The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-27
General Rosscr's Position.


Sir-Having received numerous letters
from my Confederate comrades asking me
why I left the Democratic party, ana nav
ing been harshly criticised by the press Tor
writing a congratulatory letter TO Cover
nor Roosevelt on his nomination as vice
President of the United States L 1eei tiiatt
I should answer through the press. ana
have selected The Times as the mehlu1n lo1
doing so, as l feel that in your lipeEalleE
and fairness l will be treated justly.
In the first place. I will state that poll
tics is not my means of livelihood. 1 have
never asked for or held a polltlcal COM
mission, and am under no Obligations u
any political party. I have experienced no
change of heart toward Virginia OF Ihe
South. I am proud OF the ugly scaiS
which I now carry, received on the battle
field in attestation of my devotion ana
sacrifice to their cause, when issues were
tried bv bali and bayonet. and L love
them both now as dearly as | did wheh
marched hungered and fought under their
flags But the fight between the South anu
North was fought to a finish ana settieu
at Appomattox Courthouse on the 9ln OIL
April, 1863 when Vicginia's great son
fur.le6 the "Starry Cross and sheathed his
mighty sword The issues IN controversy
were submitted to the arbitrament OF arms.
and the Judgment against the South WIS
received as irreversible and final.
There is no denying the fact however,
that in laying down our arms we retained
grutige against the Yankee "hich we
would not part with I had it as strong as
any man. and so opposed was I to giving
IN the fight that refused to surrender my
division and the division of General fltz
Lee, which happened to be under my com
mand. and took them from the 1leld Oh
Appomattox after sharp fight on the
morning of the surrender.
Thousands Of brave men mad lalleh III
the conflict on the side of the North, and
great sacrifices had been made by that
section in ,overthrowing the Southern Con-
federacy and although victor ana It's srea.
chief rnagnanmous, yet the epllhel VI
.Rehel' was not withdrawn and the South
was still distrusted by the masses IN me
North and lines of battle were changed %
the battle of the ballot and fierce poll
teal conflict between the sections has been
raging ever since
yar,, soon after the war, business took
me- North. and for twenty years had close
business relations with my former mill
tary enemies. and | am now ohiiseu u
admit that the best. most cultivated, Desk
bred wealthy and refined gentlemen Win
whom I was associated were ftep"picais
in politics. and doubted the sincerity ane
criticised the consistency Of the South in
its political support Of its ancient. bitter
and consistent enemy. Horace Greeley.
No one can deny that the North has
prospered under Repubcanism, nor Is
there any DENYING the fact that the South
has not prospered under Democracy:
Nature has blessed the South with So1'
and climate superior to that Of the North.
Then shall be expected to admit that. I'M
der like conditions the South is not eNua!
to the North in a fair field of business
competition?
My experience which has been extensive.
will not allow me to admit it. but on the
contrary I deny it. I have taken great
many Southern young men to the North
west where conditions We're less favorable
to him than to the man born in the higher
ATTITUDES. and these Southern lads have
risen to the highest rank in every field of
business they have entered-many of them
are now leaders
I regard the Republican party as the only
natona! party now in the field. 1t is enter
prisnS, aggressive and patriotic; it has on
hand, and unfinished, great work in
clearing off the debris left in the fields by
Spain after the war was over, which both
Democrats and Republicans put us into.
The work is being done satisfactorily, and
there should be no change in the Chief
Executive long as this important work
is going on.
president Mckinley Is a wise, experienced
and patriotic Christian statesman. and the
only complaint urged by his opponents Is
chat his pace is wanted by another man.
Governor Roosevelt is the highest type OF
American manhood. He is able, cultivated
and We'll prepared for the duties which VIII
be assigned him as Vice-President of the
United States. The best blood OF the
South fills his veins, as his mother is one
of Georgia's fairest daughters, and Of a
family wholly Southern and distinguished
in the service of the State in peace and
But my friends say that the Democratic
party i3 essentially Southern, and all South
ern men should support it. Is Mr. Bryan
Southern? Is Mr. Stevenson South
ern? Is Mr.. Bryan Democrat? II
so, what sort of a Democrat? Janus-faced,
he is accepting the nomination of the Dem
ocrats, but facing and smiling ono way at
tho Populists, and the other at the Silver
Republicans.
The old Jeffersonan party of our faith
ers was grand, lofty and true, but 1t has
disappeared. The ship winch asp;res to
take it's place is a mere derelict on a
shorelesS sea, without rudder or sall, and
absolutely without hope.
Mr. Bryan and his party OF Fusion carry
no hope for the South. we want live men,
true and tried men, men VINO command
the confidence of business melt at home
and abroad, so that our grand oid ship
will continue to sail on 9 leVel keel. and
on a safe and sturdy course.
| yirsinia's votaets not required to elect
Mckinley AMI Roosevelt. nor in the vote
of the South. The North will easily elect
them, but I HONESTLY. sincerely and
periodically pray that the sca.es may
soon fall from the eyes or my southern
friends, that they may see thetr aisil outy
and perform it, and their true hope and
realize ii orr country, one flag and one
THOMAS L. ROSSER.