The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-20
Richmond, We
A Confederate's Reply. !

Editor Of The Times-Dispatchs
Sir.-In a recent editorial In your daily,
referring to the reunion OF the Conleder-
ate veterans at New Orleans, you say:
mere are no regrets. except the re-
grst that their armies did not triumph"
preston that the Confederate survivors
were glad. In the light OF latter day de-
triumph. But The Times Dispatch rec recent mt
" smashed that delusion. In recent
article, on the subject we, declared our
South If 1t had succeeded in setting up
separate and independent republic, as
contemplated In secession, and from
and from the expressions of Individual
Confederates. we are sure that our opin-
ion.is the opinion OF them all.
aS a old ode en tay New eess
leans to-day are proud Of their war re-
cord" but are you not mistaken when
far better for the South II it had succeed
pendent, republic, as CONTEMPLATED in Sc
son }hat Il we tRa
did not succeed Is not open to the charge
that Confederates rejoice at their defeat.
s aG parent can rejoice At the death q s. =
ones: nor can we doubt the inscrutable
t Haa9 We % as Sss fm tie ersat
er Of sorrow. frequently causes us to
conclude that what we most earnestly
feated. aoidler in the contsaerate
Ct o
after Appomat tox. There was no reJoio.
Ing among those who wore the gray
when the Lee t.
now MSg saf ii the he s raeeton Tat
90 no airS SeHg a means st snss
when say there are thousands Of living
Confederates who are satisfied that 1t Is
better, that the country was not d.
The The doctrine Of secession. had It tri-
umphed in assl.,65. would have, It Is true.
Its legitimate conclusion. could have, be-
fore now. made a number Of Confedera-
cies between the Potomac and the RIO
Grande.
Trough Ms Ts al that fI war harvest vas
death whose nta ggeo wps tbs
S Iewels SO Of self-respect God never, made
Drawer people than those who followed No.
remember that General Lee, at the close
of the war. breathed a spirit OF concilia-
ton in his %tS tS # ou Norah
ioiced at defeat, but Christian spirited
under trial he was the first IT. to dssS
de dete Pr Gaad !" to let the DEAD past
It was ny privilege to see I Lee in the he
hour Of victory at Chance!lorsyi!!e ana
Both in the time OF triumph and defeat
he discovered those Qualities that made
bin hS %as ss
in evidence than when, the conflict ended.
he counselled the, Things that made for
peace may be sbs nlsfa ken = o1 Geaer aG
Lee Lee We're living to-day he would be able
10 discern the wisdom OF the God OF na-
lions In preventing tho severance OF the
flicts that ragged among the cities OF
desiring bsup pre- nas
that should be united under one govern
ment, have not succeeded, Whether we
look to the ancient cities OF Greece or TO
Of success In government. we are con.
vinced that division means weakness and
union means strength know that 1t IS
enoe p Of the Southern States after. the
close OF the war, No Confederate soldier
rejoices in that experience, but let us
remember that war Is war" and that
Con federate commander, It takes time to
recover recover from its. pernicious Influence. ]
have had occasion. IN q former letter
devotion az Ito 81 It's editor 70 the Confederate
cause No one could be farther : than .t,a
the tSd LOYALTY mao q al II T she
wore the g 81 loved 90 I So veil i y Wv
Il gives me the greatest pleasure is Si, INTO to
the cause they believed TO be Just while
war was fragrant. but with modest defer
enoe permit me with huEdrsds' ysa tho ops
Is difference between rejoicing at the
death OF the Confederacy and accepting
the Indications pointed verify believe We
~ IN new and more perfect union" upon
whose brow is fixed In respendant radt-
anca the very crown jewel Of the world.
$50 ~ GARTER M. LOuTHAN.
Charlottesville. Va. June 10th.
". l.. Lester and wife. Of Washing