The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-20
DIXIE'S IMMORTAL LEE.
AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE BY JAMES
LINDsLEY GORDON.

The Grafton Delivered at the Banquet
The Day Appropriately Observed at
Brunswick, Richmond and Other
Places.
ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 10. - Gen. Lees
birthday being legal holiday in this state
the occasion was appropriately observed to-
day, especially under the auspices of the
Virginia Society of this city. All the state
offices were closed. The only formal exer-
cises were those at the Young Mems Chris
tian Association auditorium, and banquet
this evening, where James Lindsey Gordon
of Charlottesville delivered an eloquent
tribute to the memory OF Gen. Lee. Gov.
Northen. Mayor Goodwin and other promi-
nent men made speeches..
WASHINGTON AND LEE.
Mr.. Gordon. after speaking Of the pleas.
ure of meeting on Georgia soil with the
brethren who had met with each other to
cherish the memory of the Old Dominion and
her great son, said: And yet 1t may not
be amiss amid the gathering of Virginia's
children to renew a thought which has been
expressed at other times and by other lips
far more eloquent than mine, aud il is to
this effect: That of the long list OF glorious
names which America has furnished the
history Of the world IL was our mothers
fortune to furnish two who
led that mighty band, two
characters that tower over all their great
compatriots, the Castor and Pollux OF our
nations history, great twin brethren who
will ride down the century leading the van
guard of our army of immortal chiefs of
deathless hosts of patriots and eoldiers
philosophers and statesmen who put life to
heroic uses and battled for noble ends. Two
of this continents incompatible and un-
rIvaled are George Washington and Robert
E. Lee.
THE PAST AND PRESENT.
In conclusion, Mr.. Gordon said Gen
tlemen of the Virginia Society-So Something
more have to say to you Of the sweet old
land" where you were born, but time
presses and must forbeer, yet will I tax
your patience for a moment, 20 declare that
though in many things, the old order
changes giving place to the new, though
many memory-haunted home that you re-
call is dismantled aud decayed, though the
old simple uuostentatious modes of
life are growing rarer, though
the roofs of thronged cities rise
where you knew solitude, the rush of steam
breaks many a silence once broken only by
the song of the mocking bird, though such
changes are on her landscape | think the
depths OF heart of Virginia are unchanged.
She still delights TO herald the old voices of
honor's call, she still holds her ancient
glories in reverent remembrance But she
IS glad for the prosperity of the
present, proud of the freedom and
power of the republic, and In her great
and generous hekrt Is a Broadening, patriotic
Americanism, that holds che kfndliest
affection Of every citizen beneath the fiag.
There. sir, the grave OF the great captain
| is guarded as most sacred spot within her
borders. and his immortal memory is cher
ished as her most precious legacy from
time. Ihough be Is past, be is not dead to
her. His was not the death that kills-a
true heart can never die.
'Go into Britain, said Alan Delisle In his
day, and dare say that Arthur Is dead, and
the very children will stone you. For them
he is a king. He Is only sleeping in the
enchanted palace Of fate; he is yet the
Arthur OF Britain, and again shall come to
lead his countrymen, II Merlin spake true.
A snow-white chief on a snow-white horse.
We know our southern Arthur shall not
come again. We believe his like shall never
come again to us until the end of time, but
In our memories forever he shall
be snow-white chief. And his
kingdom is the inner sanctuary OF our
hearts; the walls of the enchanted palace.
where his body rests, are the blue mountains
OF his native land, its dome the skies he
loved. But the royal and released spirit has
past eternally from the shadows OF defeat
into the palace OF the victor, where we be-
iieve the knowledge that his people have
struggled out Of the darkness into this
radiant day can touch his high soul into
greater gladness, even amid the supernat-
urnl splendor of that city, where the Lord
God and the Lamb are the lights thereof -
The banquet was an elegant affair.