The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-05-13
IQY'I'II!I.Ll[,, .Si'0'U|| T1I'HI]|BI|Rl|]NlERS
Grateful For President McKinley's
Kindly Sentiments.
WILL CARE FOR THEIR OWN DEAD

or Confederate Graves In the NOfth
to Their Brothers Of the North-Ths
Race Question Touched Upon.
Charleston, May 13.-With a spirited
and at times stormy session, the ninth
annual reunion of the United Confed-
crate Veterans yesterday was brought
to a close. General John B. Gordon
and all the old officers were reelected.
as follows Commander-in-chief, ].
B. Gordon; commander department OF
Army Of Northern Virginia, Wade
Hampton; commander department of
Tennessee, Stephen D. Lee; command
or department Of trans Mississippi, W.
, L. Cabell. Louisville, KY, was chosen
as the next place of meeting and the
question of federal care Of Confederate
graves was disposed of by the adoption
Of a substitute resolution, which de-
clines the presidents suggestion, ex-
cept as to those graves located in thu
north, and reserving to the women Of
the south the duty Of caring for those
In the seeding states and Maryland.
The adoption of this resolution and
the report that accompanied 1t pre-
cipitated debate which verged upon
the sensational, and at times much
confusion and disorder prevailed. The
resolution adopted in place Of the one
offered by Stephen d. Lee is in sub
stance as follows
tyrho wi fnln Vot IN
desire to place upon record their sin
cere appreciation of the utterances Of
the president of the United States con-
corning the assumption of the care Of
the graves Of our Confederate dead by
the national government We appre-
ciate every kindly sentiment expressed
and we shall welcome any legislation
which shall result in the care of the
graves Of our comrades in the north
ern states by our government.
"In regard to our dead whose re-
mains are resting in the states which
were represented in the C0nfederacy
and Maryland the care of their final
resting places is sacred trust, dear
to the hearts Of southern women, and
we believe that we can safely let it
there remain"
Several very vigorous speeches were
made in opposition to the whole prn-
ciple involved in the matter, but the
final vote upon the resolution was
practically unanimous, and the an
nouncement of its passage was cheered.
Another incident was the mention of
the southern lynching question by DR..
mi IF n
members of the Confederate congress,
who, while denouncing mob law, de-
Tended the south and declared her peo-
pie should see to it that the record of
her future should be as unstained as
that Of her past
The all important report of the COM
mittee on school history was also
presented and adopted unanimously as
meeting all questions that had led to
the agitation of the subject. The re-
port alluded to the war with Spain as
factor In celebrating the shadows
of the war between the states, and re-
ferred to the prompt response of the
southern states to the call for troops
as showing the whole country the
depth and fervor of southern patriot
ism. Continuing the report says:
President Mckinley displayed the
spirit of the American soldier when he
chose from his former foes the gallant
Wheeler, the steadfast Fitzhugh Lee,
the chivalrous Butler and many Others
of our own brave comrades to marshal
the hosts Of the Union. We are glad
that General Wheeler had another OPP
portunlty to exhibit the fighting quail
tiles of the Confederate soldier and
that Lieutenants Hobson, Victor Blue
and Worth Bagley, in the navy show
ed the country Of what stuff our young
men are made of. Once more the
blood of north and south has been
poured out together-no longer be-
meath contending standards in the bit
terness of war between the states, but
now beneath one flag, to the glory Of
one country. These dead, at least, be-
long to us all. The last hateful mem,
DRY that could divide our country is
buried with them. About their grave
kneels new nation, loving all heT
children everywhere the same"
Abiding to the Confederate graves
the report says:
he TbtbllL StllBlDlS WUIuS Vi TTHSl-
dent Mckinley, commencing the Con-
federate dead to the nations care, are
the expression Of sentiment growing
everywhere that the deeds of the CC"'-
federate soldier are the glory of the
whole country and that his memory is
worthy to be cherished wherever self
sacrifice commands sympathy or brave
actions strike a responsive chord in
noble hearts"
Coming down to the question for
which it was appointed, the committee
says that it's duty is now little more
than to keep watch upon the histories
of the day and to stimulate historical
research and publication, and regards
the prospect for fairness and candor
in history as much improved by the
Spanish war. Continuing, the report
says:
The reception given our benevolent
intentions in the Philippines is certain
ly of a character likely to inspire
wholesome respect for the matter Of
governing people of another blood who
have started late in the race of civil
zation We are not likely in the fu-
ture to hear so much about the right
of men, who have not yet learned to
govern themselves, to govern others by
their votes. The difficulties of the
race problem abroad ought to bring a
charitable judgment of the same thing
here at home, and we may reasonably
expect our northern brethren to meet
us hereafter rather in a spirit of in
curry than of rebuke."
Last night at the auditorium grand
reception to the veterans was held and
an address delivered by Colonel Henry
L. Turner, of Chicago commanding the
First Illinois regiment, who has been
the guest of the city during the re-
union. A brilliant bali was given at
the Isle of Palms to the sponsors,
maids of honor and Daughters of the
Confederacy.
"TJ AIN G CIJTT MID