The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-24
ANDREWS ON LEE.
The Confederate General EuIogixed
I'm Chicago.


The Confederate General EuIogized
I'm Chicago.
President r. Benjamin Andrews Of
Brown University, delivered in the Gem
trail Music hall in Chicago and grafton on
Gen. Robert e. Lee, which has caused
stir in Grand Army of the Republic cir
cles. It is claimed that Mr.. Andrews
eulogized Gen. Lee at the expense of Gen.
Grant and other federal commanders. Fol-
lowing are extracts from the grafton, as
reported for the New York Herald:
He Qlee) had the faith of the crusader;
his letters would make a guide to holi-
ness. He was always a soldier-never inn
pure In thought or act, never profane or
obscene. He did not touch the cup, as
did Grant, Hooker or Phil Sheridan and
when he lost a fight it was never said OF
him that the defeat was due to a habit
which makes mems heads into muddles.
He was never outgeneralled by Grant In
all the campaign from the Rappahannock
to James river, never trapped and never
caught mapping. I fail to find in the books
any such masterful generalship as this
hero showed. holding that slim gray line,
half-starved, with no prospect of additions.
and fighting when his army was too hun-
cry to stand and the rifles were only USE
full as clubs. His courage was sublime
He was as great as Gustavus Adolphus,
or Napoleon. or wellington, or Won
Moltke. His cause was not the lost cause
so much as is supposed All that was good
In his cause has been grated into our
laws and our constitution.
THE doctrine of states rights, as now
interpreted by the supreme court. Is i'm
exact accordance with his claims on the
point. Gen. Lee lost at Gettysburg be-
hod
new motor of tremendous strength, whose
power no one knew-Gen. Hancock He
also lost because Meade's men were fight
ing on union soil--almost within hearing
distance OF the prayers of their wives and
children for victory. They were at their
hearthstones Men are tigers when wives
and families are the inspiration of war.
1T was not until the federal army stood
almost at the very doors of Richmond that
Gen. Lee was sent TO the front Hereto
fore he had been but half kindly regarded.
but when he took command of that i'll dis
cipllned, Ill armed and ragged army he
was hailed savior. He outwitted Nc
Clelan. whipped two armies much larger
than his own, stopped the advance on
Richmond, drove back the union army.
saved Richmond and was famous in a day
The world had never seen such generals
ship, and the world was astounded at it,
Lee successfully defeated, outgenerai-
ed and routed the best generals thar
Washington could send against him. and
1t was not until the immortal Grant, with
the finest army Of veterans that the world
has ever seen, took the field against him
that Lees marvellous accomplishments re-
ceived a check. Even against Grant, Lee
fought as probably no other general ever
fought. and against odds that would have
, driven Napoleon to despair.
1T was a great death struggle when
Grant faced Lee, and Lee then knew that
his was a hopeless struggle. He kept tina
J thin, gray line of ragged, hungry men,
growing thinner and hungrier each day.
together. His courage. his wonderful
presence and strong personality kept that
/ little band of tattered and emaciated men
in battle array, and fought to the last
ditch. surrendered only when he realized
sthat IL would be murder to keep up the
struggle.
Gen. Lees cause is not lost. All thai
| is good of it remains, all that was bad
has been wiped out Our country IS better
and grander to-day because the relations
of several states to the union have been
intelligently defined, and perhaps we owe
at least that much to Gen. Robert Il. Lee
and the cause he fought for.~