Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/99

Rh which they teach their children, or let him attend the annual reunions held by the soldiers who fought the Confederate battles. Here are some of their expressions, taken from the report of the committee on history, unanimously adopted by the United Confederate Veteran Association at its annual reunion at Richmond, Va., June 30, 1896:

&quot;Our children and our children s children, trained by us to sentiments of patriotism, will grow up with love and admiration for the institutions of the United States—those munificent institutions to which their fathers have contributed so much.&quot; Referring to the Confederate soldier: &quot;He surrendered as the brave surrender. His surrender meant peace and conciliation.&quot; &quot;He returned to the Union as an equal, he has remained in the Union as a friend. With no humble apologies, no unmanly servility, no petty spite, no sullen treachery, he is a cheerful, frank citizen of the United States, accepting the present, trusting the future, and proud of the past.&quot; * * * &quot; He must love some country, and he has no other country to love.&quot; * * * &quot;He learned to love that flag when he was a boy. He loved it even when he fought it. &quot; * * * Referring to the Confederate his torian the report says: &quot;Then let the Confederate historian be like his model, the Confederate soldier. He must be patriotic, for he is representing the cause of patriots. He must be candid, for a partisan work will not live in history, and will fail to convince the world.&quot; * * * &quot;He must be bold and fearless, but always liberal. He must be eloquent, for he is dealing with a lofty theme the most gigantic internal struggle which history records the grandest contribution which the nineteenth century has made to human greatness—America’s proudest title to martial glory. He is painting for future ages the picture of that eventful epoch, whose memories are the joint heritage of all Americans, and which is destined to occupy in American history the pathetic place