The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-16
MUCH INTEREST SHOWN
SOME REPUBLICAN SENATOR'S
THINK IT UNWISE.
ENDORSED BY MANY CONGRESSMAN
F" Beautiful Sentiment" Says Sewell. Hull
and Shoup are in Hearty Accord With
it, No ct Would go Further To
ward Cementing The Union.

Washington, Dee. 15.-The suggestions
Of the President looking to the care
of the Confederate cemeteries by the
Federal Government aroused no little
interest on the part of Senators and
members of the House and was the sub
gressional cloak rooms. There was, of
course, n divergence of opinion as to the
merits of the suggestion and this diver
gence was especially noticeable 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
started their personal conviction that
there was no harm in carrying the sug-
gestion into execution still they refrained
from any expression of opinion ON the
ground that such expression would be
misunderstood by their ex-soldiers con
stituents.
The Democratic Senators excused them
selves from any expression of opinion
ON the subject. There were exceptions to
the reticence. Senator Shoup was among
the Republican members of the Senate
Military Committee who spoke out. say
ing that he endorsed all that the Presi-
dent had suggested.
Senator Sewel n member of the Mill,
tary Committee, said:
1.-THE suggestion Of the President is Il
beautiful sentiment and worthy of the
man as it is in keeping with his character.
The suggestion is especially appropriat e
at this time when good feeling is so
strong between the sections and | am
in hearty accord with it. There is no
reason why we should not care for the
cemeteries of the Southern dead and no
act could go farther toward cementing
the Union between the North and the
South than could an act of this kind
which must necessarily appeal to the
best sentiment 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,
/ should not consent to go any farther.
j should not. for instance, agree to the
pensioning of the Confederate ex-soldiers
of the Civil War. / would draw a very
distinct line between the two acts and
believe the country as a whole would"
mented on by members of the House of
Representatives without respect to poll
tics or sections. Captain Hull, Chairman
of the Military Committee, said:
ANY steps to obliterate sectionalism,
is, of course, desirable and the Pres-
dent seems to have suggested a most
acceptable means in that direction and
one which will not do violence to any
feeling in the North. / would not favor
the return of Confederate flags. as there
is no government to which they could
be returned, and they represent a pain
full incident of our history But the
Confederate cemeteries and their dead
rest upon different consideration. Such
cemeteries, North and South, are hallowed
ground. l approve the Presidents sag
gestions.'
Representative Savers, Governor-eiect
of Texas. and a former Confederate sol
der, said:
Il am greatly pleased with the Presi-
dents proposition, and it should be car
ried out by the necessary legislation.
/ am just about to lay aside my work
in Congress or | might give the PROPOSE
ton form by incorporation it in some
of the appropriation bills. This doubt
less will be done"
Representative Terry, of Arkansas, an
other Confederate veteran said the feel
ing among Southern members was gene
raj that the Presidents suggestion was
happy step toward wiping out all remain
ing sectionalism