The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-07
WAGON WHEAT, zxC
ACME MILLING CO..
Old 352 West Washington st.
WARNING TO RICHMOND
TIME NOT RIPE FOR ENTERTAINING
NORTHERN EX-SOLDIERS.
Letter from the Commander of Vir-
ginia Ex-Confederates Opposing
the Invitation to the G. A. X.

RICHMOND, Va, Aug. ga strong or
ganization of business men has been effect
ed here to secure the next Grand Army en-
campment In Richmond. Notwithstanding
that Lee Camp, the leading Confederate or
ganization here, declined to indorse the
movement, the committees have been going
ahead with enthusiasm. a letter just made
public, however, will probably put an end
to the scheme. 1t is from Capt. John Gus
sons, grand commander of the Virginia
Confederate Veterans. He says:
1--WE should seriously avoid any act or
utterance which might possibly engender
friction between the departing and the in
coming generations of our people. Old
Confederates dwell naturally in the past,
nursing on the memory of the great days
which arc gone-days rich IN promise ana
in achieved renown; days with the gloom
of defeat filed with abiding sorrow, yet
never until now threatened with the tint OF
Meantime our young men lift their eager
gaze on the future and are impatient OF all
that may seem TO check or hinder their
career. sympathize with them. l wish
them Godspeed. But is this meeting of the
Grand Army of the Republic thing to be
desired by the people of your city? Would
your Confederate camps be likely to forget
their many TepulseS and cordially ira
ternize with these visitors? Would they en-
tertain them with that free and effusive
hospitality which has so long marked their
treatment of the stranger within their
gates and, failing this in slight degree,
would not the day of healing be pushed
farther back?
LAS a separate proposition nothing would
be more instructive or more salutary than
a close intermingling of our 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 disSipated when mixed as
sortment 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 in the
Valley and TO be less than prepared for
this would impose a restraint upon your.
guests which would rob their reunion of
one of its striking characteristics.
In this connection Captain Cusson recalls
the sentiment expressed by a patriotic
Northerner. who said: IF there is a more
hopeless man than he who can neither for
give nor forget, it is the chronic recon-
ciler, who improves every opportunity to
haul over his faded olive branch and wave
ii in the eyes of the people,.
Let us be contented," " concludes the cap
tain. during this generation with the as
surance that geographically, the Union has
been restored and that each contending
warrior has taken up the peaceful struggle
for bettering and beautifying the home so
bravely fought for. And let us not forget
that to demand more than this is to nut in
peril all that has been so prodgaIiy at
tanned. For Richmond or any other South
ern city to assume the relation of host to
an organization which is partly composed
of negroes would at this time be peculiarly
uniting"