The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-20
LEES BIRTHDAY IN ATLANTA.
RINGING SPEECH BY CONGRESSMAN
p j. OTEE.

CeIehratfOn by the Virginia society
of That City-The Pension Bureau.
said Mai. otey. Is n Monument 10
the old Confederate soldier
Lees Force Proven TO BE Inferior
10 That of McCIellan-Exercises at
other Places.
Atlanta. Jan. 19-The Virginia Society
In Atlanta celebrated the birthday OF
Confederacy's chieftain by attractive ex-
ercises at the Grand Opera House to-
night. ssiklaE
Seats were set apart for the various To-
cal patriotic organizations. and the boxes
were occupied by Gov Gambler, state Off
cials. justices of the Supreme Court the
local clergy and the beauty and chivalry
of Atlanta Hon. Hamilton Douglass,
president Of the Virginia Society, pre-
sided.
Congressman Peter J. Otey of the Old
Dominion was the orator of the occasion.
He chose for his theme The Ola Rebel
From 1861 to IS, by an Old Rebel" His
address was received with much enthus-
iasm.
Maj Otey said the old Confederate sol
der must preserve the glorious memo
ries of his Southland, being ever mind
full that hypocrisy is the tribute vice
pays to virtue" and that he must stand
guard at the citadel of truth
Il am proud to mingle" said the Nir-
ginian with those whose heroism, cour-
age and achievement, aye, whose unerr-
ing craftsmanship, need no more ehduf-
ing monument no more lasting memorial
10 of Irfr nd mr. "A
in the capital city of the nation, known
as the pension building, where 1000 clerks
toll daily keeping bright in memory the
fame and renown of r. f. Lee, writing
across the face of every one of the million
pension certificates. though in invisible
characters. the burning words Remember
the old rebel private of OIL "
Maj. Otey sketched rapidly the forma-
ton of the Confederate army, laying
stress upon the difficulties under which
Gen. Lee labored and enumeradng his
triumphs on the field of battle. He then
dealt largely in statistics with reference
10 the killed and wounded in the South
ern armies as compared with those of the
North and, coming TO the memorable sew
en- days battles around Richmond, said:
1T is not my purpose to dwarf or dis
parage the well-earned fame and military
renoWn of Gen. George 3. Mcclellan, the
ablest and most brilliant soldier whose lot
the Army of Northern Virginia. To do so
would dim the luster of his great antago-
mist Himself a great master of the art
of war, Mcclellan lived TO see his sue
cessors, Pope, Burnside, Hooker, Meade
and Grant, each in turn recoiling from the
heavy blows Of a greater master than any
of them, and his own plan finally adopted
10 compel the fall of the Confederate cap
ital. In the battles around Richmond Lee
had $4,000 men and Mcclellan 10000 yet
the defeat of their grand army followed,
aud its commander placed Lees forces at
100000 men. And yet il is now known Of
ncially that Gen. Lee had only 5000 men
engaged and Mcclellan 100000"
feature following the Grafton was the
presentation Of a flag by Gov Gambler TO
the Virginia Society on behalf of Mrs.
Norwood Mitchell of Atlanta, daughter of
the orator of the evening, and its accept
ance by the president of the society.
The Virginia Society of Atlanta conclud-
ca notable celebration Of the birthday
Of Robert +. Lee by an elaborate banquet
at the Kimbal} House tonight. President
Hamilton Douglas was POSTMASTER and
sentiments We're responded to by Con-
gresham Otey of Virginia, Gov Gambler,
Maj. Livingston Minis, Col Albert Cox
Frank II. Richardson and Lucian l..
knight.