The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-06-23
THE zoe HEROES.

Picay une laments and decries the ease
with which C~onfederatss. who never
smelt powder or felt the sting OF II
bullet, forge TO the front as masters
OF ceremony and high officials In that
honorable body, the United Confederate
Veterans. He Gays in part:
For some time past men, OF whom the
records of the war make no mention, whose
prowcss upon fields of battle did not attract
the attention OF their comrade whose high
military titles are of recent ACQUISITION. and
and who are crazed by a desire for notoriety,
have forged to the front with claims OF
doughty deeds" that have no parallel in
military annals. Generals have appeared
upon the scene, whose counsels' hau they
been followed. would have changed the tate
| of the Confederacy. Generals there are in
plenty to whom, although their names 40
not appear in the records, every success OF
the Confederate arms should be credited.
In short our tried and accepted leaders are
being pushed aside In military narration by
men of whom the most complimentary tiihg
that can be said is that they are AS persistent
Of assertion as they are fertile OF invention
II none but the old Confederate veterans
sat In judgment upon these raise ana
fraudulent claims, no harm would result.
| They would dismiss the matter with "A good
natured laugh or. a contemptuous shrug'
Unfortunately, however. publications In
| populous southern %centers, having northern
exchanges. nave given some prominence 10
the statement OF these claims. The result
has been that northern writers, Ia the alb
sence OF ans question OF authenticity being
| raised by the Confederate veterans. are
charging them with completely In falsifying
history. 1t Is to prevent the continuance OF
a fraudulent practice and to make 1t manifest
the United Confederate Veteran Association
condemns il utterly that the old veterans
| above referred to will urge some decisive
action by the next reunion. There are bogus
Confederate heroes in each state, and the
narrative OF their deeds, as related by them
selves, is startling reading. The various
documents secured by the Investigators
leave no doubt of the fact that had the
Confederate authorities exercised sound
judgment and discretion in the selection of
leaders. our banners would have been carried
In unobstructed triumph TO the northern
lakes.
1t will be interesting. when the matter is
DTOhEnb W Wv dAitHtioh '"
reunion to note how many of these trumpet
blowing generals will assume the response
bility OF what has been Published In their
praise, and how many will attempt to shift
the burden to the shoulders Of newspaper
men who evidently misunderstood what
they Intended to convey"
Commenting on the above editorially
the Picayune says:
There are constantly appearing In the
Southern papers statements uttesly reckless
and unreasonable Of the alleged deeds of
men in the civ:l war who were never heard
OF until now. These wild stories of extra
ordinary daring. after once they get into
print. pass current from paper to paper, and
are accepted us true by the t~houghtless and
the ignorant, until they are, perhaps, finally
challenged as absurd lies, or, not being
thought worthy Ct notice, go uncontradicted
TO the end.
The effect of that sort of thing is not only
to gain admiration for those who do not de-
serve il, but. what is more serious. to falsify
history. This sort OF thing, which has only
come into prominence in recent years, ha:
been made possible chiefly. by the loost
and careless manner In which members ar,
admitted into many OF the Confederate or
ganizations. In too many cases no fnvesti
cation is made into the record of applicants
and their unsupported statements are takeI
a. to the service they performed. In thi
way, it is not strange that unworthy person
become members Of an organization In wbicl
every man should be a hero and Il patriot
and every member who has "A genuine Con
federate record Is entitled TO be so regarded
But the real heroes and patriots are not tn
ruen who swell and strut with assumed great
ness and pompously relate their imaginar
exploits.
Honor to whom honor is due" !
the SENTINEL'S motto always. Th
. man who Is so far beneath the honor
a gentleman as to go among brave me
and heroes of a hundred battles, on
record woven from the imaginati,
llabyrinths of his own brain, and WI
= would ask for honors on that record,
o unworthy OF the recognition or respe
t of those from whom he would fitch We
). earned ~laurels. We hope that all wi
t make up this contemplate class W
i be sent to the rear and that they W
get their marching orders without d
lay. They are known generally by
/. men, and though they do sometim
gain positions OF honor, they do r
y, possess them through the wishes OF t
d rank and file OF the boys who wore t
s. gray to their own credit and to t
&c everlasting honor OF tAe Southlar
r. Away with the imposters, aud let the
d braggadocio be heard no more In t
lg land forever.
he