Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-01-23


brought Lee iEss ou- midst Virginia
made this Union-it vas her Wash-
ington that carved il out With his
sword; it wss her Madison and Jcfyer-
soo that sid what IL vss that he bad
carved ons il was her Marshail that
expcunded the Law.
The standard Of commercial greed
viii neyer make 9 people
SO when Gen. Lee took this army
he knew Of the moral character of is
people. He looked back and saw
from jamestown 70 Yorktown, and be
says, l will link my efforts to my
State, my wife. and my children. The
Union may be great but this Com
mon wealth which gave me sill 1 hare,
Is the one idol of my heart and l in
tend 90 take my sword out and when
put is back | never intend 10 take
1t out again for war.
l wish 10 observe thai Gen. Lee sp-
precisted as no other man Of his gen.
erstion and day appreciated, what /
have just suggested to this audience
that II was morals and morals alone
that woald save people. aud therefore
We find Lee the most moral man of
his day.
This man had in his mske-up what
csn never be measured by wealth.
The speaker said that Gen. Lee
never used bis influence to advance
his sous, and contrasted it with this
day of nepotism when men are look
ing ont for their OWE blood.
His idea of the public service Was,
not what man could get out Of il,
but what service the man could do
when he was put In the place. His
one consecrsted thought was, What
can | do for these people whom love
and honor, what sacrifice can | make?
We never find him idling and never
sleeping when wAkefulness was re-
quired.
The failure at Gettysburg, Gen.
] ee said, 1t was my fault. The speak
er said no other general-Alexsnder
or Bonsparte-conld have said that
and lived. Their armies would have
torn them to pieces as soon as il was
done.
The speaker here said, in speaking
of Gen Lee, be knew none would
misunderstsnd him undertaking any
of the great leaders Of the war, and
then paid a fitting tribute to the
memory of Jackson, Stuart, Hill,
Mosby and others.
Gen. Scott WAS right when be in
sisted that Mr. Lincoln shanld tender
him the command of the srmy.
You surrendered to conditions over
which You had no control. Gen. Lee
could very we'll have fought g while
longer. but there be displayed his
wisdom as be always did, in not doing
something that would not count in
the end.
In speaking of the surrender, he
said, No other Ggure ever surrender
ed with such g triumph of victory as
wreathed the brow of Gen. Lee on
that day. He knew that he was not
defeated.
His farewell address in pure cut
English and fine expression has not
been surpassed by any address of 8
general to his troops.
We are here today to cherish pure
aud tender memories, and as We look
back over the past We have nothing
to repent for.
At yorktown was born a republic,
and at Appomartox a republic was
sunk.
Virginians should be proud of her
great and eminent men and should
feel proud of the glory and prestige
of this old State.
He said Gen. Lee was offered lu-
crative positions, but be refused ell
and said, / will do that which will
best serve the people of Virginia. /
will put my hand at Washington s.
Lee College and will show the men of
the South what it is to bear the mis-
fortunes of war;thst human calamity
should be met by human courage. j
will do that which will FIRST serve the
people of Virginia, and, secondly, /
will set them the best example.
He said it would be we'll for MS to
recur to those periods for an example
Of pure government.
He contrasted the past with the
present and said, We stand by the ar
bitrsment of the sword, but we will
never forget the old fashioned things
that Gen. Lee set forth to make Us .
great people.
No pomp or circumstance could
make you Lee, bat We could follow
the high standard he had set and this
standard makes men of character.