The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-02

he was an honored citizen of Davies
county, KY, and both as citizen and
soldier we all respect his memory.
q HIS granddaughter little Laura Gait,
who declined to sing Marching Through
Georgia. Is pupil in the public schools
OF the city of Louisville, where she lives,
and can testify in her behalf that she
is. obedient and respectful to all those
who are set in authority over her. But
when her teacher requested her to sing
that song she declined to do so because
its sentiments are reflection on the
honor and the integrity of her dead an
cestors
81 neitho- approve nor discourage in
subordination. but the facts and circum-
stances which confronted this child When
she was directed to sing that song were
of nature which not only furnish
complete justification for her conduct,
but such as to enshrine her In the affec-
ton of every Confederate soldier.
Marching Through Georgia ought
neither to be taught nor sung in our pub
lie schools. There is not a patriotic sem
timent in 1t, and as long as 1t is sung
the tendency will be to revive recollee-
lions that ought to be forgotten. and to
healed. That song brings into view recol-
lections of a period during the. Civil
War when IL can be truly said that foxes
had holes and the birds of the air had
nests, but the defenseleSs women and
children whose dwelling places were in
the wake of the victorious army as 1t
marched and sang that song, had not
where to rest their weary heads.
=" Marching Through Georgia approves
a campaign, the methods of which
neither find justification nor excuse in all
the annals of civilized warfare. l believe
] express the sentiment of all ex-Con-
federates when / declare they do not de-
sire to revive disagreeable recollections.
There has not been a day nor an hour
since the armies of Lee surrendered at
Appomattox when the Confederate soldier
was not loyal to the Government of the
United States. though the sincerity OF his
motives has often been questioned.
at seems to have been left at last TO
the simple method OF child, who, in
her integrity ami artlessness. refused to
be party to the singing of partisan
songs to attract the whole country to the
fact that the time has come when such
songs as Marching Through Georgia"
and such partisan histories as have been
thrust into our public schools should
cease to form a part of the education and
instruction of the children of the South.
sit was left to the child to set new
page for the writing of true history
of the South; 1t seems to have been left
to her to draw the attention of the coun-
try to the South that the people OF the
old South and the soldiers who defended
Its cause are no longer to be misrepre-
scented.
Now, on behalf of the Georgia So
ciety of Montgomery, Ala, the member
ship of which consists of ex-Confeder-
ates whose heroism and unsurpassed val
or on many a field of carnage has made
the name and fame of American arms
immortal, and on behalf of their sons
and their daughters. intelligent. generous
and worthy descendants of as fine race
of Anglo-SaXon cavaliers as has ever
lived in any land or age; in the name OF
all those / present you. Laura Talbot
Gait, this beautiful medal. and ask you
to accept 1t in the spirit Of the patriotic
letter which has been read by the Presi-
dent of this association, and through
all the years that are to come down to
you 1 am sure you will wear this medal
with credit to yourself and honor to
those who have so generously and CRATE
fully bestowed 1t upon you
Miss Cats Response.
Miss Gait. in accepting the medal
made a graceful little speech saying that
| she would always look back to this day
| as the happiest of her life, and that she
| had no idea that she had so many friends
when she refused to sing the song which
represents Sherman's chief claim ia
greatness" When she said this the au-
dience went wild with enthusiasm and
many old Confederate soldiers caught her
and kissed her fondly.
Miss Phil Pointer, on behalf of the
Rice r. Graves Camp, United Confed-
crate Veterans, presented Miss Gait an
other handsome gold medal. When Miss
Calf and her mother reached here on
the Morning Star this morning they were
m ct at the wharf and escorted to the
Rudd House. Miss Calf Is the guest of
the Rice F.. Graves Camp and is receiving
much attention.