The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-12-20
GRAVES OF THE
CONFEDERATES
Shall They be Cared for by
the Government.
MUCH INTEREST SHOWN
MUCH INTEREST SHOWN
SOME REpTBLlCA\ SENATORS
THINK IT UNWISE.
ENDORSED BY MANY c~ONGREssMEN
: Beautiful Sentiment" Says SeweIl. Hull
and shoup are in Hearty accord With
it. No Ct Would 60 Further 70
ward fempntinr ,ho llnioo.
ward Cementing ne Union.


Washington. Dee. 15.-Thc suggestions
Of the President looking to the care
Of the Confederate cemeteries by the
Federal Government aroused 10 little
interest on the part Of Senators and
members of the House and was the sub
ject of mucn quiet comment i'll the Con
greSsiCnal cloak rooms. There WIS. OF
course. Il divergence of opinion rs to the
merits of the suggestion and this diver
gencc 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
stated their personal conviction that
there WAS no harm i'll carrying the sug-
gcStiOn into execution still they refraincd
from any expression of opinion on the
ground that such expression would be
misunderstood by their cN-soldiers con-
StituentS.
The Democratic Senators excused them
selves from any expression OF opinion
on Ift' SUBJECT. L mere were exceptions 10
the reticence. Senator Shoup was among
the Republican members Of the Senate
Military Committee who spoke out. say
ing that he endorsed al that the presi-
lent had suggested.
Senator Sewcll a member of the Mill
tary Committee, said:
'"Thc suggestion of the President is a
beautiful sentiment and worthy of the
Nos, ~. ~ &c =, I-ooIi,r wifi Iic h -, - ~.
The suggestion is especially appropriate
at this time when good feeling is 50
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 lead 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 | should be
entirely willing to nave the country care
for the graves Of the COnfederat. dead.
| should not consent to 90 any farther.
! should not. for instance. agree to the
pensioning Of the Confederate eN-SoldirrS
Of the Civil War. | would draw Il very
distinct line between the two acts aud
believe the country as Il whole would"
Tho suggestion was favorably com
mcntcd 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 0bliteratc sectionalism,
is. of course, desirable, ana the presi-
dent seems to have suggested 4 most
acceptable means i'll 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
fuI incident of our history. But the
Confederate cemeteries and their dead
rest upon different consideration. Such
cemeteries, North and South. are hallowcd
ground. | approve the Presidents sng
gestions."
Representative Savers. Govcrnor-cIect
of Texas. and Il former Confederate sol
der, said:
Il am greatly pleased with the Prcsi-
dents proposition, and it ShoUld be car
ried ont 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 i
happy step toward wiping out Ill rcmain-
inc cectiOnaliSln.