Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-22
THE 6. A. R. QUESTION
A LETTER FROM JUDGE GEORGE
l.. CHRISTIAN.
The Action of Lee Camp I'm the Mat
tcr-Rensons Why the Movement
Was Unfortunntc-Thc sociai sue
Discussed.
Hot Springs. Va. August 10. 1897.

by Lee Camp. disappearing the invitation
TO the G.. A. X. TO come TO Richmond
as well as president Of the Virginia Dvi-
sion of the Army Of Northern Virginia.
I have read with more than ordinary con-
Germ the discussion which that invitation
has most unfortunately engendered
throughout. the country. That discussion
should have been avoided, If possible, but
II was necessarily incident to the remark
able undertaking involved. and ought to
have been foreseen by those who initiated
this unfortunate movement. / say this
discussion ought TO have been anticipated
because this same project was suggested
in Richmond about two years ago, and
was received with so much disfayor then
that 1t was promptly abandoned. and
before the resolution was offered in the
young Mems Business Association the
views OF some OF the officers and men,
bers Of the Chamber of Commerce were
ascertained, and these, with one accord,
1 believe, dlsapproved the movement.
To show that the young Mems BUsi-
ness Association" thought this a matter
about which the Confederate soldiers
ought to be consulted, their first step
after passing their resolution Of invitation
was to ask Lee Camp to approve their
action. With the greatest Difference.
it seems TO me, IL Lee Camp
was TO be consulted at all,
il ought to have been done. as were
the members of the Chamber Of Com
me-ce. in advance OF any definite ac-
ton by the young Mems Business AS
ISOLATION" But as there may be some
good reason why this course was not
pursued. / care nothing about that one
way or the other. L feel sure OF THIS
however, that If the camp had been con-
suited in advance, the invitation would
not have been extended. And say
this. because | am unwilling yet to be-
lieve that the young men Of Richmond
would willingly offer any affront TO
their fathers and elder brethren, VINO
feel about this matter as they must
have known after the discussion at Lee
Camp great majority Of the repre-
sentative soldiers there did feel about
It. Indeed, the feeling Of opposition on
the part Of the camp was so manifest
that tho application for approval made
to Il was withdrawn. After Lee Camp
had spoken in the emphatic manner l.
did, l sincerely hoped the matter would
not be further prosecuted. As L sald
I'm discussing the resolution before the
camp. and have frequently said on other
occasions. | appreciate in the highest
degree the value of the young Mems
business Association" as q factor in
the development Of the resources and
natural advantages of our city and no
man in Richmond viii go further. ac-
cording 10 his ability. than | viii in
seconding aud furthering every proper
effort they may make in this direction.
But, with the greatest respect, thinK'
the members OF this organization, ike
all the rest of US, are not infallible, and
that in starting this movement they
have committed a great mistake,
The sole object OF this commu'
nicatiOn IS TO point out. If l can, the
reasons for this conclusion, win
the faint hope that some OF my young
friends may be convinced that they are
wrong, and correct their error. recog-
nize fully the difficulty Of this task but
knowing that am actuated only by what
I believe both the good OF my city ana
people demand, 1 think it is worth the
undertaking.
Since MI. Wise has withdrawn his OF
fensive allusion to those who agree with
me about this question, L shall only say,
in passing, that / think he is mistaken
in saving the action Of this association
'is approved by the great majority Of the
mer who are active in our citys lie to-
day" But, If / am wrong in my opin-
ion as to the sentiment Of the men OF
Richmond on this question l am sure
lam not about that Of its noble and true
women, and on this question they nave
as much right to be heard as the men
And lust here let us ask: Is this feeling
Of opposition 20 this measure on our part
either unreasonable or unnatural? What
does the G. A. Il. represent, and Tor what
was il organized? Manlfestly, II was
organized to represent the armies led
by Grant and Sheridan and sherman,
and to commemorate the deeds OF those
armies I'm the war wagcd by the North
against the South, represented by us.
These annual reunions are supposed to
be held that the soldiers Of these armies
NAV enjoy and keep alive the memories
of the deeds performed by them in their
war OF invasion and conquest. Is it un-
natural, l say, that the people Of the city
which was the objective point Of all the
movements OF all these armies and 10 cap
ture and conquer which acts were per-
formed. the recital Of which would "har-
row the souls" of many now living In IL,
should wish 10 be spared the "self-cruci-
fxion" OF their feelings In attempt
ing 10 play the part Of hosts to their
conquerors?
But again: II seems 20 me that this
whole movement was commenced and IS
being prosecuted on a false and wrong
basis, and the foundation being imper-
feet the whole superstructure attempted
10 be reared on 1t must be faulty. This
purports TO be an invitation from the
people Of Richmond. An invitation not
only involves the idea Of "hos" and
guest" but also that OF hospitality
welcome, and enjoyment as wei. can
any guest accept and enjoy an invitation
when he Is informed I'm advance that
the propriety of inviting him was 4 mat
ter OF discussion by his host? Nay, more:
But that the only motive which in
nuenced the invitation was the hope and
expectation that the host would make
money out of his coming. Is this the
virginia hospitality" of to-day? But
let us see II even this motive Of mate
rial interest has not been demonstrated
to be without foundation in fact. and
that II will not even pay 20 extend this
invitation? | might content myself with
simply referring 10 the evidence obtained
from the cities which have tried II. But
I think ] can demonstrate the fact BY
our own experience: Last year we had
the Confederate reunion In Richmond.
7 was one Of the COMMITTEE Of Arrange
ments." In the success Of that event we
had the hearty support and cooperation
of our whole people-men, women. and
children-and we all know now dlhicut'
and vet how glorious, was tine accom-
p,ishment OF that task
Can we hope 10 carry out more eX-