The National tribune., 1900-08-30
(To be continued.)
GORDON REPLIES TO VETERANS.
Will Follow His own Judgment in All NAT.
ters

ters.
| Gen. John B. Gordon, Commander-in-
| Chief of the United Confederate Veterans.
has prepared reply to a resolution re-
Gently adopted by Camp of Confederate
Veterans at New Orleans cOndemning the
| Blue and Gray Reunion at Atlanta, rec
ommending that no more similar Reunions
| be held, and protesting against Gen. Cor
| don accepting an invitation to the G.. A..
X. Reunion at Chicago. The reply is as
follows:
Kirkwood, Ga, Aug 20, 1900.
To the Confederate Association of the
Army Of the Tennessee:
Comrades: A resolution recently adopt-
ed by your association, at the instance Of
Gen. ChalerOn, criticising several acts, or
supposed acts, of mine, entirely escaped
my attention at the time of it's appearance
in the public press, and 1 have just seen
it for the first time. l understand this ac-
ton of your association to mean a formal
and public notice that you disapprove Of
my participation in the Blue and Gray
meeting which recently occurred in At
lanta, and also that it means a formal
and public protest by your association
against my acceptance Of an invitation ex-
tended 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 resolu-
tAohS "hiSh yoa ldilcu Seuu We, Is nOL
to call in question the right of your asso-
citation to criticise any official act Of mine
which does not meet your approval. I do
wish, however, to state kindly, but frank
ly and plainly, that my own conscience
and my own conception of duty must be
my. guide in the future as in the past
As to the courteous and cordial invita-
ton Of both the G. A. II. and Of the Ex-
ecutive Committee OF Chicago citizens 1
have to state that l greatly appreciated
the compliment paid melby that invitation
and the spirit which prompted it. Circ'Im-
stances, however, rendered it Impossible
for me to accept, and so notified the Off
GERS and committee nearly two months
ago. But, in this connection also, l wish
to say that must be the judge now and
hereafter Of the propriety Of accepting in
vitations from any section of the coun-
try or any class Of my fellow country
men.
In order that there may be no possible
misunderstanding of my position on these
and all kindred matters, l repeat my sole
guide must be my own convictions of duty
as to this whole country and to the
Southern people, whose glorious record in
all the past, whose traditions, dignity and
honor I have endeavored to defend and
uphold at all times in all sections and un-
der all conditions.
In conclusion let it be definitely under
stood that so long as providence permits
me to speak or labor shall continue the
efforts which I have made for 80 years
in the interest Of sectional harmony and
unity. Whatever I can do will assuredly
be done for the truth Of history, for JUS
tice to the South and to all sections, for
fostering our cherished memories, for the
obliteration of all sectional bitterness, and
for the settlement Of all sectional con-
troversies on q basis consistent with the
honor and the manhood and the self-re-
spect Of all. j. B. GORDON.