Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-18
SHALL THE G.. A. X. GOMEZ
The Advice of nm Ex-COnfederate
General.

/
General.
| To the Editor of the Dispatch:
We countrymen read the papers with
| Industry and take an earnest interest in
what is occurring among our people. The
| inhabitants Of the towns are, Of neces-
sity, our representatives,, in many re-
spects. This is particularly true Of the
| OLD Confederate soldiers. We are isolated
IN sparse nelghborhoods and without or
| ganization to act or speak together.
! Therefore. the Confederate camps Of the
towns become our spokesman and repre-
sentatives TO the world. The pending
proposition Of the Young Mems Business
Association, of Richmond, TO invite the
Grand Army of the Republic to hold its
next triennial convocation in Richmond
has not met, as far as 1 have seen, with
a single second in the State.
The young businessmen are OF full
| age, and they have the right to act for
themselves as long as they do not pro-
fess to represent people outside Of their
| organization II they think this is bus
mess" they have the full power TO push
the enterprise. But think / have seen
more convocations Of this kind than they
| have.
Tho Grand Army of the Republic
! are not wealthy men. | doubt not they
would spend money freely If they had it.
| but of the crowd that such a meeting
would bring TO Richmond not twenty
| would board at the jefferson. Many
- ia h.. g1.a. 90
way OF living. and very many would bring
| their ratlons with them-a wise and eco
J nomical arrangement. Therefore, ] sub
nit that the speculation has no money
in it," The promoters would be greatly
disappointed at the cash results l know
| this was the case I'm Washington
! at the meeting there some years ago,
and 1t will be so I'm Richmond. The
| police will have extra work, the cheap
! groggeries extra patronage. and the pub
! lie generally will be glad when IL is
! over. There is another view which ought
! TO be considered. The Young Bus
! mess Men comprise some of the leading
! citizens Of Richmond. When they Off
cially invite great organization to
| their city, they charge themselves thereby
with the duties Of hospitality TO all their
| invited guests. No distinction can be
made in guests-all are equal-and the
Young BusinesS Men will have to enter
| tain them. On the several grand Con-
federate demonstrations. we have had in
! Richmond in the last twenty years
every house in Richmond was open to
every visitor Along the route of Frank
lin street, the very elite of Virginia
stood in front OF their houses invited all
Confederates in. and kept their servants
| Ia.
with ice water
Now. when the Grand Army Of the
Republic marches in Richmond all this
duty will deyolve on the Young Bust
ness Men. They, their wives. their
daughters, and their mothers will be
bound TO stand at their doors, wave their
! handkerchiefs. faunt naes. throw
bouquets and welcome to the Grand
| Army of the Republic They won't do n.
The Young Business Men don't know
the feminine Nirginian as L have known
her this thirty-hve years She won't
and when she won't there's the end of
1t. But it's not the end Of it to the
Young Businessman. When he gets
home that night or next morning at
/ breakfast he'll be more tired of
such business speculatons'' than any
set of men ever were in Virginia IL
you invite the Grand Army of the Re-
public you must entertain them-you.
yourselves-you must take them to your
homes. You won't introduce them 10
your wives, for those wives will be away
! from home, but You must feed. and dine.
and drive them; your president will
! nave 10 entertain the head men; your
association will have to banquet" a
! large body of representative men, and
you'll be 'tired"-"dead tired"
AS was said on a not dissimilar occa-
sion. | quote TO the Young Mems Bush
ness Association the advice then given:
Whenever the elusive dollar tempts you
into such money-making speculatons.
or business enterprises. don't" The
reunion OF the Blue and Gray. under
| discussion for Philadelphia. is founded
on the same financial views and hope
by people there as the reunion Of the
Young Mems Business Association and
q. \. Il.
1t is intended as an exhibition or a
! spectacle 10 attract visitors and gather
cash. All the shaking Of hands and
| mingling Of Blue and Gray IS bOsh-pure
bosh. All that is worth anything in the
United Confederate Veterans and the
G.. A. II. is sentiment There are brave
| men in both. as there are bummers and
| hospital rats in both.
But the soul, the spirit. the inspira-
ton OF each is love. reverence. devotion
TO the side for which each strove. / be-
lieve that the United Confederate Vete-
rams Is the more DISTINGUISHED organiza-
lion of the two. They are brought to-
| gether by love and devotion alone. Not
| a single money advantage can be ex-
pected by any OF them. In the other a
| prospect of pensions has some inffu-
ence. Any dilution Of sentiment on
either side degrades that side. But
with proper diffidence make sugges-
ton which | submit with greatly in
creased interest in the "Bue and Cray
| (why not Gray and Blue"D perform
ance. Let each Confederate Veteran
| carry two Union veterans on his back
Let the United Confederate Veterans
tote" the c. A. n. in the grand re-
union. IL will be original; II will be
| picturesque: II will be true. There are
100000 pensioners on the rolls Of the
| United States. They receive Sle0 O)O. 900
] a year-about an average of slco each