Evening star., 1896-07-04
A BATTLE ABBEY NOT WANTED.
What nm Ex-COnfederate Has to Say
az to the ROuss Memorial Idea.

uS 10 the hOus8 MemOr10l 1Oea.
To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
The editorial in The Star Of yesterday in
regard to the proposed battle abbey Of the
south is almost absolutely in line with the
ideas and wishes Of the confederate veter-
ans in this city and large number else
where who are prominently identified with
the work Of securing the location of a
southern historical memorial building in
Washington. If a battle abbey" pure
and simple, is to be erected none of us
want it here under any circumstances. In
a lengthy article published in The Star
March 81 last the following paragraph ap-
peared:
The original proposition for a mere mu-
scum Of relics, or a simple battle abbey.
as 1t is often designated has outgrown it.
self in the Importance and advisability If
not necessity for something upon a grander
scale and for a more comprehensive pur-
pose.
ITO the Washington contingent of ex-con-
federates Is due, perhaps, the more eX-
tensive scheme, and the plans and pur-
poses suggested by them have found ad-
vocates in all sections. Should Washington
be selected for the location Of the building
IT Is understood that at least $4,000, and
probably, with an endowment fund includ-
ed, S,W0,OOO, will be made available for
the purpose. Such an edifice as contemplat-
ed would include complete historical de-
partment, department of art and sculp-
ture, one devoted to industrial and agri-
cui1ura! resources, a grand representative
Datt "hey hall. as embodied in the prim-
airy ton; an apartment Of exhibits for
each state, meeting halls, rooms and an
auditorium with seating capacity of three
or four thousand.
I'm addition to its being a monument to
Its history and traditions, the proposed me-
mortal will be for the south an exponent
or Its great manufacturing
agricultural advantages to the intelligent
prospector. capitalist and investor and inn
migrants from other portions of the coun-
try as we'll as from abroad It's Influence
would. 1t is claimed. be felt in hundreds of
ways, and 1t would be seen and visited by
thousands who would never see or hear Of
1t II located in any other city,"
Arguing In the same line with your edi-
torial regarding the location Of a battle
ABBEY. believe 1t would be as inappro-
pirate to locate SO comprehensive a build
ing as that contemplated in the recent
$Jo.OOO proposition Of Mr.. Rouss in a
southern city as to put battle abbey"
merely in Washington, for 1t would be per-
fectly useless for the far-reaching purposes
intended. l am in a position to assert that
the ideas Of Mr.. Rouss coincide with the
above almost, If not entirely, in regard to
the intention of the enlarged plan hence
his second proposition.
Now, as 1t is the glorious Fourth. and a
sooo oeai mas been said recently in the pa
reunion at Richmond, the confederates of
washington and the rebels generally, al
low me to bubble over a line or two anro.
pos. On Flag day last year left my home
1or my place of business (where 1 am the
only southerner and confederate in a veri-
table ea nest Of northern and Grand Army
irlends), with United States flag 1iyine
from the front Of my wheel and one on nv
coat. was the only one Of my confrerees SO
thoughtful Of the stars and stripes and
catching on to the point. 1 went out
oought up a lot Of miniature flags and
pinned one on the lapel of each ones
coat as an object lesson
On Decoration day this year /, with a.
profound reverence for the brave dead
whose memory. was being celebrated, saw
that my large home flag was floating rom
my own house before left Coming along
the distance of more than a mile through
the northwest. saw only two flags float
ing. both from the same house012I0 II
street.-the home Of a confederate veteran.
until ! reached F street, where the stores
were decorated. '.oA Go
Today pretty much the same thing han
pened In regard to flags that occurred On
Flag day Of last year. va
CONFEDERATE VETERAN
July 4, 1896