The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-06
NAME OF LEE CHEERED
REPVBLICASs APPLAUD 4 sENTI-
uENT or JOHN 5. WISE
Speaking Before Republican Club When
He Mentions the Name of the
Confederate Chieftaiu.

NEW YORK, April 5.-The unusual
spectacle OF BIO stalwart Republicans
rising in their seats and wildly cheering
the name Of General Robert T.. Lee was
an incident at the dinner OF the west
Side Republican Club, held at the Hotel
Endlcott last night, which will not soon
be forgotten by those who were present.
Dir. John S. Wise, one Of the speakers
created a sensation by the courage and
eloquence displayed by him in defining
his position and the reasons that impelled
him to be in the Republican party. John
l.. \. Hunt, ex-presldent Of the board of
education, presided. st his right hand
was seated the venerable General Stewart
l.. Woodford. and on his left sat John s.
Wise, OF Virginia With references TO
the past ringing in his ears, Mr.. wise
arose. and not only made brilliant
speech. but i'm less than five minutes had
this Republican audience wildly cheering
for his old commander, General Robert
". Lee.
Mr. Wise at the outset mildly deprrca-ad
the tendency Of Republicans to live in
the glOrles OF the past rather than facing
the issues Of the present, and setting their
minds upon the glorious promise which
the future held ont to the Republican
party. He said that until the matter
was settled by the great struggle between
the opposing armies in the late war. the
question of whether a citizens primary
allegiance was due 70 the Federal Gov
ernment or his State was an open one.
Even so learned a man ard so great an
apostle of the Federal system as Alex
ander Hamilton was unable to answer
this mOmentOus question
II was never definitely settled 10 whom
that allegiance was due until ii was de-
cided by the God Of battles.
Mr. Wise paid a high tribute to the in
tegrty and lofty principles Of General
Lee. under whom he served, and declared
that no man ever went into a struggle
with more honest convictions Of what he
thought to be his duty. The speaker said
he was at the time a cadet in the Nir-
ginia Military Institute. the West Point
OF the Confederacy. and WIS called with
a class Of three hundred young boys 10
take his place in the field. He went and
fought for his State to which he honestly
believed his allegiance was due. When
the war ended he accepted the issues and
influenced by the words of General Lee
he became a member Of the party whose
principles had triumphed. Mr.. Wise re-
peated General Lees words, in which he
told his former comrades-in-arms that
the first duty OF an American citizen was
the allegiance he owed 10 the old flag
and the Federal Government
At this moment those present broke out
into wild cheering That speech. Mr.
Wise said, made him a reconstructed citi-
zen and a Republican Continuing, Mr.
Wise made an appeal to the Republican
party to avoid sectionalism. and not 10
attempt limiting the lines 10 territorial
boundaries. The sectionalsm OF the South
drove him into the Republican party. in
which he proposed 10 remain during his
life. and he had hve sons who were fol-
lowing in his footsteps. He advised Re-
publicans 10 look forward and not back
ward