Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-17
.cN TO RICHMOND"
Mr.. Wise Tells why the Grand Army
should Come.
Richmond. va, August 10, 1897.

shouId Come.
Richmond, va, August 10, 1877.
To tho Editor OF the Standard Union:
Ny attention has been. called 10 III
editorial from the Brooklyn Stannarh
Union. which IS copied I'm the Richmond
Dispatch Of this date, relating 10 the
proposed invitation on the part or me
Young Mems business Association or
THU city 10 the Grand Army of the ke-
public TO hold their encampment here IN
1889. AS this editorial contains state
ments calculated TO mislead the people
in the North who are not acquainted
with the true facts of the case, l Deg
that YOU will allow me a snort space III
your columns. In the FIRST place the
Young Mems business Association OF
Richmond embrace within their lst OF
members about six hundred young men
representing every walk IN lie, ana WHO
may be truly said 10 fairly represent me
sentiment OF this community ms oouE
has by unanimous vote, resolNeu 10
send committee TO Bufalo TO urge 'ne
Grand Army of the Republic to meet IN
Richmond I'm 1899: i'm which invitation
the Council Of the city of Richmond Ike
wise by unanimous vote, has determined
10 unite.
II the editor OF the Brooklyn stand
ard Union or any other person VIII
come to Richmond and mingle freey
among the people. he will learn that inc
overwhelming majority or them are
heartily in favor Of the invitation pe
ing extended, and that If the q. a ~
will come TO Richmond it will be the
happiest event that could occur peiore
the nineteenth century Is brought 20
close. II is true that certain members
Of the body Of Confederate veterans
known as the Tee Camp" are not IN
favor Of the camp taking part III inc
movement. but even among this ele-
ment, while opposed to their organlzt-
ton. as such. endorsing the inVita,ioh'
vet many of them individually FAVOR H.
and Of those with whom | have talKeu'
nearly all of them have stated tha''
individually. and as citizens on klch-
mond. they would like TO see the en-
campment held here. OF the four ually
papers of the city, three OF them h1No
come out strongly in favor OF the now
ment. and the fourth claims TO be Ecu-
trail. In view of the above facts u u
not correct to say that tine lhNlt.hs
civ itself is rent over the question, Ior
IL there he any rent" it Is a very IN
significant one. and illustrated "
class of "mossbacks," VINO represent
neither the intellect, industry, cndrac-
ter. nor numerical majority OF TINS cry
The committee of the Young Men AS-
ISOLATION. who propose visiting bula'o
a few weeks hence, will go packer ny
the overwhelming sentiment OIL u'"e
| class of this community VINO represent
its progress, ideas, commercial ana ~
fessional life, and its hopes for the u
ture. .... +,,o
The editorial Of your paper quotes wv
persons-namely. Colonel John Cussoiis
| and Augustine j. Smith-as being hosIHe
| to this movement. but as the former uocS
| not reside in the city Of Richmond ne WI
not have his ears offended by the sors'
| which he fears may be sung on the "
casion of the proposed encampmeht' NnIi0
| Mr. Smith. who is a citizen OF New Aorh'
| viii be shared the annoyance of any an
! ticipated trouble in regard to the color
| line" Now. as regards the latter sun
| iect It has never been proposed as s.a1e 49,.
| i'm your paper. to invite the Trahu ~
of the Republic without the colored pos'S'
| but on the contrary to invite the organ
iaa3ion a. q whole 10 meet in Richmond
inst as IL met in Louisville or wouid lne0'
! anywhere else. .. +ho
negro posts is more imaginary than real
| for Richmond has a large colored popuia
| tion we'll able 10 take care of ana enter
| tain them should the occasion arse IL
respect to it's treatment or coloreu PNO
! nIe richmond does not differ from BROOK
| ivn The members Of the colored posts
| would not be entertained az the MONIES va
! the white people Of Brooklyn, ana t"sy
would not be here. but they Wou'd W
we'll looked after by the residents Oh 'Hl',
own race. We have never heard Vi 80
| trouble on this score in Louisville whlch
| - ,ront 10 boast that it is a southern city
| "a tbere need not be, and would not De-
| any trouble here.
In conclusion. allow me to venture the
nrediction that should the c. A. K. de-
termine 10 hold their encampment IN
| This city In 1899, that in after years Us
| members will vote it to have been the
most interesting gathering they nave
! a,,or held Few American cities now
| compare with Richmond In historic inter-
est. while within easy driving distance are
situated the battle-felds OF Mechanlc7-
vile. Cold Harbor, Gaines MIL IA
1ier,s Farm. Malvern Hill. and others.
0niv twenty miles distant is Petersburg,
tho Saragossa of the South, from winch
rloce NAV be visited the Crater, Fort
steadman. Five Forks. Hatchers Kun.
and other scenes of former conflict. Let
| The veterans come, and If sight or the
old battle-delds will not make them
voung again. then all that Is necessary
is TO imbibe moderately OF that virginia
nectar. a good mint julep, which VIII Nit
tbeno above the cares of earth, and make
them eterna!ly happy. Let US hear no
more about the Bourbons, who neither
learn nor forget or the color line busa-
hoo. A few weeks ago the last Voluihe
Of Mr.. Justin McCarthy's History OIL
our own Times" was published. bring
ine, a. down TO the occasion Of the Queen
Jubilee. A few years hence, the MS
tory of the nineteenth century viii be
written entire. Let the historian write
that before its curtain fell the Grand
army of the Republic met in the capital
~ the Confederacy. and that though re-
nuhIics may be ungrateful, that they are
not made up Of prejudice and intolerance
BARTON III. WISE.
THE GRAND ARMY AND RICHMOND
0,ditorial from the Standard Union. OF
the 1ith)
Elsewhere i'm this issue Of the Standard
Union will be found letter from citi-
zen of Richmond, Va, on the subject Of
the visit of the Grand Army of the Re
public to that historic city in 1899. The
writer. Mr. Barton H. Wise, treats the
subject very fully, and the communication
will be found OF much interest, not only
TO soldiers but 10 others who are DESTROYS
of seeing harmony prevail throughout thu
= land. and TO see the country prosper un
der new conditions.
That unjust animadversions upon the
E Union veterans have been made by
D certain element in Richmond and th'
South IS beyond dispute. but Mr.. Wise
who is on the spot and, therefore, pre-
!. sumably qualified to judge, does no
hesitate to characterize that element a
its true value.