Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-14
Dedication Of the Confederate Mon
ument Near Chicago Memorial Day.
PROPOSED BY 4 G. A. R. OFFICER
Approved by Commander-in-Chief
LAWYER.
ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC

CHICAGO, May IA local paper says:
So many statements have gone abroad in
other cities, as result of Department Com
mander Thayer's recent letter to the Mas
sachusetts G. A. r.. protesting against the
proposed dedication of the confederate
monument at Oakwoods cemetery Me-
morial day, that many persons deeply in
terested in the event believe part of the
public has been led to misconstrue the sig
nificance of the ceremonies to be performed.
General Underwood, commander of the
division of the north, United Confederate
Veterans, deems 1t advisable to issue a
letter defining his position. The letter,
which is addressed. ITO the citizens Of the
United States. and united people of one
nation" says in part:
The permission to erect a monument
over the remains of 6,OOO southern soldiers
In oakwoods cemetery was granted by the
Secretary of War.
Accordingly, a fund was raised, two
thirds of which having been contributed by
citizens OF Chicago, and the monument, as
IL stands was erected under direct pro-
vision of the permit that cmanated from
the War Department.
Last Decoration day number of G.
A. r. posts Joined with the confederate
camp in the memorial exercises and pro-
suSely decorated the confederate graves
with northern flowers, the southern men
returning the courtesy in memorial cere-
monies by decorating the graves of Union
soldiers in the same cemetery. On that
occasion Maj. H. G. Purinton, commander
of Columbia Post, No. 7O6, G. A. r. sug-
gested that the monument be dedicated the
next Decoration day, May 80. 1895, that
G.. a. r. veterans, because of it's being a
holiday, might attend and take courteous
part in the ceremony. The holiday feature
of the day applying as well to my own
command. that day was selected, and with
out any thought or intention of Infringing
upon prerogative of the Grand Army of
the Republic
Il am the recipient of a. letter from Lieut.
Gen. John NJ. Schofield, commanding the
United States army. and an Endorsement
on the back of his photograph by Gen.
Ihomas q. LAWYER. commandments G.
A. h, each commencing the monuInentng
of the remains of my dead comrades, the
confederates sleeping in Oakwoods, rs laud-
able and praiseworthy, &c.
1T is pardonable to refer to such high and
disinterested approval of humanitarian
acts; and although at this juncture no
character of discussion is desired, still, /
deem 1T entirely right, proper and due the
public to announce that in monumenting
the confederate dead every observance of
unearthing the dead confederacy, of &C ting
disloyally or Haunting the confederate nag
that went down at AppomattoX was for q
moment entertained, the only purpose of
the living confederates being to monument
the fortitude and bravery constituting the
ferolSm of the private soldiers who sur
rendered their lives under the most trying
circumstances imaginable, and by so doing
have added a page to the renown of the
American volunteer. 1 will be in command
during the dedication of the confederate
monument, and know in advance that
neither an unpatriotic sentiment nor dis
loyal word VIII be uttered, and 1 will per-
Bonally see that the stars and stripes are
Alone given to the breeze on that occasion"