Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-13
Will Not Permit Federal Care
of Confederates' Graves.
Though Veterans Thank Pres. McKin-
ley for His Atlanta Speech.
The Old Officers are e.clecicd and the
Ninth Reunion Adjourns.

the ytIi ANNUAL reunion OF the United
Confederate Veterans was. TODAY
brought to a close. Gen John Is. Cor
don, commander-in-chief, and all the
old officers were reelected. Louisville
was chosen as the next place of meet
ing and the question of federal care of
Confederate graves was disposed of by
the adoption of Il substitute resolution
which declines the Presidents suggeS-
ton, except as to those graves located
in the North. and rescrving to the wo-
men of the South the duty of caring for
those in the seeding states and Mary
land. The adoption of this resolution
and the report that accompanied it
preCipitated a debate which verged up
on the sensational and at times much
confusion and disorder prevailed. The
resolution adopted is in full as follows:
Your committee, to whom was refer
red the resolution introduced by Gen
:. ID. Lee beg to report the following
substitute with the recommendation of
the committee that the same be
adopted:
The United Confederate Veterans.
in this annual reunion assembled de-
sire to place upon record their sincere
appreciation of the utterances of the
President of the United States, in At
Ianta in December last concerning the
assumption of the care of the graves of
our Confederate dead by the national
government.
we appreciate every kindly senti-
n1ent expressed and we shall welcome
any legislation which shall result in the
care of the graves of our comrades in
the Northern states by our govern
ment. In regard to our dead whose re-
mains are resting the states which We're
represented in the COnfederacy and
Maryland, the care of their final rest
ing places is sacred trust, dear to the
hearts of Southern women, and we be-
lieve that we can safely let it there re-
main.''
Several very vigorous speeches We're
made in opposition to the whole princi
pie involved, but the final vote was
practically unanimous and the an
nouncements of the passage was
cheered.
Another incident was the mention of
the Southern lynching question by Dr.
Curry, one of the surviving members
of the Confederate Congress, who
while denouncing mob law, defended
the South, and declared her people
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 a school history was also pre-
scented and adopted unanimously as
meeting all questions that had led to
the agitation of the subject.
Tonight, at the Auditorium a grand
reception to the Veterans was held and
an address was delivered by Col. Henry
l.. Turner of Chicago, commanding the
list Illinois Regiment, who has been the
guest of the city during the reunion. a
brilliant ball was given at the Isle OF
Palms to the sponsors, maids of honor
and Daughters of the Confederacy. The
Veterans and visitors are rapidly de-
parting and the 9th reunion of the men
who wore the gray is practically at an
end.
The convention was opened, at 1910
o'clock, with the singing of the DoX-
oogy. which was followed by prayer
by Rev. DR.. S. 2. Lowell of South Caro-
lima Cen Gordon introduced Gen.
Renham of the South Carolina Sons OF
Veterans who delivered an address. He
was followed by Mr.. Kirk, commander
Of the Trans Mississippi department.
His remarks were of the nature OF an
eulogy of the Confederate soldiers. Gen
Gordon then presented Gen. Robert T.
Lee Jr.. who was cheered to the echo.
Gen. S D. Lee presented the report
of the committee on history. Whlcn
was unanimously adopted. The report
alluded 10 the war with Spain as Il
factor In oblitcrating the shadows OF
the war between the states and refers
to the prompt response Of the Southern
states Ia the call for troops as showing
the whole country the depth ana Ter
vor Of Southern patriotism. Contihu-
Ing. the report says:
president Mckinley displayed the
spirit Of the American soldier when ne
chose from his former foes the gallant
Wheeler. the steadfast Fitzhugh Lee,
the chivalrous Butler and many others
of our own brave comrades to mar
shall the hosts of the Union. We arc
glad that Gen. Wheeler had another
opportunity to exhibit the hghtinS
qualities of the Confederate soldier.
and that Lieuts Hobson, Victor Blue
and Worth Bagley, in the navy, snow
"a the country of what stuff our young
men are made. once more the blood OF
North and South has been poured out
tOgethcr-no longer beneath contehdlh@
Standards in the bitterness of war De-
tween the states. but now beneath one
> nag to he glory of our country lIhest'
dead. at least, belong to us all Ihe
last hateful memory that could DIVIDE
our country is buried with them
About their graves kneels new ma
ton, loving all her children every
where the same"
Abiding to the question OF Conled-
crate graves. the report says
The recent generous words OF Pres
ident7 Mckinley, commencing the Con-
federate dead to the nations care. are
the expression of a sentiment growing
everywhere. that the deeds OF tn Con-
federate soldier are the glory OF inc
whole country, and that his memory i
worthy to be cherished wherever sell
sacrifice commands sympathy or brave
actions strike responsive chord in no.
BILE hearts,
Coming down to the question fol
which it was appointed the committee
says that its duty is now little more
than to keep watch upon the histories
Of the day and TO stimulate historical