The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-21
GEN. GORDON'S REPLY
His Own Conscience Must be
His Guide.
This in Answer to the Protest Against His Ac-
coping an Invitation 10 a G. A. R.
Encampment.
(By the Associated Press. J

Atlanta, Ga, Aug. 20.-General John
b. Gordon, Commander -chief of the
United Confederate Veterans, has pre-
pared a reply to a resolution recently
adopted by a camp of Confederate Vet
Grams at New Orleans. condemning the
Blue and Gray reunion in Atlanta re-
commencing that no more similar re-
unions be held and protesting against
General Gordon accepting an invitation to
the G.. A. r. reunion at Chicago The
reply is as follows:
"Kirkwood, Ga, Aug. 90.
ITO the Confederate Association of the
Army of Tennessee:
Comrades: A resolution recently adopt-
ed by your association at the instance of
General Chaleron, critcising 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
1T for the first time. l understand this
action of your association to mean a for
NAL 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
extended to 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 reso-
luton, which you failed ITO send me, is
not to call in question the right of your
association to criticise any official act of
mine which does not meet your approval.
| 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 ex-
ecutive committee of Chicago citizens, /
have to state that / greatly appreciated
the compliment paid me by that invita-
tion, and the spirit which prompted it.
Circumstances. however. rendered it i'm
possible for me to accept and l so notified
the officers and committees 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 ac-
cepting invitations from any section of
the country or any class of my fellow
countrymen.
I'm 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
to this whole country, and to the South
ern people whose glorious record in all
the past, whose traditions. dignity and
honor have endeavored to defend and up
hold at all times in all sections and un-
der all conditions.
'In conclusion, let it be definitely un-
derstood that so long as Providence per-
mits me to speak or labor l shall con-
tinue the efforts which l have made for
thirty years in the interest of sectional
harmony and unity. Whatever I can do
will assuredly be done for the truth of
history, for justice to the South and to all
sections, for fostering our cherished mem
ories, for the obliteration Of all sectional
bitterness and for the settlement of all
sectional controversies on a basis con-
sistent with the honor and the manhood
and the self respect of all.
(Signed) ~. B. GORDON"