The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-15
DeArmOnd and Gardner Pay Ti-
butte TO Confed rate VaI9f
WANT HOMES OPEN TO THEM
Representative Rlxey's Suggestion K
Place Confederate and Northern
Soldiers on Same Basis Causes
Division Among Democrats.

Washington. January 14.--The. house
continued the debate on the pension ap-
preparation bill today and devoted much
time to the proposition advanced by Mr..
Rixey of Virginia, yesterday to open the
doors of the soldiers home to ex-Confed-
crate veterans. Two notable speeches
were made in support of the proposition,
one by Mr.. Gardner. a Michigan Repub-
lican and the other by Mr. De Almond.
q Missouri Democrat.
Mr.. De Almonds eloquence aroused
both sides of the house. The Republi-
cans with the exception of Mr. Gardner,
took no part in the discussion of the
Rixey suggestion which met with much
opposition on the Democratic side on the
ground that it was utterly impracticable.
Mr.. Lamb of Virginia read a number of
telegram from prominent ex-Confederates
of Richmond protesting against 1t.
He approved Mr.. Rixeys suggestion. As
an ex-Union soldier he sympathized with
the spirit that sought 30 take care of
our own and predicted that the time
would come and at no distant day when
maintained by the common government
would be opened alike to needy soldiers,
whether of the Union or the Confederacy.
His expression of the sentiment that it
was better to care for the destitute than
to care for the dead of the graves
though immortal 1t might be. was greet
ed with . round of applause on the Dem
ocratic side. He said that since the Span
ish war whatever differences existed
among the people of the country had
ceased to exist as sectional differences
and notices had been served on the civil
world that in any future war with the
United States the whole country must
be reckoned with.
Rlxey's Suggestion Approved.
Mr.. De Armond of Missouri also ap-
proved the suggestion of Mr.. Rixey of
Virginia to open the doors Of soldiers
homes to ex-Confederate veterans He
took issue with those who had declared
that the Confederate soldiers had sought
t. destroy the government of the United
States.
The leaders of the lost cause he said,
believed implicitly in the theory of seces-
sion and the rank and file. not indulging
in fine-spun theories. finding that war
had come, fought for their homes and
firesides. This suggestion to allow those
on the losing side to enter the homes of
the winners was worthy to be considered
in calmness and charity. He paid a high
tribute to Mr.. Rixey who had made the
suggestion, and to Mr. Gardner, thu Mich
igan Republican, who had endorsed it.
These two men, he said. We're typical of
the better sense and the better sentiment
of American craftsmanship
When a man like Mr.. Gardner could
rise above the petty chickering's of today.
and. forgetting the animosities of the
past, remember only the valor of his
countrymen. and express such senti-
ments as he had. Mr.. De Almond said
he hailed II as the dawning of a brighter
and a better day
"Mr. Chairman" said Mr.. De Armond
ri think the time has already arrived
when in the North and South there is a
common sentiment of pride In the glory
and manhood of the American soldier of
the war of the sixties; and even If we
do not fully realize it, our children WILL
when some of the leaders of the South
and West, as the brightest ornaments of
our time.
Tribute to Robert E. Lee.
believe that in all the Christian era
there has not arisen leader of men with
he hat al ,fo 0f
nobler and more magnificent specimen
of the best that manhood can do in its
proudest and most glorious and success
full moments. than Gen. Robert E. Lee
(applause). / am perfectly willing to
stand by the bill and advocate and sup
port it. There can be no greater charity
to the Federal soldier, there can be moth
ing better for the soldier of the North or
South than to furnish him home when
there is no home elsewhere. Far better
than to dispense the pensions with a law
ish hand or deal them out sparingly it
Is to furnish these old soldiers with the
surroundings of the household where the
blasts of winter have no terror for them
and where they may prepare for the final
grand march across the river
Mr.. Snodgrass of Tennessee took the
view that care Of Union soldiers by the
government was in return sfor services
tShoch eN ttC eONCiiifSf oAt SeNtt ehct
II the homes could be opened legally and
constitutionally to needy ex-confederates,
they could be opened to any other needy
American citizen.
Could Not Accept Charity.
Mr.. Lamb of Virginia contended that
the Union and Confederate veterans could
not live in harmony together because the
former would be in the soldiers homes as
a matter of right while the latter would
be there as a matter of charity. He
read kilograms received from ex-Confed-
crates In Richmond protesting against
the Rixey proposition.
Mr.. Hooker OF Mississippi the one-arm-
ed Confederate veteran, in a brief but
vigorous speech argued that the Con-
fsderate had not attempted to destroy
the foundations of the Federal govern
ment but TO preserve and defend the
principles underlying the declaration of
Independence
The speaker announced the appoint
ment OF Messrs. Dick. Republican, Ohio;
Gillett. Republican. Massachusetts,, and
Sulzer, Democrat, New FORK as visitors
to the military academy. and Messrs.
Dayton, Republican. West Virginia; Con-
nor, Republican, Iowa, and Kehoe, DEM
ocrat. Kentucky. as visitors TO the naval
academy
AT 4:o5 p. m. the House adjourned.