Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-19
Information Wanted.
the Editor Of the Dispatch:

To the Editor or the DlSpatcn.
The undersigned came upon the stage
of life Just as the curtain was being rung
down upon the last scene I'm that awful
tragedy, the war between the States, and
ere the next dramatic company booked
had begun their rehearsals of reconstruc-
ton and carget-bagging her name was
enrolled among the long list Of orphans
found I'm the aftermath OF that momentous
struggle between right and weakness on
the one hand, and wrong and might on
the other-orphans left 10 tread the
thorny path Of life unaided and UNI
smoOthed by the guidance Of parental
love, that priceless boon, and all that II
implies. As the happy days OF innocent
childhood faded in the dawn of maturer
years, and the heart realized for the
first time a vacancy which had not been
filed. there naturally arose the questions.
How, when, and where the cause2 A
ready response was met in the press and
the memorial addresses Of the heroes OF
the southern cause. Only the knowledge
that our loss was caused by the sacrifice
OF life 10 principle on the altar OF State.
and in defence OF home and fireside.
could help atone for the great bereave-
ment, and we have tried not 10 be recre-
ant to the memory OF the departed loved
ones who went down in that unequal
contest by instllling this truth into our
children's minds. But Mr. Editor, from
the tone Of some Of our recent speakers
on the Souths attitude In the cause which
led up to the war, there seems to be a
change OF sentiment. One OF them said
the sons (and 1 presume he meant the
daughters, too) Of Confederates should
on Bonded knee never cease to thank God
that secession is forever dead. for 1t must
necessarily destroy any government that
tolerates II, as 1t is the fruitful parent
OF anarchy. II the seeds Of secession were
sown in the Constitution OF the govern
ment by our wise forefathers, as he adj
mts. why should 1t be looked upon now
as such a crime and why have we not
rather rejoiced over than lamented the
Lost Cause?
The prediction Henry Ward Beecher
made that seven years after the war the
son Of a Confederate would be ashamed
to be caught standing by the grave Of
his father has been treated with utter
absurdity and disdain, but in seven times
seven years may II not be possible that
a feeling akin to II, OF one OF utter
apathy, permeates the breasts OF the
generation reared since the war. If such
sentiments expressed by Rev. j. 3. Haw-
thorne, in a recent address before the
Baptist Social Union OF Boston, sway the
southern people2 He said "he did not see
things thirty years ago as he does now
and he felt he could speak FOR the south
ern people, and cause them no embar.
rassment, by saying they had had their
decisions and were victims OF radical
errors, and they are now conscious OF
their mistakes. and have the manliness
10 confess them"
Now, Mr.. Editor / would really like 10
know If this is the attitude Of the South
at present. or is such a statement merely
assumed by DR.. Hawthorne? If. as he
says, 1.-The people OF the North have had
the wisdom 20 see and the magnanimity
10 confess and applaud the sincerity OF
the South" why is IL that a recent volume
of war records. issued by the govern
ment, bears the title OF Records Of the
War Of the Rebellion" and why Is the
word Rebel allowed TO remain on the
slabs which mark the resting places of
the Confederates in Arlington Cemetery
a name so distasteful and unjust 10 the
Southerner? Why has the South had 10
bear the greater share of the war debt
and is being continually taxed 10 meet
the demands Of an ever-increasing pen-
sion-roll? And why is il Southerner can
never be thought OF as a candidate even
for Vice-President?
DAUGHTER OF A CONFEDERATE.