The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-20
IN HONOR OF GENERAL LIB
Confederate Veterans Eulogize the
Leader of the Lost Cause.
Anniversary of the Birthday of the
Great Commander Made the Occn-
sion OF N General Reunion of the
Soldiers of the Stars and Bars
An Evening of Southern Oratory.

| Southern sentiment, in memory of Gen.
| Robert E. Lee, was eloquently expressed
at the Confederate Veterans Hall last
night by a number of representative South
ern men. The occasion was the celebration
| of the anniversary of the birth of the great
| Confederate commander, and the veterans
of the local organization had made great
preparations for it. Hon. Hilary a. Her
bert, Gen. NJ. c. Butler Judge John
Goode. of Norfolk. Va. Rev. r. II. Nc
/ Kim, D. D., chaplain of the local camp of
Confederate Veterans and formerly SOL
der in the Confederate Army; Col. Thomas
| Smith. of Virginia; Col. Edward a. Boyd.
of North Carolina; Representative w. ].
| Talbert, and Justice Seth Shepard. of the
District Court of Appeals. all paid their
| tribute to the memory of the honored Con-
| fedcrate dead.
| Capt. William A. Gordon called the
| meeting to order shortly after o'clock
and stated that in accordance with the
| wishes OF the committee in charge Of
the celebration the assemblage would be
| presided over by DR.. G. Wythe Cook. In
( assuming charge of the celebration, DR..
| Cook made brief speech, in which he
paid handsome tribute to the association
and the Confederate leaders. He then
called upon Major Robert W. Hunter to
read General Lees farewell message to
his troops after tie surrender at APP
pomattox. Major Hunter was formerly an
| assistant adiutant general on the staff of
General Lee. and he had the original copy
of the address, which he exhibited to the
members present.
Judge GOode, the principal orator of the
evening was then introduced. Judge
Goode devoted himself to a tribute TO the
manly qualities of the Confederate leader
as he had observed them both in the army
and before the war when he was a member
of the State convention which appointed
Lee the commander OF the Virginia troops.
Judge Gocde said that Lee realized the
consequences that would follow the with
drawal of the Southern States from the
Union when no one else in the South did.
and he knew what the result would be, but
he did not hesitate to embark in the
that was sure TO follow, as he believed that
he was fighting for the right. The South
did not go to war on account OF the slavery
question. he said. Lee told Frank p. Blair
when the latter offered him the command
of the Union forces by order of President
Lincoln, that he would freely give every
slave in the South for the preservation Of
the Union if he were able to do so, but he
II challenge the world to produce the
equal of the man We are gathered here to-
night to honor. Robert T.. Lee was a man
who was animated solely with the spirit
of independence that won for US our cOun-
try, and was above selfish or sordid mo-
tiyes."
Hon. Hilary A. Herbert spoke of the
modesty of Lee. He said that the Southern
patriot was above rewards. No million
I'D fHal 4 IL
a reward or even compensation FOR his
greatness. Mr.. Herbert devoted a consid-
cradle portion of his address to a recita
ton of the comparative strength Of the
two armies during the war. citing atatis-
tics to support his statements. He closed
his address by stating that had Lee lived
to today he would have been proud TO
counsel the young men and to have volun
teered himself for the defence of the Union
in the battles which have been fought with
foreign country.
Gen. VI. c. Butler spoke entirely from a
reminiscent standpoint, giving various in
oidents that had occurred during the time
he commanded the cavalry division of
Lees army during the absence of Gen.
Wade Hampton.
Rev DR.. McKim said that he was glad
that he was present and was able to give
his mite toward the large portion that had
already been paid in the tribute to the
memory of the honored dead OF the Con-
federacy.
The other speeches were in a similar
strain, all OF them tributes to the person
ality and patriotism Of General Lee.
During the speechmaking light refresh
ments were served to the members of the
association and their guests. and after
the ceremonies were over a buffet luncheon
was spread out for the benefit of those
present.