Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-29
Judge Christian Replies to MIR. Lam
casfcr WiIiinmA.
Hot SPRINGS. Va. August

Hot Springs, Va, August n, ies''
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
have read the letter OF Mr.. X. Lam
caster Williams in yours of yesterday,
characterizing some of the communica-
tions which have been published by you
about the invitation to the G. A r. to
come TO Richmond in 1892 and but for the
fact that in the quotation he has made
from my recent letter about that matter,
he has by severing the language quoted
from the connection in which it was
used, and thereby giving to it a meaning
of which it was not capable in that con-
nection, | would not deem it necessary
or proper TO say anything further on
this question. 1t may not be out OF
place to say here that / have been high
ly gratilied at the letters l have received
from some of the best people in the
State, thanking me for what | did say in
that letter; and therefore, without I'M
putting to Mr.. Williams any improper
motives, l cannot consent to let his de-
struction of my true meaning so UNI
noticed. He says: II have read in your
columns that quoting from mel 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
to be reared on it must be faulty This
purports to be an invitation from the
Richmond people, etc." and then adds:
False and wrong are strong words, and
should be used with more discretion"
He then goes on to say that the invita-
ton was extended by the young Mems
Business Association" and the Mayor
and Council of the city, and then says:
THAT is the basis on which the COM
mittee stand, and there is nothing false
about it,
Whilst thanking my young friend for
his lecture on discretion" / think IL
was gratuitous.y given in this connec-
ton. For surely he ought to have seen,
that in the sense in which my language
was used, it could only have referred TO
the reason which influenced the invita-
ton, and not to the source from which
it emanated. The reason publicly an
nounced (and never denied. unless Mr..
Williams's letter can bear that construc-
tom at the time the invitation was
given by his association, was that it was
only done as a business enterprise, and
| for the money that could be made out Of
il. l said this was not the proper foun-
dation on which an invitation, which
| implied hospitality, should be based and
it was only in this sense that the words
| false" and wrong" were used, the
| very common, if not general, way OF
using them Whenever anything rests
on an improper basis, it is said To rest
on a false or wrong basis. surely my
young friend does not mean to say that
! in extending this invitation his associa-
ton was not doing so in the name OF
| the people of Richmond" That was
all I said in this connection about the
| source from which the invitation would
purport to come, and this he, by impii-
| cation. at least would seem 10 deny Let
| me repeat here what l have said
| on former occasions, and that is: |
have not attributed to the young Mems
BUSINESS Association" or 10 any one else,
any improper motive in the inauguration
| Of this movement on the contrary l
have said. and believed, that 1t was
| started to promote the best interests OF
our city.
| am satisfied, however, it was an IN
| fortunate and indiscreet measure for any
| such purpose, and the only thlnS
have ever criticised was, that our
Young men did not first consult the
wishes and feelings Of those, whom 'hey
| have shown by their subsequent cohlucI'
| they thought ought 10 have been con-
| smiled about this action; and, IN not
| resnecting those wishes and teeunSs
after they were advised OF them MY
vonrg friend saws: II cannot submit 10
| drag along on my shoulders inc an
mostly and hatred OF thirty years aso
without a protest" feel the grea-eS,
sorrow that he cannot better unuersldi ~
| the feelings which animated the peop'S
of the South thirty years ago, -, -,
u,hicb animate the Confederate soldiers
| OF to-day, than that ne shoulu 80, ~,
| tarize them as those of luminosity anu
hatred " But this only shows tha'
| these Young gentlemen 90 NJ
and cannot understand TINS ma, .ei ;
| and therefore ought to be gulueu
as m II bv those who can. III my youus
| frtend will read again, as ne douptle9s
bas done already, the admirable auui 80 80,
| delivered several years ago pS ~
| bro,her John SHELTON Williams, SHOWING
| ~ almost amazing extent to when 'he
| roonIe of the South, the eX-Coiiioue 80
| rotdiors have built up and developed the
| ,and ~ "desolation and rum, IelI 'hT,'
| ~, those now represented by the u y. ~
| tbink he will reach the conclusion 'ha'
! the men who bore on their shouluerS e.ie
| confederate cause. and VINO are sun u ~ "
| 10 that cause, nave nv CO. -, -
| do ANYTHING that will be dras vi
III sbonIders. protest as he may.
As have not impunsed the motives
- the young Mems Business Assocla-
zion" or the City Council, about TINS
,natter so I have also abstained from
anv characterization OF the men or mo-
lives of the G.. A. r., 1 have always
thought il was perfectly natura. mat
they should organize and celebrate their
trials and their triumphs" just as we
do ours. only let them celebrate theirs
among their own people, who can sym
pathize with them, and we VIII 90 the
same thing among ours. And In ms
way alone will there be any "obllteration
| of old antagonists" by the hand OF
time. This thing can't be forced py any
business methods. Respectfully. etc.
GEORGE l.. CHRISTIAN
/