The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-18
TUESDAY. OCTOBER IS, 1898.
THERE Is NO SECESSION in THE
SOITH

Discussing Mr.. william t. RoyalIs res
ignation as chairman Of the History Com
mlttee OF the Grand Camp Confederate
Veterans for the Department Of Virginia
the Greenvllle IS. c. News says:
Mr.. William L. Royal. Of Virginia. has
resigned as chairman Of the history COM
mit,ee of the Grand Camp Of the United
Confederate Veterans Of his state because
the camp declined to accept his recon-
mendation that school children shall be
taught that the right OF secession no
longer exists.
MIR. Royal should have stuck and APP
sealed to the veterans OF the state gem
orally.
The people Of the South, the veterans
as wei as the younger generation, know
that there Is no right Of secession. NOT
oniy that. but If the right was freely con-
ceded eight-tenths OF the people would
vote against secession and nine-tenths OF
the white people would vote against the
restoration of slavery
We know nothing of the Grand Camp oil
Virginia. but its position does not repre-
mi the opinion or feeling of the veterans
or people OF the South. Secession is Just
as dead here as slavery. and H. we intend
10 teach our children the truth ave must
tell them so.
The News states the case correctly as
70 the South generally, and VIC can state
II much more strongly Tor Virginia par
ticularly. II the question whether slav-
cry and secession should be again intro
duced as q principle in the Constitution
OF the United States were submitted to
the vote Of the white people OF Virginia
we feel safe in saying that secession
would not get one vote in one thousand
and that slavery would not get one vote
In ten thousand Both ideas are utterly
dead and buried in the whole South and
especially so in Virginia, and they are
moro dead perhaps with Confederate vet
Grams than with any other class Of the
people The Confederate soldier fought
his fight out ike a man. but when he
surrendered. # was with 10 mental resen-
atives and arr'ere ponsees. He surren-
dered in good faith and ne is done with
the Issues over which the war was fought.
There Is no part Of the United States
more loyal to the United states govern
ment or reader 20 defend the Union
against all enemies than the South.
The action of the Grand Camp at Cul-
pepper Will have an injurious influence
for the South. but we have no idea it
will cause the country 20 believe there is
a secession sentiment here. The world
has come to understand that there is no
such sentiment here and that secession is
a corpse upon which everybody in the
South has turned his back IT will hurt
us by making people think that we are
non-progressive and old fogy in our ways
and ideas People will say II is no mat
ter what influences acted upon the camp
to make IT refuse 10 repudiate secession.
still the proposition is one that should
be assented TO whenever or wherever It
is stated. and the man who Is reluctant
about asserting 10 IL. never mind under
what circumstances he is asked to 90 so.
shows himself not 70 be an up to date
person. 10 would be very annoying 10
be reused up in the middle OK tho night
10 be asked whether the Ten Command
mems or the Declaration of Independence
were asscnted TO. but however annoying.
no one oould have any difiiculty in as
sentlns 10 them after he was walked The
propositions that secession is dead is
one IKE the Ten Commandments or the
Declaration Of Independence. that II is
always IN order TO agree to. II can never
be stated inoppor,mely. People will ask
themselves now " the people OF the South
are going 20 live forever In the pass and
are they never going to turn their faces
TO the future. The camps action viii
have an injurious influence IN that direc-
ton, though We have no sort Of foag that
II will alarm the country as indicating
that there Is a secession sentiment stnl
In the South
Nor have we any idea that the members
OF the Grand Camp failed TO vote Tor Mr.
ROYALS report because they stil believe
I'm secession. We doubt whether there
was a man there who is secessionist.
Some declined to vote for 1t because they
though, IL out Of place. But the con-
trolling reason With most OF them was
that as objection was made they feared
fhsy raisnt be thought cisloyal 70 the
nanery OF the Confedersey II they voted