The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-12-21
Caring for Confederate Dead.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-Thc sugges-
tion of the President looking to the
care of the Confederate cemeteries by
the Federal Government aroused no
little interest OH the part Of Senators
and members of the House and was the
subject of much quiet comment in the
Congressional cloak rooms. There
was. of course. q divergence OF opinion
as to the merits Of the suggestion, and
this divergence was especially notice
able among Republican Senators and
members. There were none who did
not attribute the sentiment to goodness
of heart on the part of the President.
Some of the Republican Senators, how
ever, expressed doubt Of the wisdom OF
the course, and while many of these
stated their personal conviction that
there was no harm in carrying the sug-
gestion into execution, still they re-
Trained from any expression OF opinion
on the ground that such expression
would be misunderstood by their cX-
soldier constituents. The Democratic
Senators generally excused themselves
from any expression Of opinion on the
subject. There were exceptions to the
reticcncc. Senator Shoup was among
the Republican members Of the Senate
military committee who spoke out,
saying that he endorsed all that the
President had suggested. Senator
Sewell, member of the military COM
mittee, said: "Thc suggestion Of the
President is beautiful sentiment and!
worthy of the man, as it is in keeping
with his character. The suggestion is
especially appropriate at this time,
when good feeling is so strong between
the sections, and | am in hearty accord
with it. There is no reason why VIC
should not care for the cemeteries OF
the Southern dead and no act would
go further toward cementing the union
between the North and the South than
could an act of this kind, which must
necessarily appeal to the best senti-
ment of the generous people Of the.
South. But while I should be entirely
willing to have the country care for the
graves of the Confederate dead, l
should not consent to go any further.
| should not, for instance, agree to the
pensioning of the Confederate ex-sol-
diers of the civil war. ] would draw a
very distinct line between the two acts,
and believe the country as whole
would"
The suggestion was favorably COM
mented on by members of the House of
Representative without respect to
politics, or section. Capt. Hull, chair
man of the military committee, said:
"Any step to obliterate sectionalism is,
of course, desirable, and the President
seems to have suggested most accept
able means in that direction and one
which will not do violence to, any feel
ing in the North. I would not favor
the return of Confederate flags, as
there is no government to which they
could be returned, and they represent
painful incident of our history. But
the Confederate cemeteries and their
dead rest upon different considerations.
Such cemeteries, North and South, are
hallowed ground. | approve the Pres
ident's suggestions"
Representative Sayers, Governor
elect of Texas, and former Confede-
rate soldier, said: clam greatly pleased
with the Presidents proposition, and
it should be carried out by the neces-
sary legislation. l am just about to
lay aside my work in Congress, or
might give the proposition form by in
cooperating it in some of the approprl-
alton bills. This doubtless will be
done."
Representative Terry, Of Arkansas,
another Confederate veteran, said the
feeling among Southern members was
general that the Presidents suggestion
was happy step. toward wiping out
all remaining sectionalism.