Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-27
A CARD FROM MR. RIxEY.
He Defends His Dill Opening u. D
Soldiers Homes to COnfederates'

brandy, Va, DtttIub'i -, AN"S'
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
Your comments upon the bill recently
introduced providing for opening soldiers
comes 10 disabled Confederates as well
as Union soldiers. tempt me, contrary 70
my usual custom, to reply. In your issue
of to-day YOU deprecate n southern mem
Der taking any steps In that direction.
You say IAN unsolicited gift IS OF iar
more value than one obtained by hintlng
or actual begging" Evidently you ana
1 look at this matter from vastly dlf-
ferent standpoints-you say 1t Is gltt'
I that 1t is our right. Upon your prom
ises. it might be well to wait the donor
pleasure, If you never got 1t. FROM
mine. it is our right not only to suggest
but demand. Citizens of a common coun-
try. with equal rights before the law, and
the last discriminating statute as 10 hold
ing office having been repealed, the eX-
Confederate Is required to pay taxes, and
has the right to vote and TO represent MS
people in the highest offices under the
government Is he to be claSsed as
beggar if he insists on equal privileges IN
other respects? Why give him the right
TO represent his people in the halls OF
legislation, as ministers TO foreign couh-
tries. upon the Federal bench, and in the
highest executive offices, and yet class
him as q beggar If he insists that sol
diers homes supported by the govern
ment should likewise be open TO hlmE
Summing up the situation, you say, In
conclusion, 80, upon review OF the
whole situation. our true policy would APP
pear to be one OF mastery Inactivity.
This has been our policy for thirty
q
generation has passed since the close OF
the civil war.
How long is this mastery inactivity
TO continue? For another generation!
who then, could be benefited?
These soldiers homes are supported bS
taxes paid as well by the South as by the
North-by the Confederate as by the
Union veteran.
Since the declaration OF war with SPAIN
II has been the favorite cry that sectlon-
alism was dead and that the eX-Coniede-
rate should receive the same considera-
ton in appointments TO the army as the
Union veteran. Wheeler, F1tz Lee, ana
others have been accorded high positions
by the President in the army OF the
United States volunteers. The people OF
the South requested this should be done,
and il was understood at the very outset
that fair treatment would be accorded
the South. why is it becoming In US 10
insist that our eX-Confederate generals
should be given high commands IN the
United States army and yet preserve
mastery inactivity" as 20 the men who
really appeal most 20 our sympathies-
the crippled, the manned, and disabled!
why should II be unbecomng or IN PAD
taste for a representative, In whose as
trict many Of these men live, TO suggest
lsaF a a.
and an evidence of fraternity, indeed, TO
throw open the closed doors Of the gov
eminent soldiers homes 20 disabled eN-
Confederates?
If is right that It should be done. 1t
should have been done sooner. and being
right, / do not see any impropriety In It's
Introduction by a southern representa-
tive.
The bill was not introduced without con-
sideration. During the summer recess.
after consultation with few friends, l
decided 20 introduce a bill FOR the pur-
pose 1t was actually prepared before
the delivery Of the Presidents speech at
Atlanta. Upon reading what he had 70
saw. l thought 1t an opportune time to
can the attention Of the country 10 this
matter. and l therefore promptly intro
duced the bill.
The bin importunes no one as you seem
TO fear. 1t is not a gift that we ask,
only fair equality and justice. The bill
introduced is short, and speaks for itself.
1t is as follows:
BE II enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United states OF
America in Congress assembled. That
from and after the passage of this act
all soldiers homes and other institutions
maintained by the government for the
manned. crippled, and needy soldiers and
sailors Of the United States shall be open
to all soldiers and sailors Of the civil war
Of 1861 to 1860 upon the same terms ana
without discrimination as TO whether they
were enlisted upon the side of the Union
or the COnfederacy."
You may rest assured, however, II the
leading journals OF the South, supposed
TO represent public opinion, are opposed
to any agitation on this line and in favor
of the status quo of the eX-Confederates
Tor the past thirty-three years, and of
mastery Cd inactivity" for the future,
we will have that but only that, and no
thing more Yours truly,
JOHN F. RIXEY.
MI. Rixey misunderstands the Dis
patch's spirit in antagonizing his bill. Nor
do We think he truly apprehends the SEN
timems of Confederate veterans on this
subjec. At any rate, whether the Dis
patch Is right in its position or Mr.. Rixey
in his, we are quite willing to leave to the
judgment Of the Confederate camps in
this STATE.