Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-22
OUR TRUE POSITION.

The Dispatch cannot approve the course
OF those southern members Of Congress
who have mace moves looking TO Federal
aid for disabled Confederate soldiers.
They mean well. but err in judgment. we
think.
If there is any substantially in the
Presidents fraternity policy it is for him
and his political associates TO inaugurate
st. 1t would be foolish, and ungracious,
too. for us to interfere with their plans.
An unsolicited gift is Of far more value
than one obtained by limiting or actual
begging.
As yet the President has committed him
self no farther than to express the belief
that the time has come when the govern
ment may well join the people Of the
South in caring for the graves Of the
Confederate dead. Precisely what he
means, or how far he would go, we do not
know; but no doubt his utterance upon
this subject was well considered before
be left Washington.
We presume that the help he would have
the government offer would be In the way
Of providing money TO enclose and keep
bh OA.bNAg Gal tAAAAN Ia Ntlil'ltIlt6
where our dead lie buried; in other words,
that our cemeteries should be put upon
nearly the same footing as national ceme-
teres. II so. our scattered dead would be
gathered into such cemeteries as Oak
wood and Hollywood. and the Soldiers
sections" Of those cemeteries would be-
tome the objects of the country's care.
Tho spirit of the Presidents speech for
bids the idea hat he thinks we of the
South have been derelict in any wise i'm
bur duty 20 our fallen heroes; but II
seems that he would have the government
blow its appreciation of the valor of our
amen by helping us In some way in our
work. How ne does not say. Therefore.
southern congressman would better await
the unfolding of his plans. No doubt he
FIRST wishes 10 test public sentiment in the
North. and this he may soon do. as We
See that some Grand Army of the Repub-
lie posts have already taken action APP
proving bis suggestion. There are, how
ever. some notes of discord. Some Of the
New England papers emphatically antago-
nize the Presidents proposition. on the
other hand. Corporal Tanner and others
are ready 10 go farther than the Presi-
dent has gone. and would have the gov
eminent extend fits aid also to disabled
Confederate soldiers.
In our opinion, for the present, at least.
no action on the part OF southerners is
called for. Let us first see what the
President and his Grand Army associates
are COINS 20 do. II may be that after they
have had cooling time" after the joviali-
~ OF the Christmas season has passed.
they Will be glad TO drop the subject. Or
1t may be that they will then be more ,
nrmiy resolved than ever 10 carry out
the hints and suggestions made by Presi-
dent Mckinley on his southern tour.
SO. upon q review Of the whole situa-
ton our true policy would appear 10 be
ore Of mastery inactivity. The press of
the South has quite unanimously given
Nh. Mckinley credit for kind Intentions.
and II f. generally believed that for Con-
gress 10 adopt and develop his suggestions
would be beneficial 20 both sections of
the Union. But everything depends upon
The spirit shown by our northern friends
in doing what they propose TO do. There
lore, we repeat. IL is better that they
should be left to act u%nhampered by our
inpoftunities or suggestions.