Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-12
Collector Fitz. Lees Speech at the Chi
cagO Banquet.

Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen The
country seems to be safe to night. L
| find myself surrounded on every side
by the flag of the United States. | had
similar experience about thirty years
ago Qaughter) at the little village of
Appomattox, and remember sleeping
| that night, after had received my pa
role, between two major generals Of
| the United States army. Continued
laughter) I had not felt so safe for
many of the preceding days-both of
my TANKS were we'll protected. Con
tinued laughter and applause.) His
tory in measure repeats itself. To-
night the Mayor of what he terms the
greatest city in the world-it is evident
he has never been in Richmond, Va /,
| daughter and applause)-sits here
quietly, serenely smoking his cigar. be
tween two rebellious rebel generals of
| cavalry-Wade Hampton and Fitz
hugh Lee, and he is not afraid.-(Great
| laughter and applause.
can respond to the toast with great
/ pleasure, because l feel that when the
right hand of fellowship is held out by
one section it is the duty of the other
section to grasp it and to hold it, and
to say that 1--WE are both Americans :;
we are all citizens of this great country
and it is our duty to promote its glory,
its grandeur, and it's growth" pro
longed applause.)
Each side had a cause to fight for,
and if you want to have true fellow
ship in the country we must give you
credit for fighting in behalf of a great
cause, CALAMITY and nobly and he
roically, and you must give us credit
for fighting for the faith that was in us.
III
try as an undivided republic, stretch
laid upon the icy lakes of the North to
where the great father of waters rolls
its tribute to the Gulf, and from the
chasing waves of the Atlantic ON the
east to where the great pillows of the
Pacific break into golden sands upon
CALIFORNIA; shores. 1t was great re-
public it was a great cause.
And SO, my friends, our duty now is
to believe that by united action we
can, indeed, make this great coun-
try. Englishmen, whose past battles
are recorded upon the pages of history
as evidence of their valor and endur-
ance, are proud of their country, whose
morning drumbeat follows the sun,
and whose martial strains are heard in
unbroken and continuous lines all over
the world. And so we in America can
be proud of our country; we, too, upon
either side, as I say, can build it up
and make it a great and undivided re-
public, but we can't do it by abusing
each other. Wecan't do it by firing at
each other in time of peace; we can't
do it by criticising each others action
on memorial occasions. l know we are
always glad to see your great demon
STATIONS in honor Of the courage of
your soldiers, and you should think
that when we come together for pur
pose of honoring the valor of our sol
diers. for the purpose of paying respect
to the memory of our dead, there is
nothing inconsistent in that with all
the duties which we owe to a great
and united country. (Applause.)
And now we can feryently pray with
you that, as the veil of futurity is
raised, you will see a great American
Union going onward and upward; you
will see visible great republic repre-
senting power and commanding more
respect than ever the armies of Caesar
and Augustus won for the imperial
eagle; and you can unite with US in
praying that State shall not lift up its
hand against State any more; neither
shall they know war again, but that
the reign of peace, unity and fraternity
shall be as lasting as the home of the
stars, as everlasting as the foundation
of the hills. loud applause. )-ChicagO
Tribune.