Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-06-06

~@~A " w oGlCEdi Lee Is uueA-
ampled in history. His treatment to
General Lee was more like the treat
ment of a guest than that of an ene-
my. The ex-soldiers and the people
ought to profit by the splendid and
magnanimous example set by the
victorious general. The names of
Lee and Grant are inseparable in his
tory. One cannot be thought or
spoken of without the memory of the
other comes to mind. Lee was full of
the incest strategy in his movements
before an army many times his SUI
purior. He was the greatest strategist
of the age. While Grant was direct
and positive in his movements, he
never turned to the right nor the left
went right on until he accomplished
his purpose. He did not count the
cost. They are both Americans and
their names r inseparabie as good
me- and great generals, and both viii
be highly honored as long as time lasts
by all true Americans, whether they
be in this or other climes.
Some have thought and feared that
the history of the splendid achieve
ments of the Southern soldiers will be
lost-that his prowess on the battle
field will be moderated. There is no
danger, The Federal soldiers his
torian cannot afford to underrate 1T.
The glory and fame of the grand
achievements of the Federal soldier
rests upon the glory and fame of the
achievements of the Southern soldier;
for what honor would it be to tine Fed
eral soldier if he had conquered a foe
greatly his inferior. The bravery and
gallantry Of the Confederate soldier is
fully acknowledged by all historians
who have so far written. They will
never die.
The ex-soldiers of the North and
South should often meet together and
exchange scraps of history remem-
bered by each-get better acquainted.
By it they will become broader and
better men.
The Grand Army men in this State
have done much toward charity.
They have come up from all over this
great State splendidly and literally to
the help of the Confederate Home at
Higginsville with their means. L
here thank them through you from
the bottom of my heart for this noble
act of charity. The objects of their
order are most charitable and patriot
ic in their character.
General John B. Gordon, who was
with Lee at Appomattox and who is
one of the most knightly soldiers that
ever led a charge or drew a sword,
says of the Grand Army men: ~
joice in the privilege of bearing to
you ~fraternal greetings from the great
body of brave men who confronted
you in battle. In has been my fortune
recently to mingle with those men in
every section. Be assured, my Con-
federate comrades, that the over
whelminig majority of the Grand
Army of the Republic, composed of
soldiers who were brave in battle, and
are generous in peace, courageous,
knightly and true, bear toward you
neither lingering bitterness nor senti-
ment of distrust. Whatever of I'M
timely passions may here and there
exist from any aus will be of short
duration and comparatively harmless,
In the presence of your continued
conservatism, and before the higher
and nobler sentiments of the country,
it will vanish like vapors before the
morning SUM-" The defeat and loss
of the armies of the Confederacy anG
its final overthrow thirty years ago
I must confess grieved me sorely.
was then sad, cast down; but now
when l look back and see what has
happened since, the rapid progress
this great country united has made
/ am forced here to-day to speaf
what my heart feels On this occasion
that | am glad the Union is preserved
that the old flag, the same flag tina
fioated at the crossing of the Della
ware at Valley Forge, at Yorktown
and upon more than an hundred othel
victorious battle fields, still proudly
floats over s'The land of the free and
the home of the brave"
After Mr.. KEENAN, had concluded
General d. Fl. Mcintyre spoke in
very feeling manner and said he ap'
proved heartily of the idea of ex-Con
federates and ex-Federal soldiers act
ing together on Memorial Day. Tha
he, speaking for himself, intended tt
observe this day as long as he live'
and when he died he wanted them t.
strew flowers on his grave. That OIL
this day General Wade Hampton, o
South Carolina, aided by many of tn
Grand Army of the Republic were en-
gagged in dedicating a monument t.
the memory of six thousand Con
federate soldiers who died during tn,
war at Camp Douglass. That the cree
ton of this monument on Northerl
soil was a striking omen of good feel
ing and friendship between the tw
sections. General Mcintyre spoke clio
quently at great length. His speec
was well received by those present.