The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-01

MT LONDON presented the memorial or
the North Carolina Division of the United
Daughters Of the Confederacy for increas-
ed appropriation for pensions, and the Sol
diers' Home. Mr. London said that this
petition was so beautifully read at the
meeting of Confederate Veterans last
night that he felt like it would be a
sacrifice for the clerk or any other man
10 attempt to read it.
THE clerk may read the title of the
memorial K the Senator from Chatham
does not object" added President Turner
IL was ordered that 300 copies be print
CO.
The petition is signed by ! 200 noble
women of North Carolina and was read
al the Confederate meeting Wednesday
night by Miss Bessie Henderson, of
Salisbury 1t was sent to the General
Assembly by special commit
tee, appointed at the convention last
October composed of Mrs H.
4. London. of Pittsboro, chairman;
Miss Bessie Henderson. Mrs. Muir
ply, Salisbury; Mrs. f. A. Odds
Mrs. f. f. Moffitt, Mrs. Garland Jones,
Mrs. j. w. Hinsdale. Mrs. G. c. Baker,
Mrs. A. b. Stonach, Miss Kate McKim-
mon, Mrs. Josephus Daniels, Miss
Willard Mrs. Rountree, Mrs. p. I.
Bridges, Wilmington, Mrs. Conner, Will
son; Mrs Ff7nk /. osborne, Charlotte;
Mrs. d. Y. Cooper, Mrs. w. H. S. Bur-
gwyn Mrs w. S. Parker, Henderson;
Mrs. Bennett. Wadesboro; Mrs. j. B.
Whitaker, Winston Mrs. Theodore
Grimes, Washington; Mrs. r. II. Lewis,
Raleigh. The petition is as follows:
rrN ,,rrrN cor TerTNTlc, rJnNIEr
TO the Honorable, the Senators and
Representatives o1 the General As
sembly:
The North Caroline Division of the
United Daughters of the Confederacy
appeal to YOU to use your best efforts
to have the General Assembly at its
next session make suitable and suffi-
Gent provision for me care and main
tenance of the Confederate veterans,
inmates of the Soldiers Home, and in
crease the facilities at the Home for
the reception OF other veterans, sorely
in need of such protection and shelter,
and TO give pensions to those needy vet
Grams who remain at home. We do
not ask that this be done in the name
of charity--far from tive ask it as
fulfilling of an obligation due from our
common mother, the Old North State,
to her sons, who in youth devoted
themselves to her defence and who,
by their patience, bravery and self
abnegations have crowned her with
a glory unequaled by that of few Com
monwealths.
The State has erected monuments to
their comrades who have crossed the
river and the women of the land keep
green the memories of the dead, by
annually covering their graves with
spring flowers, but duty calls on us
to care for the living.
With the blessing of Providence the
great majority of our surviving veter-
ance by industry, perseverance and
economy, have been enabled to store up
something for use in their old age, or
have kindred and friends able to care
for them-but many, disabled, WORKOUT
and aged, need assistance; of these,
numbers fall out of ranks every year,
and the annual roll calls report that
they have Joined the majority"
1t is the proud claim of North Caro-
lima that her soldiers were First at
Bethel fartherest at Gettysburg and
last at Appomattox."
The true history of the war between
the States Lased upon official record
evidence as it is now begun to be writ
ten, will picture them as the peers of
the veterans of Hannibal, the Tenth
Legion of Caesar and the Old Guard of
Napoleon. We feel sure, had the repre-
sentatives of the people of North Caro-
lima in the past been advised of the true
situation OF the Homo, there would not
now be need of the Daughters of the
Confederacy appealing for help for the
veterans, or of reminding the General
Assembly of the duty of the State to
make ample provision :. for them.
The Daughters of the Confederacy
have made some Investigations and
were surprised not to say shocked Gas
no doubt the people of the State will
be- to find that, as now provided for,
the Home can accommodate less than
a hundred veterans. Think of that.
Less than one hundred of the hundreds
of SCARED and needy veterans cared
for at their homes. To permit them
to bee ONE inmates of aims houses
should cause every North Carolinian to
blush with shame.
North Carolina--to her honor be it
said-has generously provided for her
unfortunate children--the insane, the
deaf, dumb ard blind. Shall she not
honor herself and all her needy child
rem by showing her appreciation of
those needy sons, who at the bugle call
rushed to follow her fiag-unfurled to
oppose the invaders of her sacred soil?
Not as a matter of State pride-nor, as
a matter o. sentiment merely-but as
a duty-an obligation she owes to those
who have honorably, gallantly, patriot
ically, heroically, served her in the time
of her greatest neeS Our sovereign
State should make provision for her
veterans ample for their maintenance
and comfort during the few remaining
years allotted to them.
And in making provision for those
dear old soldiers who have grown worn
and weary of life's conflict, let us who
are more fortunate, never forget Shat
we have now and always to thank Cod
for the heritage of ituperishable honor
and glory left by the men who fought
and bled under the Southern Cross.
THE PRESIDENTS APPEAL.
Salisbury. N. -. Jan. 10, 1901
To the Honorable, the General Assem-
bly, of North Carolina:
Judge of the Nations be with us yet.