The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-02-04
4 GREAT SOLDIER,
SAYS HIS HUMANITY IN ARMs
TO Enduring Fame.

to Enduring Fame.
The Hon ChaS. Frances ADAMS, %
Boston. Mass. il. his address at the
Coz feaerate banquet il New ofN fe.
Gently. on the Life and character o'
Gen. hobt. Edward Lee, said:
s'ANIr. Commander. ciliceISano Netll-
bers OF the Confederate eieran camp
of New York: \ New Engiandef, oF
birth. descent, tradition, name ana en-
yironment closely associated VITA
Massachusetts,. | was a Union soldier
from 1851 to 1865. and the one boast |
make in life was. and is, and will ever
be that also bore arms and confront
ed the Confederacy. and helped TO des-
troy it Formerly OF the Army OF the
Potomac, through long years was IN
tent on the overthrow Of the Army OF
Northern Virginia. so far, more
over as that great past is concerned,
having nothing to regret, TO excuse or
to eXtenuate, l an YET mere on thls
day to respond to sentiment IN honor
Of the military leader once opposed 70
us-a Virginian and a Confederate.
Nor, ali this being thus and so, IL
asked why am here. would the an
swer be far to seek. Primarily. as a
Massachusetts, man, IconIess to& leel-
ing of special kindliness towards TWO
other states of the Union-tWo OF the
original thirteen, above al the o,nef
present forty and tivc-SoGth Cafoillla
and Virginia.. Those, with NasSa-
chusetts. I hold to have been, essen
tially, pivotal states. Communities
peculiarly prolific of men the eX-
ponents of ideas-flom them nave
gone forth those migrating columns
which met in fierce grapple, fol the
maintenance and the ascendancy o.
That in which they believed
$50, if I may be permitted nrSI 70
say word personal to myself; "hen'
the other day-scarcely month ago
I was called on to speak in Charleston
to an audience Cf South ,Caro!lnlanS.
/ responded at once: and dld so De-
cause my heart went out to them as
those of nv countrymen to whom l had
once been most bitterly opposed
countrymen still, though had come
to know that, as foemen, they were
men of whom it behooved us most to
take heed. AS eNponentS OF tnelr
ideas-right and wrong-NaSsacnu-
setts and South Carolina were peers.
They had not followed: they had leo.
and so-as told them-fully con-
scious that ! was walking on asNes
still hot, in the very Greater OF WA
had within all our memories Oeen lue
most terrific volcano OF a century
walking there amid sulphurous mem
~osies. T cnose for my theme the con
stifucieaaT ethics Of secession. I'D
wholly dispassionate spirit, acdress-
ed myself to it as a purely acadenlic
ouestion: but I wanted to know
whether the time had indeed come
when the old friendly feeling was re-
stored, and the foes of a former genera
tion coud again tax together calmly
and as brethren over issues once ,ouril,
ing. The reception Of what saiG
justified my faith in those to whome
said it. Never have l met with more
cordial welcome-never did recelVea a
more fraternal response.
sNext came the Confederate vet,
erans OF New York: they called, ana
am here. At this banquet gwen III
honor of the memory OF Robert r. Lee
am asked to respond to i sentiment
in his honor, and, without reservation,
I do so: for, as a Massachusetts, man;
see in him exemplified those lofty eie-
mentS of personal character, Whlcn,
tvpifying Virginia, made Washington
-aassible. The possession OF such
Qualities by an opponent cannot oul
cause a thrill of satisfaction from the
sense that we also. as foe no less tnan
as country-men. were worthy OF nm.
and of those whom he typihed. 1t was
r great company, that old, Original
trSrteen: and in the front rank OF tnaS
comnany Virginia, MASSACHUSETTS ana
South Carolina stood conspicuous. 80
] recognize peculiar fellowship be
tween them--the fellowship OF those
who have both contended shoulder 10
shoulder. and fought face to face.
sThis, however, is OF the past. us
issues are settled never to be ralsed
again. But, no matter now we may
discuss the rights and the wrongs OF
a day that is dead-its victories ana
defeats-one thing is clear beyond dis
pute-yictor and wang liShed--Confed-
crate and UnioniSt-the descendants
of those who between 1861 ana 1850,
wore the gray and of those who wore
the blue-enter as essential ana as
equal factors into the national lie
which now is, and in future IS to be.
Not more so Puritan and Cavalier m
England-the offspring OF Cromwell
and Stranord;s descendants. with US,
as with them, the individual eNpoaents
of either side became in time common
property, and equally the glory OF all.
$50 I am here this erenlng-aS L
have said, a Massachusetts, man as
well as a. member of the Loyal Legion
to do honor to the memory OF nm VINO
was chief among those once SET IN
array against Us. OF him; what S!lall
I say? Essentially a so!ldler, as
soldier Robert E. Lee was many-st tdea
man. I might speak OF nm as q
strategist; but, Of this aspect OF the
man, enough has perhaps been Sala. l
might refer to the respect. the conn,
dence and love with which he inspired
those under his command. | mlght
dilate on his restraint in victory: his
resource and patient endurance in the
face of adverse fortune: the serene
dignity with which he, in the end,
triumphed over defeat. But. passing
over all these well-worn themes,
shall confne myself to that one attrI-
butte of his which, recognized III a {!
soldier by an opponent, l cannot but
regard as his surest AMI loftiest title
to enduring fame. l refer TO his
humanity in arms, and his scrupulous
regard for the most advanced rules OF
civilized warfare:
ION this point, TWO views l am well
aware have been taken from the be-
ginning, and still are advanced. On
The one side it scontended that war
fare should be strictly confined com-
batants, and its horrors and derasta-
tions brought within the narrowest
limits-that private property should be
respected, and devastation and vlol-
ence limited to that necessary to over,
come armed opposition at the yllai
points of conflict. This by some. but.
IN tho other hand IL is insisted tnat