The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-21
GORDON'S REPLY.
He Answers Criticism OF the New Or
leans Veterans.
By Associated Press

| ATLANTA. GA, August 20.-General
John B. Gordon, commander-fn-chief of
the United Confederate Veterans, has pre-
! pared a reply to a resolution recently
| adopted by a Camp of Confederate Vete-
rams at New Orleans, condemnins the
| Blue and Cray Reunion in Atlanta, recon-
| 1nending that no more similar reunions
| be held and protesting against General
i Gordon accepting an invitation to the
| G. y. r Reunion at Chicago. The reply
| is as follows:
''KIRkWO0D, GA, August 2o--To the
| Confederate Association of Army of Ten
| nessee-C.onrades: a resolution recently
| adopted by your association, at the in
| stance Of General Chaleron, critfcising
| several acts. or supposed acts, of mine,
| entirely escaped my attention at the time
| Of its appearance in the public press, and
| have just seen il for the first time
I understand this action of your asso-
| ciation to mean formal and public notice
/ that you diSapprove of my participation
! III the Blue and Cray meeting which re-
| Gently occurred in Atlanta; and also that
| it means a formal and public protest by
, your association against my accCntauce
| 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 reso-
luton. which you failed to send me- is
not TO call in question the right of your
ASSOCIATION tn rcittcise any official act of
mine which does not meet your approval.
I do wish. however, to state kindly but
frankly and plainly that my own con-
science and my own conception of duty
must be my guide in the future as in the
past.
AS to the courteous and cordial invi-
tation Of both the G.. A. r. and OF the
Executive Committee of Chicago citizens,
l have to state that l greatly appreciated
the compliment paid me By that invitation
and the spirit waich prompted it. Circum-
stances, however. rendered it impossible
for mo to accept and [ so notified the
officers AMI committees nearly two months
ago, but IN this connection also I wish
TO say that must be the judge nov and
hereafter OF the propriety OF accepting
invitations from any section OF the coun-
try or any class of my fellow countryrlell
In order that there may be no possible
misunderstanding of my position on THESE
and all kindred matters, l repeat my sore
guide must be my own convictions Oh duty
to the whole country and the southern
people, whose glorious record IN al Sie
past, whose traditions, dignity and aohos
1 have endeavored to defend and uploiu
at all times in all sections and under al
conditions.
I'm conclusion. let 1T be definitely un-
derstood that SO long as Providence per-
mits me to speak or labor shaii con-
tinue the efforts whica I have made ior
thirty years In the interest OF sectional
harmony and unity Whatever l can 40
will assuredly be done for the truth OF
history, for justice to the South ana 20
all sections for fostering our cherishsd
memories. for the oblita-ation OF all sec
tional bitterness and for the settlement
ofall sectional controversies an a basis
consistent with the honor and the mln-
hood and the self-respscs of all.
6aixnAD J. B. GORDON.