The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-08
WILL KEEP GREENE
SAVANNAH WILL NOT GIVE UP
RELICS OF THE PATRIOT.
WALLER ANSWERS GARDINER
SETS FORTH GEORGIA's CLAIMS TO
GREENE's REMAINS.

COmbativeness Aroused by the Eff
forts Rhode Island Seems to Be
Making TO Secure the Remains ot
Gen. Greene for Interment at
Providence - Mayor Myers Says
Actual Expense of Re-interment
at Savannah VIII BE Borne by the
City-VisitOrs Must BE Entertained
by SubscriptiOns-Wash MIL
itary Oner services-Mr. II. t.
Waller Refutes Some of the state
ments Made by Col. Gardiner.
The prospect of a contest over the
place of final interment of the remains
of Gen. Nathaniel Greene and his
son, George Washington Greene, has
increased the interest of Savannahians
In the disposal of the honored relics.
The account in the Morning News
yesterday of the efforts that are be-
ing made by Col. Asa Bird Gardiner
and Rhode Islanders to secure the re-
mains for interment at Providence
was read widely, and it was the first
intimation that had been made public
that so systematic a campaign is to
be inaugurated by those interested in
Rhode Island to secure the relics.
Combativeness has been aroused
among Savannahians, and they do not
seem disposed to allow the Rhode ISL
anders to take the remains, which now
repose in the vault of the South
Bank, subject to the joint order of
Col. Gardiner and Mr.. A d. Harden
of Savannah. Arrangements are afoot
for great display at the funeral.
which will probably be held next
month, committees from the Daughters
of the American Revolution, the Sons
of the Revolution and the City Coun-
Gil having the matter in charge.
City VIII Bear Expense.
Mayor Herman Myers says that the
city will probably defray the actual
expense of the re-interment of the
remains beneath the Greene monu-
ment in Johnson Square. The ex-
pense of entertaining visitors, the
Mayor says, will have to be met by
subscription, as the expenditure of the
ctty's funds would not be justified.
The committee from the City Council
named to cooperate with the other
con, Jones and Thomas.
1t seems probable that there will be
a great military display incident to
the funeral. The local military will
participate, and there has been an Of
fer received from Col. Winter, com
mandng the regiment of Minute Men
of Washington, d. c., to place his
command at the disposal of the com
mittee.
Mr.. r. T. Waller, whose wife is is
great granddaughter of Gen. Greene,
was seen yesterday about the letter
he received from Col. Gardiner, pub
lished in the Morning News yesterday
which criticized him for having been
too "precipitate" in securing the per-
mission of the descendants of Gen
Greene for the Refinement OF the
remains at Savannah, and gave Rhode
Islands claims to the remains.
Refutes Gardeners Statement.
at gave Col Asa Bird GARDENERS
letter for publication said Mr., Waller,
''in order that all might be made
aware of the claims which Rhode ISL
and advances for the remains of Gen.
Nathaniel Greene, and those of his
son, George Washington Greene. Col
Gardiner seems to think that / did
not put the matter before the descend
ants of Gen. Greene in the proper
form, and he withdraws his request
that 1 write them. While / have al
lowed his entire letter to be published,
feel that should be doing myself an
injustice if 1 allow all of his senti-
ments to be unrefuted
"Col. Gardiner wrote me soon after
he left Savannah last March. and
said that he would, after it was de-
termined by the Society of the Gin
cinnati what was desireds ask me to
write the members of the family as
to their wishes in regard to the final
disposition of the remains. No three
places were named upon which a vote
of preference might be taken. Col
Gardiner now names Providence, Gull
ford Court House and Savannah.
There neither is, nor has there
been, any intention to deny that
Rhode Island has a claim on these il
lustrious remains. We do hold, how
ever, that Georgia's claim is first, and
the stronger. Let us see what the
claim is: After the Revolutionary War
Gen. Greene came to Georgia to make
it his home. Here he lived and here
he died and was buried. Here too,
everyone of his children. save one, and
his wife, also lived and died Here
too, his most devoted and eminent
services were rendered. Georgia gave
him large possessions, and erected to
his memory the first monument of any
" the States. his descendants are all
at the South Cor else have lately
moved away, except two, who live in
Rhode Island.
Gardiner Changes Base.
Col Gardiner goes back on the as
sertion he made in the presence of sew
eral gentlemen, that the wishes of the
family should determine the final rest
ing place of Gen. Greene and his son
He now says the family has only
sentimental right, and intimates that
the Governor will be asked for these
remains! Gov. Gambler could no more
give a legal consent to the removal
than he could give away any mans
house. These sacred relics belong to
the family of Gen. Greene, and they
alone have the right to designate where
they shall be put. My friend, Col.
Gardiner, also speaks of the expense
to which his society was put in order
that the bodies should be found. A
thought that anything save pure pa
triotism would be considered, never
entered into any ones ideas here; but.
according to my friends own state
ment, the money used in defraying
these expenses, or at least a part of II
was derived from the interest on money
paid into the Golfers of the society of
the Cincinnati by Gen. Greene him
self.
mo one wishes to detract from the
honor due Col. Gardiner and his So
ciety for the exertions made by them.
but it is not just that it be said no
effort was ever made to find the rest