The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-02-06
! GRE a q s SOLDIER.
CHARLES Francis Adams On Ger.
n Robert Edward Lee. l
Bays HIS HUMANITY IN ARMS
And His scrupulous Regard for the
Most Advanced rules or civil
izcd warfare Entitlc Him
to Enduring Fam G.

10 lSn(lurlnE Hu1n e. iti
The Hon Chas. Frances Adams, OF
Boston, Mass, in his address at the
Coz federate banquet in New York re-
Gently, on the life and character OF
Gen. Kobt. Edward Lee, said:
Mr.. Commander, Officers and Mem
berS Of the [ confederate Veteran Camp
bfFNew Y ork: A New Englander, by
birth, descent, tradition, name and en-
vironment closely associated with
Massachusetts, was a Union soldier
from 1861 to 1865, and the one boast
be that L also bore arms and cOnfrOnt-
ed the Confederacy, and helped to dcs-
troy it Formerly of the Army Of the
Potomac, through long years was in
tent on the overthrow Of the Army of
Northern Virginia. $50 far, more
over us that great past is concerned,
having nothing to regret, to excuse or
to extenuate, l ara yet here on this
day to respond to Il sentiment in honor
us-a Virginian and Confederate.
Nor, all this being thus and SO, II
s asked why am here, would the an
swer be far to seek. Primarily, us Il
Massachusetts man, l confess to Il feel
ing of special kindliness towards two
other states Of the Union-two Of the
original thirteen, above all the other
present forty and tivc-South Carolina
and Virginia. Those, with Nlassa-
italy, pivotal states. Communities
peculiarly prolific of men the. cx-
ponents Of idcas-flom them have
gone forth those migrating columns
which met in fierce grapplc fol the
maintenance and the aScendancy OF
that in which they believed.
$50, if l may be permitted first to
say a word personal to myself; when.
the other day-scarccly Il month ago
was called on to speak in Charleston
to an audience CT South CarolinianS,
l responded at once; and did SO be-
cause my heart went out to them as
those Of my countrymcn to whom / had
once been most bitterly opposed
cOuntrymen still, though had come
to know that, as fOcmcn, they were
men Of whom it behooyed us most to
take heed. AS opponents OF their
ideas-right apa wrong -Massachu-
setts and South Carolina were peers.
They had not followed; they had led.
:.'And so--as | told them-fuliy con
scious that l was walking on ashes
still hot, in the very Greater OF what
had within all our memories been the
most terrific volcano OF Il century
walking there amid sulphurous mem
cries. chose for my theme the con-
stitutiOnai ethics Of secession. In Il
wholly dispassionate spirit, address
ed myself to it us purely academic
question; but l wanted to KNOW
whether the time had indeed come
when the old friendly feeling was re-
stored, and the foes OF Il former genera
tiOn could again talk together calmly
and as brethren over issues once burn,
ing. The reception of what ! said
justified my faith III those to whomc !
said it. Never have met With more
cordial welcOmc--nevcr did | receive Il
more fraternal response.
"NeXt came the Confederate vet
Grams OF New York: they called, and
am here. AT this banquet given in
honor of the memory of Robert +. Lee
am asked to respond to Il sentiment
l do so; for, rs a Massachusetts man, |
see in him exemplilicd those lofty elc'
ments Of personal character, which
stypffying Virginia, made Washington
q: possible Tie possession Of s:lcl,
qualities bY an opponent p'l e cannotgpu,
* ia fuo i.ri u.y-,aen, .,5- were worthyo him
- and Of those, whom he typficd. 1trEas
a great company, that old, original
thirteen; and in the front rank OF tEat
i company Virginia, Massachusetts and
South Carolina stood conspicuous. So
/ recognize a peculiar fellowship be-
tween them-thc fellowship Of those
who have both contcndcd shoulder To
shoulder, and fought face TO face.
This, however, is Of the past. Its
issues are settled never to be raised
again. But, no matter how we may
ri tc nd
q day that is dcad-its victories and
defeats--one thing is clear beyond dis
putc-victor and vanqlishcd- -COnfcd-
crate and Unionist-thc descendants
of those who between 1861 and 1860
wore the gray and Of those who wore
the blue-entcr rs essential and as
equal factors into the national life
which now is, and in future is TO be.
Not more so Puritan and Cavalier i'm
and StratfOrd'S descendants. With us,
as with them, the individual eXpOncnts
Of either side became in time common
property, and equally the glory OF all.
$50 l am here this cyening-as
have said, a Massachusetts man as
well as a member OF the Loyal Legion
to do honor to the memory Of him who
was chief among those once set in
array against us. OF him, what shall
l say? Essentially soldier, as a
soldier Robert e. Lee WIS Il many-sidcd
man. l might speak Of him us a
stratcgist: but, OF this aspect OF the
man, enough has perhaps been said.
might refer to the respect, the conf
dencc and love with which he inspired
those under his command. might
dilate on his restraint in victory: his
resource and patient endurance in tho
face Of adverse fortune; the serene
dignity with which he, in the end
triumphcd over defeat. But, passing
over all these wcll-worn themes.
shall coniinc myself TO that one attri
butte OF his which, recognized in /;
soldier by an opponent, ] cannot but
regard as his surcSt AMI lofticst ,itl(
TO enduring fame. refer to hi.
humanity in arms, and his ScrupulOiis
regard for the most advanced rules O
civilized warfare.
''On this point, two views am wei
aware have been taken from the be
ginning, and still are advanced. Oh
the one side il iScontcndcd That war
fare should be strictly confined To com
batantS, and It's horrors and dcvasia
tions brought within the narrowcS
limits-thaL private property should bt
respected, and devastation AMI viOl
cncc limited 10 that necessary to over
come armed opposition at The vita
points Of conflict. This by some. But
on the other hand, il is insisted tina
such Il method OF procedure is mere
cruelty in disguise that warat bcS
is hell, and that true humanity lie
in cXaggcrating that hell TO such al