The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-21

The Young Mems Business Association
Of Richmond desires that the annual en-.
campment of the Grand Army of the Re-
| public shall be held in 1890 at the former
capital of the Confederate States. The prof
ect Is generous in spirit and patriotic In
| intent. We were informed recently that 1t
had the approval Of the municipal authori-
ties OF Richmond and was supported by a
| practically unanimous sentiment in the
town. That statement was unquestionably
made in good faith and upon good grounds.
But since that time there have been unmis-
taxable signs that all the people Of Virginia,
and particularly the veterans Of the South
ern armies, do not share the views of the
Young Mems Business Association as to
the practicability and dcsirability Of the
! plan to entertain the Grand Army at Rich
mond summer after next.
This unfavorable sentiment has oun
expression in various ways. The II. Z. Lee
Camp, an organization Of old soldiers Of
the South, has formally recorded a protest.
Col. CUssoNs. the Commander Of the United
Confederate Veterans in Virginia, has very
delicately expressed his fear that the at
mosphere of welcome might not be quite so
genial as that to which the Grand Army
has become accustomed in Northern cities.
The Richmond Dispatch is doing what it
can to discredit the plans of the Young
Mems Business Association. And finally
comes Gen. BRADLEY TYLER JOHNSON with
a letter which is not only interesting in its
relation to the present subject, but also in
structive in a broad way as an example of
the ideas yet held and yet frankly avowed
nv tho pro,nps Of r,,rfai rabel hripalier IF a
certain type.
Gen. JOHNSON speaks contemptuously of
the plan of the Young Mems Business As
ISOLATION as If it were merely a specu-
lativc enterprise designed to fill the money
drawers of Richmond's local trade. There
is a sneer at the young business men and
another sneer, amounting to insult, at the
Northern veterans in the subjoined passage.
which we are not glad to reproduce:
1.-THE young business men are of full age. and they
have the right to act for themselves us long as they
do not profess to represent people outside OF their
organization. II they think this Is business they
have the full power to push the enterprise. But
I think 1 have seen more convocations of
this kind than they have. The Grand Army
OF the Republic are not wealthy men. I doubt
not they would spend money freely II they had
IT,. but of the crowd that such q meeting would
bring TO richmond, not twenty WOulu DOaru Al
the Jefferson. Many would. of necessity, seek the
cheapest way OF living. and very many would bring
their rations with them-a wise and economical ar
rnngement. Therefore, l submit that the speculation
has no money in it, The promoters would be disap
pointed at the cash results. l know this was the case
In Warrington at the meeting there some years ago,
and 1t will be so in Richmond. The police will have
extra work. the cheap g~roggeries extra patronage. and
the public generally will be glad when II Is over"
rz-.-- 1t, .zl1 T.- d. 49,
T. JOHNSON assumes to speak for the
women of Virginia, even for the wives Of
the members of the Young Mems Business
Association, in regard to the character Of
the hospitality which the Northern vet
Grams can expect at Richmond:
There is another view which ought to be consid
cred. The young business men comprise some Of the
leading citizens OF Richmond. When they oniciall!
invite q great organization to Il cir city, they charg
themselves thereby with the duties OF %hospItalit.
to all their invited guests. No distinction can b.
made In guests-ali are equal-and the young bust
moss men will have TO entertain them. On the severa
grand Confederate demonstrations we have had II
Richmond IN the last twenty years every house II
Richmond was open to every visitor. Along tn
route OF Franklin street the very elite OF virgini
stood in front OF their houses, invited all Confed
: crates In. and kept their servants busy supplying tn
passing procession with ice water.
3 "Sow. when the Grand Army of the Republi
= marches In Richmond all this duty will devolve o
n the young business men. They. their wives. thei
daughters. and their mothers will be bound to stan
at their doors. wave their handkerchief, Haunt nag
, throw bouquets and welcome to the Grand Army G
tho Republic. They won't do It. Tho young bushes
: men don't know the feminine Virginian % l hay
known her this thirty-hye years. She won't. an
when She won't there's the end OF It. But It's nc
the end OF It to the young business man. When Il
u | -.. I---s A.k -I-bs N-n.- -. .-l8
i he'll be more tired OF such business speculations
@ than any set OF men ever were In Virginia.
n "If you invite tho Grand Army you must entertai
q ~hem-you yourselves-you must take them to you
homes. You won't Introduce them TO your wives, fc
o those wives win be aw ay from home. but you mul
Q feed and dine and drive them; your President wi
have to entertain tho head men; your associatio
win have to banquet a large body of represents
!, tive men. and you'n BIO tired dead tired"
Q Finally, the unreconstructed JOHNSON
and we have no doubt that he will be prou
to be thus designated by a Northern new,
paper-remarks in a general way:
"H Ia intended as an exhibition or a spectacle
" attract visitors and gather cash. All the shaking
II hands and mingling OF Blue and Gray ID bosh, puI
Il bosh. : With proper dimdence l make q SUI
!, gestion which / submit will greatly Increase iuterel
in tho 'Blue and the Gray (why not Gray an
y Blue p performance. Lot each Confederate vetera
carry two Union veterans on his back. Let the Unite
< Confederate Veterans tote the O. A. r. In the gran
If reunion. II will bo original; it will DO picturesque.
Let no candid Northerner suppose tina
vulgar letter marks the spirit of Richmond
OF Virginia, or of the South in the yea
1t 1897! But it is a fair illustration of a Gel
d tain survival with which such gentleme,
OF Richmond as are Americans first an,
It Southerners afterward have to contend /
their generous and patriotic efforts to pre-
mote national unity and friendship b.
tween North and South.
The committee of the Young Mems Bus
ness Association will &c to Buffalo o
Monday to extend their invitation to tn
a Grand Army. They will go carrying oil
6 BRADLEY TYLER JOHNSON and all that b