Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-29

OF the meeting. He was greeted with prolonged
applause and cheering. Taking the gavel from
in n few woll-choseu words the orator OF the oe-
casion, Col Archer Anderson.
col. ANDERsoS's GRAFTON.
Col Archer Anderson's GRAFTON. an elaborate
panegyrie. eloquently delivered. was . COM
prehensive analysis and brilliant portrayal of
the character and career OF the famous confed-
crate general IL delineated his social. moral
aud intellectual traits. his military achieve
ments and has life-work. which, in the opinion
OF the orator. amply justified the lavish sdni-
ration o! the man who in the union OF military
greatness with the no5lest public and private
virtue presented that rare combination OF quail
lties which men delight TO honor. Virginia
had produced two such stainless captains, hs
said The fame OF the one-George Washing
ton-had been consecrsted by century of unl-
versal reverence and the growth of colossal
empire, the fame OF the other-of Gen. Lee
no: Yet generation old and won in a cause
which was lost. was already established upon .
pinnacle equal 10 that of Nashlngton's. Nir-
ginia monument 90 George Washington had
iouad ats only fitting completement and COM
panlon IN the monument 90 Lee unveiled to-
day. Following the story of Gen. Lees later
life. when the greater elements OF the confed-
crate chieitalns character appeared, Col An
derson spoke OF his noble person. his grace. his
social charm. his pure life ''of that Unborn dig
nifty which with look could check familiarity
or convey rebuke; of that manly beauty and
commanding presence. fitted alike 60 win child
or maiden and to awaken in the stcrnest soldier
an expectation and assurance OF pre-eminence
and distinction"
HOW LEE REGARDED SLAVERY.
Gen. Lee, the orator claimed. regarded
slavery as an evil which the south had in-
hcrited and must BE left TO mitigate and n
possible, eNtirpaie by wise and gradual
measures, and when Obliged TO make his
choice and take sides IN the irrepresslble con-
tict. no more painful struggle ever tore the
heart of a patriot lnheriting. along with the
mos: ardent love of the Union. n paramount
loyalty 10 has native state when the time came.
IN defiance OF the tomptings of ambition-for
the command o. the United States army Was
offered him-ho determined that duty baae
him side with his beloved Virginia. lie laid
down his commission and solemnly declared
his purpose never TO draw his sword save IN
behalf Of his native state.
Following the vicissitudes OF Lees general
snip IN the late war from the beginning to the
end, when the surrender of the fragments OF
the Army OF Northern Virginia closed the inl-
perishable record OF his military life" the
orator exclaimed: What catastrophel
What moving and pathetic contrast On one
| side complete and dazzling triumph. after a
| long succession of humIlIatlng disasters; ON
! the other absolute ruin and defeat; a crown OF
! thorns for that peerless army, which hitherto
had known only the victor's laurelsl But
THE MAoNANDurY oF THE coSoUERrRs
not less than the foriitude OF the vanquished
shone ont on the solemn scene and softened its
tragic outlines of fate and doom. The mode
| ration and good sense of the northern people,
! breathing the large and generous air of our
western world. quickly responded TO Grants
example, and though the north was afterward
betrayed INTO fanatical and baleful excess on
more than one great subject, all the fiercer
passions of a bloody civil war were rapidly eK-
tingulshed"
AN ELooUESr PERoRArIoN.
LET this monument then" said Col Ander-
son in has peroration, teach 20 generations vet
| unborn these lessons of his life. Let il stand.
not rs record of civil strife. bat per-
| petual protest against whatever is low and
sordid m our private and public objects. Let
II stand as a memorial OF personal honor that
never brOoked n stain of knightly valor with
! out thought Of self; of far-reaching military
( genius unsoiled by ambition: of heroic con-
stancy from which no cloud of misfortune could
ever hide the path ot duty.
Let II stand Tor proof or censure IL our
| people shall ever sink below the standard of
their fathers. Let IL stand for patriotic hope
! ana cheer IL day of national gloom and
| disaster shall ever dawn upon our country. Let
/ II stand as the embodiment of a brave aud yir-
tuous peoples ideal leader. Let it stand a. a
| great public act of thanksgiving and praise for
| that II pleased almighty God to bestow upon
these southern states man so formed TO
fleet his attributes OF power, ma aiesty and good
ness"
ENTHUSIASM.
Every point in Col. AndersonIs address WAS
greeted with warm applause. and several times
/ he was obliged TO suspend his remarks while the
crowd cheered again and again. At the con-
cluslon OF his address a wave OF applause swept
| over the crowd and rippled out again and
| again until hands were tired and throsts were
| hoarse.
THE UNWILLING.
When in a measure silence had been restored,
Gen. Joseph +. Johnston arose from his seat
| behind the orators stand and leaving the plat
form walked toward the monument. On either
side walked "A veteran eX-confederate from the
soldiers home-Joseph Marion White and J. J.
ONelL HIS progress was greeted with con-
tlnuous cheering. Reaching the foot of the
monument he took ia his hand the end of the
long rope which held the great white veil
about the statue. gentle pressure and the
veil parted. and falling ON either side disclosed
| the beautiful outlines of the statue. As they
| came into view shout went up from the as-
somUiage in volume so great that il almost
drowned the boom of the cannon. In a minute
I the whole asso mblage had broken from the
/ ranks and was foclIing about the base of the
statue, cheering aud tossing hats aud canes
/ into the air. The assemblage on the platform
! responded with cheers and waving OF handker-
chiefs and fiags. Ii was long time before the
| crowd quoted down and offered Gov. Nckin-
| ney and the other distinguished people on the
platform nm opportunity to regain their seats
in the carriages which were to bear them back
1 TO the city.
| CONFEDERATE FLAGS IN wAsHINGToN's HANDS
| Some one climbed upon the statue of
George Washington in the state house
grounds this morning and put confederate
| flags in the hands of the figure. Sew
erai protests have been entered against leaving
! the flags there; but the authorities refused to
take them down, and at noon they were still
! there.
"aaTRIcAs GREATEST MAN"
Several other evidences of intense feeling
are visible, but only IN spots The STATE has
Robert +. Lee, Americas greatest man, over
its front office.
GEN. RossER's REMARK.
In a speech made at the reunion Of Pickett
Camp, confederate veterans, last night, Gen.
Rosser said IL Lee had known what the hor-
rOrs OF reconstruction would be he would pot
have surrendered at Appomattox.
NOTES
The weather is bright and pleasant The sky
is cloudless.
Old Nirginians likened the confederate capi-
tai today to that memorable spring time Of
lo6l, when the gray-unformed troops began 20
gather for the long and bloody struggle It
does not need vivid Imagination to see that
the two pictures, if placed side by side, would
bear a close resemblance, for then, as now, the