The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-12-28
IN Inspiring EPISODE
Maj. -Gen. Fitzhugh Lee a. the New
England Society's Dinner
at ST. Louis.
WARM TRIBUTE TO THE ARMY AND NAVY
Gen. John w. Noble Greeted the For
ner Confederate Cavalry Leader,
The Guest of Hohor.ns "a neprescn-
tative of the Highest Type of
American Manhood.

American Manhood.
ST. Louis, Dec. 23.--The sixteenth
annual dinner of the New England
society of st. Louis. which was given,
Friday night, in the banquet hall of
the Mercantile club, resolved itself
into veritable love feast after the
last course of the elaborate bill of
fare had been disposed Of, and toasts
were declared in order by President
W. b. Homer.
The climax of good-fellowship was
reached when Gen. John w. Noble
arose, with tears in his eyes and his
voice choked with emotion, and, fac
ing Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, the guest of
honor, said:
II love America.
81 love the American spirit.
81 love the man vino has the cour-
age to stand up for the right as he
sees it, the man who will fight for his
principles.
Il know you believed the way you
fought, Gen. Lee, and ! honor you as
representative of the highest type
Of American manhood!"
While the impassioneu tribute from
tie New Esgland-bred, Ohio-raised
veteran of the union army was being
paid to the Virginia descendant of
the cavaliers, who fought for the con-
federacy, the large audience sat mo-
tionless and listened with bated
breath. When the speaker had re-
sumed his seat there arose cheer
| that might have been heard for blocks
in all directions. 1t was, perhaps. the
most dramtic incident ever witnessed
at social function in ST. Louis.
Gen. Mobiles remarks were, in part,
in answer to the speech of Gen. Lee.
The ex-confederate, the consul to Gu
ba, the commander of the department
Of the Missouri, had shown himself
in a new light, that of finished ora
tor. His audience was taken comp
pletely by surprise. having expected
mere formal and soldierly reply 10
the toast, The Army and Navy
Gen. Lees Speech.
Gen. Lee spoke extemporaneously,
lie said, in part:
81 am glad that it was possible for me
20 come here to meet the New England
society. and to renew my acquaintance
| with the good old city of st. Louis. | was
never before at banquet conducted just
on the plan as this one. In my state the
| men always do their feasting and word
painting inrestrained by the presence of
lS.aies. now realize that we do not know
how to do things properly, and when go
back | shall insist on a reformI | never
fully understood before what was needed
to make an occasion of this kind per-
feet success.
toast The Army and Navy My expert
ence has taught me that, whenever OPP
portunity presents. the army and navy of
the United States speak for themselves.
Need remind you of the armies of Wash
ineton and Nathaniel Green, that gave US
this country? Need mention the army OF
Generals Scott and Taylor that fought its
way through the burning sands OF MeXi,
co TO undying fame? Need recall any o.
the glorious achievements of the arms OF
ouT country, when they are so indelibly
stamped on your minds and in your
hearts as chapters in the history OF our
great nation?
There have been some references here
tonight TO former differences of opinion
With reference to these differences, 1t Is
my people, the people of Old Virginia, the
state that gave to the country Washing
ton, the soldier whose sword carved ou
the union the state that gave Jefferson
TO frame the Declaration of Independ
once; the state that gave John Marshall
the greatest jurist and first supreme juugt
of his nation: the state that gave Patrick
Henry. whose fiery eloquen1e first mad'
the throne of England tremble
We Virginians were brought up t
think that the states were sovereign; ant
lofl txFif n in1l nNya on a n
ment looking toward REIMBURSEMENT o
any of the sovereign rights of the indi
v,Gual.
I'VE believed we were right in resistin,
the Entertainments of federal power, AM
when the bugle rang out over the hills an
through the valleys Of our land, we cam
out and formed in battalions and regi
ments and armies. and stood for fou
years for our principles.
Tribute TO American Soldiers.
you. gentlemen, were reared to thin
the other way. You were just as homes
and Just as earnest IN your conviction
thought right; and, II my memory is cor
rect. you won.
\ our forefathers had neglected to set
tie. or were afraid to tackle, the ques1o
that brought on the civil war-that G
states rights. The question was settle
by the war We stand by that decision /
the sodth We have no desire but to max
our fair southern commonwealth shir
ing Jewels in the diadem of broIherhoo
E that crowns and will forever crown tn
1 reunited states.
Armies nave accomplished great del
i IN the worlds development; and there
vet much to be accomplished. The vale
: nt the American soldier has been write
In bright letters on the scroll of fame.
V comparisons are hard to make. but
believe that the historian of the futul
:. will declare that no better armies nav
ever trod the face of the earth than nav
o been raised. equipped and shed the
blood in the United States.
AT Waterloo, when Napoleon stake
his all i'm one grand clash of arms, he r
. lied on his famous Old Guard. There WI
not as gallant a body of men in ali ri
:, rope as that Old Guard, but they failed
IL they had ATTEMPTED the impossible.
9 AT the battle of Fredericksburg Il
. charge of the federal troops was as ga
=. liant and 1aring an attack as was ev
made by man. hut they were cut to piece
% mown down like hay and driven back
~ confusion. They had attempted the In
possible.
ION the third day OF the battle OF &c
tysburg. when nine little brigades OF co
% fedcrates attacked the intrenchcd fcder
army history repeated itself. Pickett
is chHrge ut Gettysburg has never been su
Ia passed for bravery; but he, too. attemI
~ ell the impossible
"Our war with Srain has taught us tn
our sons. on both sides. can, on the snol
/ roI int a q