The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-28
VETERANS IN GRAY
AND DEMOCRACY
They Will Not Forsake The Party That Did Not Adj
iOurn I'm Honor of Fred Douglass, But Did
Make The Birthday of Robert +. Lee
National Holiday.
a National Holiday.

/ bindings and the grounds of "PettiErew
Hosuital' were donated by the State, and
the sum Of $4,000 for its support.
This v,as the act of a Democratic
Legislature.
Credit is cheerfully given to the Fusion
lists for maintaining the same, although
there was a strong effort 10 destroy it,
or 10 blast its usefulness by displacing
its control IN behalf of an unsavory poll
tician This failed. however.
1t was reserved for the Democratic
Legislature of 1899 to place Il at last
upon a more sufficient footing than ever
before, with $4,000 for support and So,
600 special appropriation. With the latter
was erected the commodious hospital,
which is a credit to the Home and the
State. and every bed in it is now occu
MED by the broken and suffering invalids
who are the wrecks of the great cyclone
&C way
The Democratic Legislature Of 1901 fol-
lowed this precedent, giving $4,000 for
support pe: amman, and special appro-
rriat:Cn f 5000 fer replacing buildings,
with which the admirable domitories have
been b9:n. These, furnished by the noble
liberal!ty of tire women of our State, in
their several Chapters CT the Daughters
of the Confederacy, form a comfortable
and attra ctive home for the war worn
soldier, ard il was with pride that we
formally opened these rooms in February
1902
The grounds, stock, garden, chapel
hospital and living rooms are now
credit to the State, although not as many
can yet be accommodated. as there is
pressing demand for. Alas, it is practi-
cally only q matter of twenty years more,
except for a scanty few in the rear guard
as we march into the great beyond.
Is there veteran in the State who does
not know what party has done these
things for him?
Nor is that all. On February 28th, 1898
the North Carolina Monumental Assoca-
ton was chartered and the sum of $l0,-
600 given to assure the erection of the
superb monument to our dead brethren
which adorns the Capitol grounds, and
which owed it's origin to the patriotism
and determinatiO of the noble women
we revere.
In all candor we thank the legislative
body of 1895, for the subsequent appro-
priation toward its ompletiOn-although
| refused and granted after reconsidera
| ton. by the hard efforts of the women
who have given so much time and labor
| to the work. But the actual establish
ment of this lasting memorial of our
martyred dead. and the first respon-
sibilty for its cost, remains with the
men of nerve in the Democratic Legisla-
ture of 1898
greater monument still, exists in the
five massive volumes in gray, which re-
count the annals of the eighty regiments
and many battalions of Confederate
troops who immortalzed North Carolina
Written without price, from the direst
experience of the men who fought, and
edited in love by one of the most eminent
| in literature of our comrades, they are
the priceless record of Carolna's glory.
| 1t is impossible to estimate the value
| of this testimonial to Confederate truth.
| valor and fidelity. Other States admire
and will strive to emulate it. But it
will remain the most unique. and unan-
| swerable structure ever raised to the
honor and glory of any State in this
country.
! l need hardly add that upon the appeal
of the Confederate Veterans Association
which had asked the Hon. Walter Clark
/ to prepare this record and promised it's
| cooperation the Democrats of 1899 and
/ 1901, in the General Assembly. authorized
the printing of this immortal record.
The facts are before you. The Demo-
cratic party has provided pensions, sus-
tanned the Home, literally contributed
to the monument, and preserved your i'm
mortal records for all time. At this late
day, the Republicans offer you words of
friendship, while they belong body and
soul to the leader among them who seeks
popularity by distributing thirty pieces OF
| silver to the Judases who betrayed you
| in the day of trial, stole into the ranks
of your enemies, and turned their mus
iets upon the breasts of children of the
same mother, dear old North Carolina.
Nothing more need be said. There is
no danger that the veterans of the gray
will forsake the party that did not adj
journ in honor of Fred Douglass. but did
make the birthday holiday that COM
memorates the gift to mankind of Robert
| e. Lee, the party that has always re-
lieved their suffering ones, and has pre-
served the record of their glory for the
ages to come.
j. S. CARR.