The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-22
AReminiscence And Suggestion.

Editor of the Dispatch l4ts3, y
sir,-Aprl 8, 1866. saw a large portion
OF our beautiful city givet, $over8to flames
tho power Of wlloch would have been fur
ther felt had 1t not been for the efforts
or tho Federal officers In command who
rendered all needed assistance to our en-
ricd flremen. such nssistpnce including
the impressment Of the negroes to work
ut the hand-engines (tllen largely our
tre-nghting itrplemenppts) and Tho blow
| ing UP of the Traders Rank. which stood
on East Main gtrlngonally opposite Locust
Alley stopping tho progress OF the fire at
that point. 8Ife
Slvitl the foil Of Richmond. tho capital
OF the Confederacy, the war was virtual
| Is ended: many Of us recall the bitter
DAYS OF the reconstruction period when
almost dlaboical conduct characterized
many OF the oppressors Of the South.
said oppressors being mostly composed Of
those who like many Of our present = Pro
, fesslonnl Confederates' had been bomb
proof during tho war. l,ss
THE surrender Of General Lee marked
his retremet to private life, honored.
not only by our own people, but by the
true people Of tho North. OF whom.
thank G od. are lnnumerable thousands;
and those Of Us who we're privileged to
know him. recall him proudly, as the
y
one who under no circumsta nces-save
such as would warrant him In extending
humane and human aid-have tntruded
where he knew his company was not de-
sired: hence we appreciate and applaud
tho stand taken byM Governor Montague
concerning the proposed statue to Gene
raj Lee in Statuary Hall at washington.
Why should we seek to place General
1ee-dend--in such q position rs General
Lee--llving would have scorned to oc-
cupy?
Now with that spirit OF liberality, gene
rosity and high-mindednes which has
ever characterized the Vtrglnlan, let us
tender a site In our Capitol Square at
Richmond, Virginia, for the statue OF
John Brown which 1t Is proposed by
some Of these shrioeors III peace but slum-
berers in war, to erect here; with the pro-
viso however, that we be allowed to add
the Inscription to be placed thereon by
Browns admirers, this little excerpt from
song. popular at the time. entitled THE
Happy Land OF Chnaan"-thus: f
But along came Governor Wise, gtt
with his specs upon his eyes,
And he terked him to
THE Happy Land Of Canaan"
Then after such statue to John Brown
shall have been erected. let US hank 1t
with statues TO Governor wise and l.le'l-
tenant Robert Il, Lee both Of whom
played such important roles IN that
memorable event. traught with such dis
aster to Brown. personally. Many patri-
otto Virginians will contribute to the OK
tent OF their ability to such group and
that group will form nm object lesson OF
worth. pa We
,'Let us have peace!
Let the r1orthern "bo1nb-proots" and and
.bounty- jumpers" and our professional
Confedcrates" fight out to their satls-
faction their windy war: but the men
who bore the heat and toll OF the battle
and their descendants will quietly blde
their ttme-and It will surely come-when
reunited people will join heartily an ~!
honestly in honorng the men on noth
sides, who for principles sake and valo-
rous honor. fought to finish the great
ost struggle which has character'zeu ms
tory. =