The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-27
LINCOLN AND LEE
ALIKE H0NORED.
Great Figures of North and South
EulOgized by Men Who Fought in
the Armies Opposing Them.

New York, JAl. 27.-The 12h annual
banquet OF tho Confsuerat- Veteran
Camp of New York held last night at the
Waldorf Astoria, was made memorable
by eulogies OF the great figures OF the
South and North during the Civil war.
delivered by men who themselves had
fought in the armies opposing them.
Charles Francis Adams OF Massachu-
setts, a soldier OF the Union. responded to
the toast OF Robert f.. Lee" and Colonel
lienry Wattcrson "A soldier OF the Con-
federscy. paid tribute to the character
OF Abraham Lincoln. The third toast. TO
Jefferson Davis. was responded to by
William Hepburn Russell formerly OF
Missouri. and now commissioner of ac-
counts Of New York city.
The open toast TO "The President and
the Army and Navy Of the United States"
"A prince among the rulers OF the
world, and but the servant OF a free
people"-was drunk standing. This was
followed by toast 10 General Lee, ma
ture made him and then broke the mold
MR.. wATTERsoN's SPEECH
In responding TO the toast TO Abraham
Lincoln, He was not for an age but for
all time" Colonel Henry Watterson said:
Jefferson Davis, than whom there never
lived, In this or I'm any land. a nobler
gentleman and a knlghtlcr soldier-Jeffer-
son Davis, who. whatever may be
thought OF his opinions and actions, said
always what he meant and meant always
what he said-Jefferson Davis declared
that next after the surrender at Appo-
mattox. the murder of Abraham Lincoln
made the darkest day I'm the calendar for
the south and the people OF the south.
Why? Because Mr.. Davis had come TO
q knowledge Of the magnanimity OF Mr..
Lincolns heart and the generosity OF his
Intentions.
IL Lincoln had lived there would have
been no era OF reconstruction. with its re-
pressive agencies and oppressive legisla-
tion. If Lincoln had lived there would
have been wanting to the eXtremism of
the time the cue OF his taking off 10 spur
the steeds OF vengeance. For Lincoln en-
tertained, with respect TO the rehabilita-
tion of the Union. the single wish that
the southern states-to use his homely
phraseology-"should come back home
and behave themselves and, IL he had
lived he would have made this wish effec-
tual as he made everything effectual TO
which he seriously addressed himself
His was the genius OF common sense.
OF perfect intellectual aplomb, he sprang
from Southern pedigree and was born
in Kentucky. He knew all about the
Sorth. It's institutions, its traditions and
ats peculiarities. He was an old-time
Whig of the school OF Henry Clay with
Abolitionist. IF slavery be not wrong,
he said. nothing is wrong but he also
said. aud reiterated i time and again, Il
people. They are just what we would
be In their situation. II slavery. did not
ncS fTore exist a9s them ea ey wSqd sSsa mo, on mn
Us. We would not instantly give IL up.
STOOD OFF THE DANGER.
From FIRST to last throughout the angry
DEBATES preceding the war amid all the
passions OF the war Itself not one vim
dictive, proscriptive word fell from his
tongue, or pen, whilst during its progress
there was scarcely day when he did
not project his great personality between
some Southern man or woman and dan
ger.
Yet the South does not know. except
as kind Of hearsay. that this big
Drained. bix -souled man was a friend a
friend at court. when friends We're most
in need. having the will and the power
10 rescue II from the wolves OF brutality
and rapine whom the history Of all wars
tells us the lust ~ victory tho very smell
Of battle. lures from their hiding to prey
upon the helpless. the dying and the dead.
But pcrusing the aftcr-story OF those
dread days. Mr. Davis knew this and died
doing fun Justice TO the character OF
Abraham Lincoln. =
Considerable discussion has been heard
1atterly touching what did and what did
not happen upon the occasion OF famous
historic episode known as the Hampton
Roads conference That Mr.. lincoln met
ard conferred with the official represeu-
tauves OF the Confederate government.
led by the vice pre- sldent OF the Confed-
crate states when ut must have been
known to him that the Confcderacy was
nearing the end OF it's resources. Is suf-
fcient proof OF the breadth both OF his
humanity and his patriotism
Yet he went TO Fortress Monroe pre-
pared not only 10 make whatever cOnces-
sions toward the restoration OF union and
peace he had the lawful authority 10
make hut TO offer somo concessions
which could In tho nature of the case
go no further at that time than his per-
ers were limited But he was In him
felf the embodiment OF great moral
power
The story that ne offered payment
'or the slaves--so often affirmed and de-
iied--is in either case but a quibble with
he actual facts. lie could not have
made such an offcr except tentatively
lacking the means 10 4rry n out lie
was not given the opportunity 10 make a.
because the Confederate commits. toner's
we're under instructions 20 treat solely on
the basis OF the recognition Of the indie
pcndcnce of the Confederacy.
CAME To NAUGHT
The conference came to naught II
ended where II began. But there is
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