The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-04
THE INSCRIPTION is THE SIMPLE
TRUTH.

THE INSCRIPTION Is HE SINAI LIZ
TRUTH.
IT is to be regretted that some Vlr-
ginia soldiers object to the inscription
on the monument that North Carolina
will dedicate at Appomattox on Mon
day next. The inscription states the
truth of history, but does not commit
yirginians to accept it if they wish to
dispute it. They have for years put
on record a claim for Pickett that be-
longed to Pettigrew and most of the
world has accepted their claim. North
Carolina never put forth any claim
until it became necessary to do SO in
order to give the honor due to its
brave Confederate soldiers who,
though slow to accept the fact that
the South's best interests lay in with
drawing from the Union, were early
enough to give the first life for the
Cause at Bethel. and were so resolute
and determined as to fire the last vol
ley at AppomattoX. Our children
have been taught these truths; they
have been chiselled in marble on the
monument in Capitol Square in Raj
eigh; they have been blazoned in great
Reunions of Confederates in the great
cities of the South.
This claim has been established by
a commission of the first Confederate
soldiers in the State, and when the
General Assembly appropriated the
money to erect a suitable monument
to be erected on the battle ground, a
committee of five we'll known soldiers
who were at Appomattox-H. A. Lon
don, chairman; E. j. Holt, w. t.
Jenkins, C. B. Watson and A. d. Nc
Gill-was appointed to write the in
scription and place the monument in
position. With filial hearts these five
brave men entered upon the labor of
love and the work has been finished in
a way that meets the approval of the
great bulk of the soldiers. There are
good men who have expressed a re-
greet that the inscription contained the
claims of first" ''furthest,'' and
slast," deeming it not necessary, or
not in the best taste. They are en-
titled to their opinion and it is re-
spected, but the committee is COM
posed of men whose judgment is as
good as that of any men in North
Carolina. They acted after full de-
liberation, We take it, and from the
Governor of the State up to the many
of the brave men at Appomattox, the
inscription has been widely approved.
1t states the truth. Is it not better to
do full justice to the brave men who
gave their lives to honor their State
than to be over-courteous in order to
please those over-sensitive Virginians
who live at Appomattox? Nobody has
asked them to accept any views they
cannot sincerely hold. By the same
token North Carolina cannot change
the record which it's brave men made
in the Confederate army, and we think
the Virginians are demanding too
much when they wish to have a voice
in writing the inscription upon the
North Carolina monument that is to
mark the place where Grimes and Cox
and Roberts and the true and tried
men who made their reputation gain
ed distinction for North Carolina, to
which it modestly and resolutely
makes claim. This State would take
no honor from the great Common
wealth.. of Virginia, which in every
period of the country's history has
furnished great leaders, but it de-
mands the right to write the true
record of its own sons in its histories
and upon its monuments.
What is written is written: There
is glory enough for ALL" and every
State has a claim of sacrifice and
service that adds to it's honor and to
it's reputation. Let each asserts its
claim, backed by proof, without re-
fiecting upon the devotion or courage
of the men from any other State.
That is North Cardinals position. 1t
could do no less in justice to its brave
men and the truth of history.