The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-19
ROOTS LETTER TO THE GOVERN
0RG

A Republican Grover Cleveland--a
man who can deliver clear, clean cut
speeches and dictate we'll worded and
comprehensive documents; who speaks
plain and positive English, and withal
speaks kindly--is the Hon. Elihu Root,
Secretary of War. SECRETARY Roots
latest public document is his letter 10
the Governors of the several Southern
States soliciting their cooperation
with the War Department in the work
of compiling for publication the ros-
tiers of the Union and Confederate
armies in the war between the states.
The full text of this admirable letter
appeared in the columns of the Morn
ing News of Tuesday last
The letter breathes the spirit of
America of the twentieth century; the
recognition of the fact that the great
contest between the states was waged
between American armies, each
battling for the principles which
it thought right-principles which,
statesmen having failed to agree
upon in Congress had to be
submitted to the arbitrament of
war for final decision. In request
ing the cooperation of the executives
of the states Secretary Root says:
There is a very general desire on the
part of the surviving parties of the
great struggle in which our country
was engaged from 1861 to 1865, and on
the part of the descendants of those
who have passed away, for a publica-
ton that shall be accessible to the gem
eral public and show the names of eth
er officers or enlisted men who bore
arms for the Confederacy in the great
war. In my opinion this desire is one
that should be gratified, and one that
can be gratified in great measure, at
least. by compiling and publishing, as
continuation of the publication
known as the Official Records of the
Union and Confederate Armies COM
plete list or roster of the officers and
men who served in those armies during
the Civil War
There will be little or no difficulty in
making the Union part of the roster
complete, but there will be great diff
Guilty with regard to the Confederate
records in the possession of this de-
partment. 1t is of the first impor-
lance. therefore, that no effort shall
be spared to effect the temporary loan
10 the war department, Tor the pur-
pose of copying, of any and all authen-
tic Confederate records that can be
found anywhere. Many of the records
are in the possession of the various
states, and it is hoped will be made
readily accessible, but there are others
that are widely scattered among his
sorical and memorial associations and
private citizens. The problem of how
to find and procure the loan of these
scattered records is a difficult one. but
1t is one that must be solved in order
that the Confederate soldier shall re-
ceive the full credit that is due him in
the roster that is to be compiled.
The well-expressed sentiments of
Secretary Root, in kindly and appre-
ciative words, recognizing the right OF
the soldiers of the Confederacy to a
place in the archives of the republic.
are appreciated by those who lost all
in the struggle except honor. and who,
against great odds. since the conclu-
sion OF the war, have striven TO main
tain the sacred traditions OF the great
republic. Secretary Roots letter is an
oasis In the desert of Northern preju-
dices and historic Misrepresentation.