Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-03
GRAND MEETING
PREPARATIONS MAKING FOR EN-
TERTAINMENT OF THE VETS.
REUNION At The SOLDIERS HOME.

Prominent Educators and Citisens
In Discuss school Histories With
the Old soldiers-Mnjor Cussons's
Letter to Them.
The Grand Camp of Virginia will hold
its tenth annual meeting in this city,
commencing on the 10Th instant. and
continuing through the next two days,
and at the same time there will assem-
bic here in annual reunion the survivors
OF the Army OF Northern Virginia.
II is proposed to give the old veterans
who journey here in attendance upon
these meetings hospitable reception,
and with this idea in view the repre-
sentatives of the various Confederate Or
CARNATIONS in Richmond, who are dele
gated for that purpose, are busily at
work. The principal feature of the oc-
CASTOR will be banquet to be rendered
the delegates to the Grand Camp on the
evening of the 2ist
REUNION AT THE HOME.
Another feature, though, in which all
the veterans will participate will be a
reunion to be held at the Soldiers Homo
on the 22d. To this reunion the follow
ing invitation has been issued:
Headqt's Committee Of Arrangements.
Meeting of Grand Camp, c. ", Of Va.
Richmond, Va, September p. 1897.
Communicable and your camp are
earnestly invited to attend a reunion OF
all the Confederate Veterans camps of
the State Of Virginia at the Confederate
Soldiers Home, in the city Of Richmond.
on Friday, october p, 1897.
Reduced rates will be given on all rail-
roads TO Richmond, Va, and we would
suggest that where practicable you ar
range for excursion trains 10 this reunion.
Please notify us at an early day as
possible If you will come, and the num-
Der Of men you will bring.
Respectfully,
DAVID \. BROWN. Jr.,
SIDNEY r. GATES.
WILLIAM z. SMITH,
Committee on Reunion.
]. TAYLOR Stratton, Secretary.
Thomas A. Brander, Chairman.
All railroads will sell a one-fare ticket,
good for the round-trip. to this reunion.
Invitations have been sent to all the
camps composing the Grand Camp or
Virginia to attend in a body, and from
present indications there will be large
crowd. 1t is proposed to have short
parade on the evening OF the I'd to the
Soldiers Home, where the reunion VIII
be held. The Sons Of Veteran camps
are also invited TO attend. and doubtless,
many will be in attendance.
Conference About school Histories.
An interesting matter to be discussed
at the meeting of the Grand Camp will
be the Introduction into southern schools
of proper histories, and TO this end there
have been sent out to the most promi-
nent educators and citizens Of the State
the following letter:
Headquarters
Grand Camp Confederate Veterans,
Department of Virginia,
Glen Allen, Va, September %, 1884,
Dear Sir: The Grand Commander, as
authorized by the Advisory Councll.
| hereby extends to you a cordial invita-
/ ton to attend a general meeting to DO
held al Iee-Camp Hail. in Richmond, Va,
| on Tuesday, October l9, 1897, at O'CLOCK
| =. NJ.
and eminent citizens of Virginia Is called
/ for the purpose Of formulating definite
! plan for the exclusion from our schools
| and colleges of all histories which are
| grossly erroneous I'm their statements
| or which. in their animus, are unirlehdiy
| to the State.
| histories which are now in most genera
| use among us discloses the fact that theS
are all written by gentlemen VINO placlaly
| assume that the American states IN some
| unexplained way had Invested themselves
! NJ their statehood at some unnamed
| period prior to 1860, and that the states
| which at that time exercised their soVer
| eign right by Withdrawing from the tede
| raj Union thereby committed an act o.
rebellion" against their former aSso
| ciates! , -,,-1.,r-c
VITIATES THEIR WORKS.
This false assumption, first urged by
| dosnerate partisans, and afterwards cog
| matiZed into an article OF iaith' no"
| dominates all these northern hlstorlaIls
| and vitiates every portion of their work
| hnd thus our ingenious youth are tauSh
to believe that their fathers were ltslt ~
| 10 their country and subYerterS OF th'
! constitution and the laws. True In mos
| of these histories the word repel ia ia
heen cancelled, and in its place The tern
| Confederate now appears; ana tner'
| are also favorable comments on the Prov
eos of these Confederates ana on tn'
military skill Of their leaders. But al
WAYS and everywhere the inference i
constant that they were the enemies
Lord Macaulay utters an importan
truth when he declares that "a peopl
who take no pride in the achievement
OF their ancestors will never acnieVe any
thing worthy TO be remembered by tnel
descendants" And our cOnquerors assur
us that the highest favor we can eNpeec
from the world is its mercIful silence.
Are we. indeed, reduced TO TINS nattO'
choice between infamy and OBLIVION!
Let us hope not.
And let us act on that hope
ABIDE WITHOUT REPlNlNd
There is no desire to reopen settle
Questions. or to evade the physical re
sults of the war. We accepted an appea
70 the sword. and we abide the resu
without repining. But never did We pu
10 the hazard Of war our right 10 Spsa
the truth. or the right oil our chiiuie
TO hear IL. "a, histor,
our race. from the dawn OF us nis s,,or,
has freely criticised the acts ana view
land purposes of both friend ana 10
FBriton and Dane. Saxon ana Nj - !,
Yorl<ist and Lancastrian, Puritan a. q.
Cavalier. I'm song and story, and on u
written page. have recounted their SUI
ling deeds through a thousand years; a,
ever the defeated side. strengthehed -
diversity and nourished by tales OF lo' /.
fiIde has risen again 10 the lever OF !
,ictor. and the conflicting breeds, Weia'
NOT less bv war than by comfy, nave %
| f,-t tho pSter race OF all u