Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-08-23
TTE BLJE AND THE CRAY
Gen, Gordon's Reply to Resolutions
of a Confederate Camp,
SECTIONAL HARMONY AND UNITY
ObIitcratinn of All Sectional Bitter
ness on Basis Consistent with
the Honor and Manhood Of All.

ness on Basis Consistent with
the Honor aud Manhood Of All.
Atlanta, Aug 21.-Gen. John b. Cor
den, commander-in-chi of the United
Confederate Veterans. has prepared a
rovf-- .. FL resolution recently adopted
By d camp of Confederate veterans at
New Orleans, condemning the blue and
gray reunions in Atlanta, recommend
ing that no more similar reunions be
held and protesting against Gen. Cor
don accepting an invitation to the
Grand Army of the Republic reunion at
Chicago. The reply follows:
''To the Confederate Association of
the Army of nnessee-COmrades A
resolution recently adopted by your as
sOciation at the instance of Gen. Chal-
erOn. criticising certain acts or sup
posed acts of mine, entirely escaped
my attention at the time of its appear
ance in the public press and l have
just seen it for the first time. | under
stood this action of your association to
mean a formal and public notice that
you disapprOve of my participation in
the Blue and Gray meeting which re-
Gently occurred in Atlanta; and also
that it means a formal and public pro-
test by your association against my ac-
ceptance of an invitation extended to
me by the Grand Army of the Republic
and by the executive committee of the
citizens of Chicago.
"The object of this reply to your
resolution is not to call in question the
right of your association to Criticise
any official act of mine which does not
meet your approval. | do wish, how
ever. to state kindly, but frankly and
plainly, that my own conscience and
my own conception of duty must be
my guide in the future as in the past.
CAS- to the courteous and cordial in
vitation of the G.. A. r. and of
the executive committee of Chicago
citizens. l have to state that l greatly
appreciate the compliment paid me by
that invitation and the spirit which
prompted it. Circumstances, however,
rendered it impossible for me to ac-
cept, and | so notified the officers and
committees nearly two months ago.
But in this connection also | wish to
say that | must be judged now and
hereafter of the propriety Of accepting
invitations from any section OF the
country or any class of my fellow
countrymen.
"In order that there may be no pos
sible misunderstanding of my position
on these and all kindred matters. | re-
peat my sole guide must be my own
convictions of duty to this whole
country, and to the southern people,
whose glorious record in all the past,
whose traditions, dignity and honor
have endeavored to defend and up
hold at all times in all sections and un-
der all conditions.
'In conclusion, let it be definitely
understood that so long as Providence
permits me to speak or labor | shall
continue the effort which | have made
for 80 years in the interest of sectional
harmony and unity. Whatever | can do
will assuredly be done for the truth of
history, for justice to the south and to
all sections for fostering our cherished
memories, for the Obliteration of all
sectional bitterness and for the settle
ment of all sectional controversies on
a basis consistent with the honor and
the manhood and the self respect of
all"