Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-24
& GRAND ARMY VIEW.

The principal organ of the Grand Army
Of the Republic is a weekly paper pub
lishcd at Washington called the National
Tribune. It's circulation is large and its
influence great. 1t is, therefore, interest
ing to know it's views as TO the Presi-
dents fraternity speeches. And this sub
ject we find discussed in its last issue, and
its leading article was reproduced in our
Washington letter Of yesterday.
The Tribune gives a cautious and mea-
sured support to the Presidents sugges-
ton with reference TO the care of graves
Of the CsnSederates, but it declares that
."the farthest we can 90 is TO recognize
fully that he Ohe 'rebel) fought bravely
and tried to do his duty according to his
lights. but the overpowering feeling is
that % sorrow that his lights were so mis-
leading. and that his herOism and forti-
tu6e went TO the support Of a cause that
every year sinks lower in the worlds
esteem" The Tribune also denounces the
efforts of some southerners 10 take ad-
vantage "of a Presidents sympathetic
words 10 his hospitable hosts" "The peo-
pie of the country" it adds, may care for
the Confederate cemeteries by popular
subscriptions Congress may even pass
laws making certain plots Of ground in
which rebel dead are bHried public Gene
~teries." But that is the length that the
Tribune is willing to go, Not one step
farther will it bulge. 1t holds that the
country cannot in any way legalize the
rebellion, or give it a different status
from that which it has held since Apo
mattox." From first to last it was held
that all the acts of the Confederates were
without any more legal authority than
Debs's riots" the Tribune says as a
Clincher.
The Tribune's article is unmannerly
throughout. We imagine that the Presi-
dent will not read 1t with satisfaction.
While 1t raises the hue and cry against
us, 1t is anything but complimentary TO
him. II It is representative Of the pre-
dominant sentiment in the Grand Army Of
the Republic, the President would better
mot have INDUCED in his fraternal eX-
presslons on his southern trip.
SO far as concerns the Tribune's sug-
gestion that a public subscription might
be taken up to provide care for Confede-
rate cemeteries. 1t Is an insult to the
South. For more than thirty years we
have cared for those graves without help
from the North. and we can continue TO
do so. Certainly we could receive no as
~sistance from any man, or any organiza-
ton. that brands our dead as "rebels"
and puts them upon the same footing as
the Chicago rioters. Nor would congress-
ional provision for the care of Confede-
rate cemeteries be acceptable If offered in
the spirit which animates the Tribune.
The truth is, we need no sort Of help
from the North in the matter Of caring
Tor our dead, and the only condition npon
which we could accept assistance would
be that the offer should be symbolic OF
fraternal feelings and a reunited country.
II the National Tribune is truly repre-
sentative Of Grand Army opinion, and we
suspect II Is. the President has put his
foot In It," lie cannot propose a public
subscription without ~.outraging southern
sentiment. and he cannot urge congress
ionai action without risking opposition
from his party friends. In this situation
IL will be the duty Of southern congress-
men TO leave the President and the Grand
Army men and the other Republican poll
ticians 10 themselves. while they try 20
give form 10 the suggestion advanced by
the President in his Atlanta speech. As
for the bills offered by Mr.. Rixey. OF Vir-
sinia. and Mr.. Butler. of North Carolina,
lie sooner they are withdrawn thu better.
They are not endorsed or approved by
isuthern people.
ses; tbs suggestion m this case came
pm the President. and 81 1t is TO be en-
aied in Legislative form he and his
lends are the men 10 do IT,. We can
s'aad n walt. II IS not for US 10