Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-16
STORM OVER LEES STATUE
WUmEn'E Relief CORPS DenOunoss Effort TO
Place it in National Capitol
WRslNIANs UNITED ON THE PROJECT
Republicans and Democrats Alike Pay
Tribute TO His Character in
debates in the State
legislature.
tFrom a Stan Correspondent

lFrum a Stan Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-(speciRI 1.-THE
episode OF the placing OF the statue Of
Pere Marquette in S~tatuary hall al the
capitol is recalled by the proposition now
pending il the Virginia legislature to place
a statue Of Robert E. Lee in that noble
room. The state of Wisconsin honured the
gentle cxplorer-priest by placing the Mar
uuette statue in the hall. This aroused the
hostility Of the fanatics and many Of them
talked Of tumbling the statue down the
capitol steps. Others actually did sue
coed in d~efacing the base decorations, but
there vas nothing whatever done in con
gress on the subject. The state Of Wis
cunEin had acted entirely within it's rights.
and had hOnored the memory OF one of
the most remarkable characters in the
history Of the old northwest. Further than
this the attacks on the statue were not
approved by the people.
While the state Of Virginia is deciding
on the Lee statue q similar assault is
being made. This time II starts with the
Women's Relief corps Of this city, which
In bitterly denunciRtory resolutions de-
mEnds that no traitors statue" be erected
in the capitol. The Department Of the
Potomac, Grand Army Of the Republic, was
asked to adopt the same resolutions. and
~ phnH bNAnN VI LuS huulcEls bul ETNkLlN
toned down. II is claimed that there is
TO be & general crusade against the placing
Of General Lees statue in the hall, bur it
is doubtful il it can be prevented without
direct legislation, which II is commonly be-
neved would be unwise as II would reopen
the sectional feeling which divided the
north and south from 60 10 '98. Virginia,
its representative claims, has the legal
right TO erect the statue, and there are
many sentimental reasons for that course
On the part Of the Old Dominion. aside
from the chivRlrie lenders cRptaincy OF
the confederRcy. A statue OF Washington
is already in ~stRtuRry hall. Lee married
the daughter Of George Washington Parke
Custis, grandson OF Mrs. Washington, and
the adopted son of the great captain Of
the revolution. He was himself Of the
great revolutionary family Of Lees, and
son OF General Lighthouse Harry Lee, fol-
lower. friend and eulogist Of Washington.
II was Harry Lee who framed that famous
sentence descriptive OF the oountry'E
father: FIRST in war, first in peace and
FIRST in the hearts OF his countrymen."
Near His old Friend
The Virginia legislature proceeded this
week to the passage OF the bill. Several
speeches Of particular elouuenoe were
made on the occasion Of the debate in the
old Dominion senate. Senator WickhRm
said; Let us prepare 10 place the statue
Of General Lee in the capitol Rs is our
right and is now our duty. Close by II viii
stand New Jerseys tribute TO General
Philip Kearney. one Of the most noble hg-
ures in the hall. The ties Of a personal
friendship in life and in death associate
the memories OF the two. When Kearney
fell upon the soil OF Virginia in the second
conflict al MRnRBsaE within the lines Of
Lee, General Lee returned the body Of his
heroic adversary to the widow Of his friend,
sent her the horse which bore her husband
unto his death, and his sword. which was
8 glorious one, as a heritage for his des-
pendants. VIII Ksarneyis statue or Kear-
ney's spirit blush? Let US not only prepare
10 place the statue in the capitol, but let
US place it there"
Senator Harmon, the republican leader in
the senate, said: IF the words and works
Of such great men az Grant, Garfield, Grady
and Mckinley and scores Of other repre-
sentative men. both in the north and in the
south, are TO be taken az indicating the
true sentiments Of cur common country. I
for one do not see why this bill should De
defeated OF postponed because some war
veterans are still engaged, in Imagination.
IN fighting the battles Of 's1-'65. 1t seems
70 me that forty years OF wandering in the
wilderness Of passion and prejudices en-
gsndered by the war iE enough. II few
Ovsr-EsRlous pErtisanE IN both sections Of
the country are determined 10 stay on one
side OF Jordan and keep US on one side Of
the Potomac, ] insist that great host Of
patriots shall no longer be retarded IN their
onward march 10 the land Of promise. where
those who wore the gray, and their SONS,
shall sit down together IN their FATHERS
house and forget that SAD period Of es-
arrangement which separated US in their
Joyous reunion Of hearts and hands 10 make
and keep this great country In the fore
front Of the nations Of the earth. an
ElAd Of the opportunity 20 test the DT0fss-