The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-31
JUDGE JONES SPEAKS
AT TOMB OF GRANT
Continued from Page one)


For the first time since the struggle be-
gan they became upholders of the policy
o. resistance. If the paroles did not bind
the conqueror, neither could they bind
the conquered. There came an instinc-
tive purpose, notwithstanding the terrible
sacrifices and depletion of the struggle,
to war lin the hedges, and swamps, until
death should better them" rather than
tamely submit to the inf1iction of the
vengeance which the President demanded.
The thoughts of thousands of despairing
men turned to the traditions of Marion
and Sumter. 1t was Lee who deprecated
resistance after hope OF success was
hopeless, and insisted, under the condi-
tons which surrounded him, that 1t was
higher and nobler to live for country than
follow defeat. The terms at Appomattox
alone enabled Lee great as was his moral
grandeur and power, to enforce these
counsels upon his ANXIOUS and desperate
of peace was about to be violated. and
but spark was needed to involve the
country with a territory large enough for
en- pires with millions of inhabitants. In
all the miseries of partizan war. These
miseries would not fall alone upon those
against whom vengeance was directed,
but would entail untold burdens ana loss
of life on the conquerors. and shape Tor
evil the progress of the country for ages
to come. The hope of a Reunited coun-
try lay no longer in the hands of the
President. but was within the keeping OF
Grant or Lee. One was to ask his peo-
pie to forbear, and other to ask his peo-
pie to bear. 1t was for his people. nay
for the whole country, and not for him
self, that Lee spoke when he appealed
to the victorious soldier to know whether
his plighted faith was to be trampled In
the dust. and those who had trusted him
to be delivered naked to reign of VEN
geance and bloodshed.
Grant Dared the Danger
r.. % 10 han
his own rights are invaded but 1t takes
one of finest fibre to stake all for a late
enemy. when his own fortunes are not
imperiled. General Grant was the idol
of his people. No faction or party de-
MED him homage. He had seen his great
lieutenant leading'a victorious army fresh
from a march through the heart OF the
~Confederacy to Washington: mistrusted,
denounced and threatened with dismissal
because he did not sympathize with the
policy of vengeance. II in the future
history should recoil aghast at cruelty
to helpless foe. his own fame was at
ample. Why should he clash with the
passions of the hour and the will OF the
President? If he interviewed, could he
breast the storm? Would passion turn
and rend him also? If these thoughts
came to him thew came only to be put
aside. He did not hesitate an instant
He rendered his sword and commission
to the President in indignant protest
against his policy. and in burning words. |
which struck the mark like cannon shot. |
condemned the violation OF his piighted
faith to a single paroled Confederate:
He has his way, and thus the policy Of
vengeance was-abandoned ere 1t was
fairly begun. I know not II 1t be true. |
as sometimes said that he proclaimed |
the intention to preserve the inviolabllity
of his parole IL it took the combined |
power of the Union and Confederate ar
mics to do it. We do know that he held |
back the storm. and that he was the only |
man who had the power to do 1t. There
is no sublimer picture in history than |
the attitude of the victorious leader at |
this iuncture Generations vet unborn. |
whose fathers followed the illustrious |
American who declared that human vir- |
tue should equal human calamity" viii
rise up to bless the memory of his vic- |
torious antagonist who spared the coun-
try the miseries of a return to the sword
and made possible the peace and happi- /
ness and grandeur and glory of today.
From the hour he turned from Apo |
mattox to the last day at Mount Nc |
Gregor. the desire uppermost in the
soothe and better the condition OF his
defeated countrymen. At the very mo- |
ment of his victory he said: The Con- |
federates are now our prisoners; ana we
fall.' He realized more than any man
that his victory would be tried In the |
crucible of after years and tested by the |
relations between the victor and van |
ouished and their children in coming |
time. He lost no opportunity to speak In |
terms of admiration of the Confederate |
soldier whose manhood drew forth such |
Herculean deeds of valor." and with |
whom he hoped for perpetual peace and |
harmony" After the power OF speech |
was gong. he wrote: Il feel that we are |
on the eve OF a new era. and there Is to |
be great harmony between the Federals |
and Confederate. / can not stay to be |
living witness OF the correctness of this I
prophecy but feel it within me that it
Of the sight Of men. His prayer for peace |
and unity has been granted. Stronger |
and nobler for the strife rises the nation |
whose moral grandeur "throhgs in and /
becomes. partaker" Of the councils Of the
In that touching idyl, 1.-The Passing OF |
Arthur" a master hand paints moving
plcture of the agohy of the dying hours
gaming wound, whose last thoughts were
bov To confovrd his foes. From his /
parched and dying lips came the stern
defiance King l am. whatsoer they
cry. and one last act of kinghnod shall
thew see, yet ere l pass" How much
nohIer and grander the last hours at Mt.
McGregor, The pale and wan sufferer
there thought only Of love Tor those VINO
realize when his dying hand wrote. after
his power of speech was gone. inthe close
of mis- Memoirs, of the great harmony
between FederAls and Confederates.
that II was indeed the last act OF KING
hoodp God rest his soul.
His remarks were applauded frequently
and for some minutes after he
had taken his seat
At the close of the speaking the Post
passed through the tomb. each member
laying a rose on General Grants sarcoph-
sgus. Fully fifteen thousand people then
entered the tomb and looked into the
crypt. Mrs. Grant. the widow. President
Roosevelt and many posts and patriotic