The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-10-10
THE NATIONAL. BATTLEFlELDS
PAkK.

The National Battlefelds Park
Association will make another effort
at the coming session OF Congress to
get passed the bill establishing the
fredericksburg and Adjacent Bat
tlefelds Park. This bill has been be-
fore the last two Congresses, passed
the Senate without a dissenting voice
both times, was approved and It's
passage recommended by the Com
mittee on Military Affairs OF the
House OF both Congresses and would
have triumphantly passed the House
and become law il Speaker Hender-
son had permitted it to have been cali
edup. This patriotic measures pop
ular all over the country with North
ern and Southern veterans, whose
organizations have endorsed it time
and again. 1t had President Me
Kinley's endorsement and President
Roosevelt has stated that hefavOred
it. The members OF Congress, both
Senator'S and Representatives,, are
favorable to the movement, but the
bill needs friend in the Speaker :
chair. and it is hoped aud believed
that it will find that friend in Mr..
Cannon, who will likely be hOnOred
with that position, because he has
favored it from the first and Is one
OF the members of the Association
from Illinois.
But We did not propose to write an
article on the subject at this time, but
merely introduce the following able
article from the Charlottesville Daily
Progress. On this important subject
itsays:
Ii is TO be hoped that the veterans OF
the Civil War, OF both armies, Federal a.
well as Confederate. who are members
OF congress will, st the approaching ses
sion, press the passage OF the bill for the
erection Of the Fredericksburg Battle
fields Park.
Within an area of not more than ten miles
square, not larger than the District OF
Columbia. were fought four OF the great
est battles OF the war. four of the great
est battles of the world namely, Freder
icksburg, Charlottesville. Wilderness
and Spotsylvania Court House. Upon
this area more blood was shed, and
more men were killed, than upon any
like area from the creation OF man to
the present day. In these great battles
the skill OF American comm snders, and
the heroism OF American soldiers, were
displayed TO as conspicuous degree a.
these traits were ever exhibited upOnthe
most memorable fields OF human history
As the fredericksburg Star remarks
THE lustre OF American soldiership will
last while the world lasts, and the stars
on the flag shine brighter because Of the
battles fought near fredericksburg
The bill for the establishment OF this
Park has two or three times passed the
Senate; but, mainly through the opposi
ton OF Speaker Henderson, it's friends
have not been able 10 carry ii through
the House Ii is believed that with the
united and cordial support OF the Virginia
delegation it can be pushed through con
gress at the next session. IL ought to
become law, and the Park ought to be
without further delay constructed. for,
as our Fredericksburg contemporary
Justly says, "the scheme is no movement
inaugursted by land owners to dispose
Of property to the government at sfancy
price, nor was il iDaugurated in the in
terest OF any person or persons, but
rather let us call it spontaneous desire /
on the part OF the old soldiers to mark |
the fields where their comrades fought |
and died; desire TO draw closer the ties
Of love and fellowship between North and /
South by the establishment of this great I
monument, sacred to the vslor and brav /
cry OF both sections.