Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-21
GENERAL JOHN B. GORDON
SPEAKS PATRIOTIC AND SENSIBLE
SENTIMENTS
In Response to Criticism Placed
Upon His Actions and COntem-
plated Movements by a Camp of
Confederate Veterans Mt New Or
leans.

ATLANTA, Ga, Aug. 20.-Gen. John
B. Gordon, commander-in-chief of the
United Confederate Veterans, has pre-
pared a reply to resolution recently
adopted by camp of Confederate Vet
Grams in New Orleans condemning the
blue and gray reunion in Atlanta,
recommending that no more similar're-
unions be held and protesting against
Gen. Gordon accepting an invitation to
the G. A. r. reunion at Chicago. The
reply is as follows:
'KIRKWOOD, Ca, August 20.
Comrades: A resolution recently
adopted by your association at the in
stance of Gen. Chaleron, criticising GER
tain acts or supposed acts of mine, en-
tirely escaped my attention at the time
of its appearance in the public press,
and | have just seen it for the first
time. l understand this action of your
association to mean formal and pub
lie notice that you disapprove of my
participation in the blue and gray meet
ing which recently occurred in At
lanta; and also that it means formal
and public protest by your association
against my acceptance OF an invitation
extended me by the Grand Army of the
Republic and by the executive COM
mittee of the citizens of Chicago.
The object of this reply to your
resolution, which you failed to send
me, is not to call in question the right
of your association to criticise any Of
fetal act of mine which does not meet
your approval | do wish, however, 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.
LAS to the courteous and cordial in
vitation of both the G. A. R. and of the
executive committee OF Chicago cit1-
Zens, | have to state that | greatly APP
preciate the compliment paid me by
that invitation, and the spirit which
prompted it. Circumstances, however,
rendered it impossible for me to accept
and | so notified the officers and COM
mittees nearly two months ago, but in
this connection | also wish to say that
l must be the judge now and hereafter
of the propriety of accepting invita-
tons from any section of the country,
or any class of my fellow countrymen.
I'm 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 coun
try and to the southern people, whose
glorious record in all the past, whose
traditions, dignity and honor have en-
deavored to defend and uphold at all
times, in all sections and under all con-
ditions.
In conclusion let it definitely be I'M
derstood that so long as Providence
permits me to speak or labor, l shall
continue the efforts which l have made
for thirty years in the interest of sec
tional harmony and unity. What
ever I can do will assur-
eddy be done for the truth
of history, for justice to the South and
to all sections for fostering our chez
ished memories for the obliteratfon of
all sectional bitterness and for the set
Element of all sectional controversies
on a basis consistent with the honor
and the manhood and the self-resect
Of all. J. B. GORDON"