Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-20

the battle-scarred veterans of the southland.
The principal speakers were Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee and Holmes Conrad. Mr.. John T. Cal
lahan, president of the Confederate Vet
Grams Association of the District, presided
and introduced the various speakers.
Mr.. Conrad made an address replete with
praise and admira ton for the southern
soldier, and with fervid eloquence eulogized
the character of Robert E. Lee. He made
a comparison between Gen. U. S. Grant and
Gen. Lee both as men and as soldiers, and
declared that in either case the great Vir-
ginian was the superior. 1t not his
intention to disparage Gen. Grants serv-
ices to the Union cause, because it was
through superiority in numbers, he said,
that he ma terially preserved it, but his main
purpose was to add a tribute to Gen. Lee,
who had always been and is still the ideal of
the southerner. The cOnquering heroes who
have come upon the military stage in re-
cent years, he asserted, have admitted that
Lee was one of the greatest generals of all
time. He said that Won Moltke thought
his mastery of the war game was well nigh
complete, but the great odds against which
he was compelled to battle would have
overwhelmed the most superb generalship.
Mr.. Conrad then proceeded to eulogiZe in
a most eloquent manner the sterling man
hood and character of Lee. The object of
the anniversary. he said, is to hold up for
imitation one of our greatest characters.
He stated that his friendship and admira-
ton for President Roosevelt would not
prejudice in any manner what he should
say about the character and life of Lee
The President. he said, had the greatest adj
miration for the confederate leader
Cheers for Fitzhugh Lee.
When Mr.. Conrad had finished his speech,
General Fitzhugh Lee was seen entering the
was a tremendous outburst of applause
Calls from all parts of the hall asking the
confederate cavalry leader to speak brought
him to the platform. He said he just hap
pened to be in Washington during the day
and heard from an old friend of the cele
bration, and he had interrupted all other
plans he had made to be present. Despite
the fact that General Lee is advanced in
years he looks younger than in former
years. He still possesses a clear, resonant
voice ard his eloquent sentences are de-
livered in ringing tones.
1T is the duty of pOSterity." General Lee
said, Ito hand down unblemshed the fame
and name of the men who fought in the
struggle of 81 to 90. If l could paint the
most beautiful word picture, embellished
with all the rhetorical periods at my COM
mand, I could scarcely add little to the
fame and name of Robert E. Lee, for that
is secure and perpetual
Gen. Lee then went on to eulogize Gen.
Lee as one of the greatest military geniuses
the world has ever known. With reference
to the surrender at Appomattox, he said
that in this instance not only his military,
but his civic qualities proved him to be one
of the greatest generals in history. He re-
viewed briefly the four years of suffering,
desolation and self-sacriice witnessed in
the south during that stormy period. You
can't build monument too high and en-
during to mark the suffering and patriotism
of the southern soldiers. They fought for
the faith within them and knew they were
not guilty of treason and that nothing in
the Constitution prohibited them from
ceding from the Union "
Spirit of the Privates.
In paying tribute to General Lee he
said that in the south the private soldier
had made the general and that by their
indomitable spirit, though fighting for a
lost cause" had mastered every difficulty
and hardship, and brilliantly preserved their
enthusiasts SIN to the end.
Gen. Lee told of a recent conversation
with President Roosevelt, in which the lat
ter in speaking of his admiration for the
confederate leader, said that no citizen
ever lived and no soldier ever wore a uni
form who possessed greater nobility of
character and at the same time embodied
in his makeup civic and military qualities
like those of Gen. Robert E. Lee" He then
referred to his first enlistment in the con-
federate army and stated that when he saw
his uncle and father resign their commits
sions in the United States army to stand by
their state, on a pTiHclple tHey DelleVeU TO
be right. he did not hesitate for moment
about what he should do
General Lee spoke of the need for preser-
walton of confederate histories accurately
compiled so that posterity may view cor
rectly the contentious in that desperate
struggle between the states. He declared
he would not see one star blemished in our
national emblem but earnestly urged the
compilation of true history and the pres
ervation of southern records. He stated
that when he first called upon he in
tended only to thank those present for such
a generous welcome, but that he had spoken
longer than he expected. He paid a
tribute 10 the veterans and daughters of the
two local organizations for their devotion
and spirit of patriotism and closed his add
dress, following which he met many of his
old comrades.
Songs of Old Times.
Between the addresses and afterward Miss
May Brown of Laurel, Nd. sang Dixie
Maryland" MY Old Kentucky Home
and other songs dear to the southland She
received many encores. Mrs. McDuffie also
sang Bonnie Blue Flag Mrs M. s.
Thompson, as president of the District di-
vision of the United Daughters of the Con-
federacy, took a prominent part in the ex-
ercises The invocation of the evening was
offered by Rev. Randolph H. Mckim. The
meeting was attended by large represent
the District as well as the StonewaIl jack
son Chapter, United Daughters Confederate
In behalf of the Stonewall Jackson Chap
ter of the Daughters of Veterans Mr.. NJ.