The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-28

crate Veterans and the Grand Army of the Republic Both of these armies are peacefully "wearing the graye-the gray With which nature impartiaily honors their venerable heads. But both have risen from the red ground of strife. and are looking up together into the same sky of blue, wishing that the Angel of Peace would come and put an end to all war forever
 T am very sure that may speak of General Wheeler's life and It's meanings With friendly freedom under all the im- pulses of the present highly suggestive national moment.
 True Type of Patriotic Soldier.
 General Wheeler was true type of the patriotic soldier of our free nation, whose sword Is never drawn except at the call of duty. and always sheathed when that duty has been discharged. His military services were mainly in the Confederate army and can be learned only In the history of the Confederate war His subsequent services gave him signal reputation, and they set new but not richer brilllants in the crown of his Confederate fame.
 ''l regard his whole career in it's broad sweep of views, convictions and acts as
 
 the Confederate soldiery and people that 1t Is worthy of national review. In such a study Of the life of this illustrious man, the valuable fact will be found that what ever Wheeler was so were his people. Tributes to him are tributes to them. Let us see this matter together, eye to eye. Wheeler began his military service hon. orably and in accordance with the view of duty taken by Robert Lee He won great distinction rapidly. and meantime retained his honor. His sword is stainless like that of Lee. He fought with persist ont courage until the Confederacy ceased to live. and when war on the field of arms was over he did not attempt to transfer It's question to the forum of civil sec tional strife.
 Again Found Her Favorlte Son.
 Tn course of time a foreign monarchy | adventured war with the United States to hold fair Cuba in the thrall of longer oppression; and this was his opportunity to appeal for service at the front with the armies of his country. There fame again soon found her favorite son on the firing line, and heard him give the word to charge; and next she saw him flushed with victory that set Cuba free and made his country great. And then again, as of yore, she knighted him hero of the day and called upon his willing nation to give her honors to this Con federate soldier.
 'I submit to the generous thought of all our countrymen that in these facts of his life Wheeler simply illustrated in grand way the characteristics of Confederate soldiers and the southern people. Their sensbilities were cut to the quick by any dstrust of their fidelity to the terms of surrender, or any chal- lenge of their complete loyalty to the government Their deeds have redeemed their words at the golden value of honor's sacred pledge. As it was with Wheeler so it was. and so 1t is with all his people
 "I conclude with the declaration that the south recognizes it's share of respon- sibllty for the good government of the Union. It was never so much in earnest in effort as now to have a perfect Union to establish justice, insure domestic tran quility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity The south would have the entire land to be all south from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, all north from the gulf to the lakes, and all the states and territories to be one rich realm of liberty, fraternity and equal prosperity from ocean to ocean,"
 Tanner Received With Enthusiasm.
 
 Corporal James Tanner spoke for the Grand Army organization, whose com mander-in-c chief he Is. His welcome was exceeded only by the enthusiasm which his remarks excited.
 Corporal Tanner paid a high com pliment to the courage and ability of General Wheeler as shown on many bat tlefields, both In the civil war and as a Confederate leader and in the Spanish war as an American commander. He expressed hope that monument to Gen eral Wheeer's memory would be erected as is proposed, saying:
 Many monuments have been proposed that have never been built. Some are proposed that it will be much better never to have been built. Memories there are concerning which 1t would be bet ter that prayers should ascend to high heaven that they might die out from the recollections of men, and be granted the mercy of oblivion, rather than they should be perpetuated. But a monu- ment to Joseph Wheeler-yes.
 Lay the foundation securely that 1t may withstand the assaults of time and the clements. Build it as high as you please. From out the whole great north, east and west, against whose opposing forces he struck so often, so forcefully. from no sod gripped grave of any of our boys who went to death under his blows, shall a skeleton finger point in accusa- ton of his soldierly conduct and knight ly honor."
 Lauds Women of South
 Mir Tanner also complimented the women of the south, in the highest terms saying:
 'The union forces would have achieved success in my opinion eighteen months sooner than they did If 1t had not been for the women of the south. Why do 1 say this? Because it Is world wide knowledge that men never carried cause to the dread arbitrament of the battle field who were so intensely supported by the prayers and by the efforts of the gentler sex as you men of the south. Every mothers son of you know that if you did not keep exact step to the music of Dixie and Bonnie Blue Flag, if you did not tread the very front of battle when the contest was on, knew in short that If you return home in aught but soldierly honor that the very fires of hell would not scorch and consume your un- shriven souls. as you would be scorched of your womanhood. The same condition of affairs though not to such a unani- nous degree. existed north of Mason and Dixon's line, When one speaks of the woman of the war, he would not If he wished, and could not if he would draw a geographical line that shall mark a di- vision between women on the matter of support for the cause of which their loved ones battle. when l speak of the women of the war, I can group in