Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-08
RICHMOND THE PLACE.

The statement sent out from New YORK
that during the recent reunion here of
United Confederate Veterans a letter was
read from Mr. Charles Broadway Rouss,
Offering TO contribute 10000 towards the
proposed Battle Abbey. provided it was
built I'm Richmond is a mistake. As we
understand 1t. Mr. Rouss has in none OF
his conditional offers respecting this mat
ter made any stipulation or indicated any
preference as TO the location Of the me-
mortal
However. be this as It may, Richmond
has far and away the greatest claim TO
be made the home OF a memorial design
ed as the central repository Of the ar
rhives and relics OF the Confedoracy. As
We have frequently pointed out, she has
already IN the Museum of the Confederate
Memorial Literary Society laid the foun-
aation for the enlarged undertaking. Con-
slderlng the question merely from a finan-
cial standpoint the Davis mansion, in
which the relics accumulated by the so
ciety are preserved. and the cost of re-
storing and rendering fre-proof that
structure. represent contribution on the
part Of Richmond and her citizens Of over
10000. while the value Of the relics them
selves cannot be computed In money. The
ladies OF the society have been gathering
these relics for several years. their Alu-
scum Is an established institution, and
without its nucleus the other memorial
now in contemplation would in a great
measure fail of its object
But were the proposition to establish
great Confederate museum and repository
of archives and relics of the Lost Cause
an entirely new question--that is. had
Richmond not already laid the foundation
for such an institution-evcry historic
consideration and every consideration OF
sentiment would dictate that the memo
rial be located here. While we can I'M
derstand the municipal pride Of other
southern cities that impels them to put
forth efforts to secure the museum, the
fact remains that no other city bears
the same relation TO the South, her cause
and her memories, that Richmond does.
Richmond was not only the capital of the
Coufederacy. but is at once the great
metropolis and the Westminster Of the
South. She will be the Mecca Of the |
southern people as long as the story oil
ihe grand struggle the South made for |
principle and independence shall illumine
hhe pages of history. She is the altar |
shence went up IN flame and smoke as a /
s,crifice to liberty the hope of the storm
nadled nation, the valor Of whose armies |
and navy and the devotion Of whose wo-
men challenged the admiration Of the |
civilized world. Every hill top, every |
plain. and every valley about her is con- |
secratod by the blood Of men from every |
State in the South. In every cemetery !
within her gates, lin rank and file. in sad |
array" sleep heroes from all over the
Southland, who We're true to the last of
their blood and their breath in her de-
fence. and who sealed their devotion TO
the Stars and Bars with their lives.
Richmond does not belong TO Virginia
alone. The making Of her eternal fame
was the work of soldiers from every state
In the Confederacy. In settling the ques-
ton at issue no considerations should out
weigh those we have enumerated. The
mention Of Richmond thrills with pride
the heart of every Confederate veteran
and awakeus in him memories that no
other influence can stir. Richmond is his
city. All that she stands for is his heri-
tage and his children's heritage. and we
believe that were the matter left to the
votes Of the survivors Of the Lost Cause
the verdict would be almost unanimous
In favor OF locating the more ambitious
here.