The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-06
IS TT TO BE DESIRED?
cOL. CUssONs ON THE PROPOSED q
4. X. COMING
Tho Commander of the Grand Camp oil Nir-
ginia u. G. v. Thinks 1t would DO IN
wise TO Bring Them to Richmond

The following letter has been received
by a gentleman OF this city from Captain
John Cussons, Grand Commander OF th'
| Grand Camp OF Virginia Confederate
Veterans:
Glen Allen, VA, August 4, 1891
william c. Preston, Esq, Attorney al
Law. Richmond. Va.
Ny Dear Sir;-I have read with deep IN
terest your letter of yesterday. and need
not say how sedulously we should avoid
any act or utterance which might posi-
blv engender friction between the depart
ing and the on-coming generations OF oul
people.
old ~Confederates dwell naturally in the
past, nursing the memory OF the sret'
days which are ~gone-days rich IN prom
ise and in achieved renown-dayS darh
with the gloom Of defeat, filled with ana
ing sorrow, yet never until now threat
ened with the tint Of shame.
Meantime our young men lift their cage
gaze to the future, and are impatient OF
all that may seem to check or hlndei
their career. 1 %sympathize with them.
wish them God-speed. They are the true
talismen Of Virginia, and in every moro
OF my being 1 thrill with their energy
and gather inspiration from their hope
Is IT TO BE DESIRED?
But is his meeting of the Grand Army
Of the Republic a thing 10 be desired py
the people OF your city? Would your Con
federate Camps be likely to forget then
many repulses and cordially fraternizc
with these visitors? Would they enter
tain them with that free and effusive hos
pitality which has SO long marked then
treatment Of the stranger within thelI
gates? And failing this, even In slight De
gree, would not the day Of healing DC
pushed further back?
AS a separate proposition, perhaps no
thing would be more instructive or more
salutary than a close i~ntermingling Of oui
Southern youth with the men Of the
Grand Army. For the illusion which
Northern literature has been fostering
among our young people would be rather
rudely d~issipated when a mixed assert
! ment OF these gentlemen should begin TO
regale you with their camp songs on
Marching through Georgia" and the
Sour Apple Tree" and "Sheridan's Ride
I'm the Valley" Anu 10 be less than pre-
pared for this, would impose a restraint
upon your guests which would rob their
reunion OF one of its striking character
istics.
4 NORTHERNER'S VIEWS.
In this connection l would recall the sem
timcnts expressed some three years ago
by a well-informed and patriotic North
erner. lie said. in effect:
III there IS a more hopeless man than he
who can neither forgive nor forget it is
tho chronic %roconciler' who improves
every opportunity to haul out his faded
H.. ...m.r .wN ar.rA. a. Ia tho nNla nI
the people.
The growth Of rec~Onciliation between
the North and the South IS the slow
growth OF years. and the work of genera
Uons. When any man, North or South.
In a public place takes occasion to talk
no a mellow and mawkish way OF the
great love he now has for his old enemy,
watch him. lie is getting ready 10 ask
for something. There is a fine poetic idea
i'm the reunion of two cO%ntending and shat
tered elements of a great nation There
is something beautifully pathetic I'm the
picture of the North and the South clasp
ed I'm each others arms and shedding a
torrent of hot tears down each others
backs as it IS done i'm a play. But do
YOU believe that the aged mothers on eth
or side have learned 10 love the foe with
much violence yet? do you believe that
the crippled veteran. North or South, now
p~assionately loves the adversary who rob
bed him OF his glorious youth, made him
Il feeble ruin. and mOwed down his COM
radcs with swift death? DO you believe
that either warrior is so tickle that he
has entirely deserted the cause for which
he fought? Even the victor cannot ask
that.
LET TIME UNDO.
o. - A. ...aFL d. - tf..m ...I. co
far as may be, the devastation wrought
by the war, and let succeeding genera
tions seek by natural methods to reunite
the business and the traffic which were
Interrupted by the war. Let the South
guarantee TO the Northern investor Sc
curity 10 himself and his investment. and
he will not ask for the love which we
read of in speeches but do not expect and
do not find I'm the South.
1--WE warning parents on the verge OF
divorce have been saved the disgrace of
separation and ave agreed TO maintain
their household for the sake Of their chill
dren. Their love has been questioned
by the world. and their relations strained.
Is it not bad taste for them to pose in
public and make a cheap Romeo and Juliet
tableau Of themselves?
Let time and merciful silence obliterate
the scars Of war, n succeeding genera
tons, fostered by the smiles Of natural
prosperity soften the bitterness Of the
past and mellow the memory Of a mighty
struggle in which each c%ontending host
called upon Almighty God 10 sustain the
cause which it honestly believed to be
just.
Let us be contented during this gene
ration with the assurance hat geographic
cally the Union has been restored, and
that each contending warrior has taken
up the peaceful struggle for lettering and
beautifying the home so bravely fought
for"
PECULIARLY UNITING.
And let us not forget that TO demand
more than this, is TO put IN peril all that
has been so prodigally attained.
l fully join with you in the opinion that
for Richmond or any other Southern city
TO assume the relation OF host 20 an or
ganization which is partly composed of
negroes would at this time be peculiarly
uniting. and sincerely hope that scmo
other method may be devised for the i'd
vancement of Richmond's welfare.
With kindest regards. / am,
Ny dear Mr.. Preston,
Sincerely yours.
JOHN CUSSONS.
SOUTHERN NOTES,
The New Way.