collection 70 wnlc
every Confederate State would contrloute,
% saw that a great amount OF valuable melnl
4 rial matter scattered broadcast over the coui
II try. was IN danger of being lost OF oesilo =
! and many relics that should form an iinPo p
, tant part of the illustrated history OF the -
1 y II 20 NFfrrN