The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-06
OPPOSES A G. A. R. VISIT.
COL. CUsSoN DOESN'T WANT TIE EN-
CAMPMENT IN RICHMOND.

I-sue- = Public letter Against the Proposed
National Gathering in That ~City-Fears
Expressed That th~ Northerners would Not
Receive n Cordial Greeting In virginia.
RICHMOND, Va. Aug. Sin view Of the action
Of the Young Mems Business Association OF this
city In resolving 10 invite the @. A. r. tn hold
it's 1899 e~ncampment here. Col. John Cussons.
tho Virginia State Commander OF the United
Confederate Veterans. has written a letter op
posing the move on the ground that the visitors
would not receive here the cordial welcome and
sincere hospitality to which they are entitled,
and which they would naturally expect to enjoy.
In his letter, Col. Cussons says:
I'VE should sedulously avoid any act or utter
anco which might possibly enRender friction be.
: tween tho departing and the on-roming genera.
.tions Of our people. Old Confederates dwell
naturally ON the past, nursing the memory OF
the great days which are ~gone-days rich in
promise and in achieved renown-days dark
with tho gloom OF defeat, filed with abiding
sorrow, yet never until now threatened with
the tint OF shame. Meantime our young men
lift their eager gaze to tho future and are i'm.
patient OF all that may seem to check or hinder
their career.
"tsympnthize with them. I wish them God
speed. They are the true talesmen OF Virginia.
and in every fibre OF my being l thrill with their
S''iS ho'h tbSsa ANPNs
But is this meeting of the Grand Army of tho
Republic a thing TO be desired by tho people Of
your city Would your Confederate camps DO
likely TO forget their mlny rcpulses and cor.
daily fratcrnize with these v~isitorsi Would
they entertain them with that free and ELUSIVE
hospitality which has so long marked their
treatment OF the stranger within their gates !
And failing this even in slight degree, would not
the day OF healing be pushed further back /!
u separate proposition, perh 'ps. nothing
would be more instructive or more SHlutury
than II close interminglinp OF our Southern
youth with the men Of the Grand Army, for tho
tcring among our young people would be rather
rndelS dissiptted when II mixed assortment OF
these gentlemen should begin to rcgalc YOU with
their camp songs on Marching Through
Georgia and the Sour Apple Tree and
'Sheridan's Ride in the Valley. and to be less
upon your guests which would rob their re-
union OF one OF its striking characteristics,
Col. Cussons then quoted the utterancc II "a
well inlormcl and patriotic Northcrner,' which
is In part Us follows:
Let time .,nd merciful silence obliterate the
tered by the smiles Of prosperity, soften the bit
ternesS OF the past and mellow the memory o: a
mighty struggle, in which each cOntending most
called upon Almighty God to sustain their
cause. which 1t honestly believed TO DO just"
Col. Cussons concludes:
fully join with you in the opinion that
for Richmond or any other Southern city to
assume the reiat on of host TO an organization
which Is partly composed OF negroes. would ut
this time be peculi rly uniting. and | sincerely
for the advancement OF Richmond's welfare"
1t is believed here that tho letter OF Col. Gus.
sons will preclude any possibility of securing to
this city tho g. A. X. e~ncdmpment.