Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-01-20
General Lees Birthday,


Annual Reunion of Lee Camp of
Confederate Veterans-Speeches by
Senator Blackburn, Congressman
Champ Clark and Colonel Beasley
An Enjoyable Event.
Confederate Veterans Hall last night
was the theatre of a happy gathering of
ex- COnfederates and many of their
friends, including ladies composing the
auxiliary societies. The occasion was
the annual reunion and the celebration
of General Lees birthday. The hall
had been tastefully and handsomely ar
ranged for the event, and the new
carpets and other articles of utility and
decoration were justly admired. The
ladies, who in recent years have been
the caterers on the recurrence of this Oc-
casiOn, were al their best aud at the
door cordially welcomed all who enter
ed. They had worked assiduously to
make everything as attractive and in
yling as possible to the company, had
anticipated everything that could have
in any way added TO the enjoyment of
their guests, and their lsbors were
Justly appreciated.
Shortly before o'clock the company
began TO arrive and half an hour later
Mr.. John NJ. Johnson, Commander
OF Lee Camp, assembled the COM
pany which marched from the upper
rooms to the banquet hall on the first
floor. When all had been seated the
discussion of the following menu pro-
ceeded:
Lynn Haven Bay oysters raw and
fried; celery, olives, mixed pickles,
picked beets, sailed almonds, roast tur-
key aud cnrant jelly, country ham, cold
tongue, chicken and cold sIaw, lobster
salad, sliced tomatoes, ice cream, Con-
feuerate colors; assorted cakes, oranges,
Malaga grapes, cigars, coffee, punch.
Shortly before The close of the feast
Miss Mary GUSTS Lee, daughter cf Gen
eral Robert f. Lee, entered the hall
with colossal bouquet of flowers which
she presented to the camp. All the
guests arose as the daughter Ct the great
cheftain was presented to the company.
The flowers were Immediately placed un-
der large picture Of General Lee which
hangs in the hall.
AT the close of the feast Mr.. Johnson
called the company to order, when Com
rade r. M. Latham read General Lees
Farewell Address.
Mr.. Johnson again arose aud in an
nouncing the FIRST toast--"General Rob
ert f. Lee-The most stainless of COM
manders, and, except in fortune, the
greatest" which was to be responded to
by Senator j. 5. C. Blackburn, of Ken
lucky, spoke in an earnest aud fervid
manner of the illustrious chieftaiu, after
which he formally introduced the SeEa-
tor who was received with great applause.
The Senate: began his speech 10y say
ing that il was rule among the ancients
to say nothing but good Of the dead;
there was another rule to say nothing
but what is true Of the dead, and in deal
ing with Lee, his successes and his ca
reer it was difficult TO get more than The
outlines. But the subject did not need
ii, aud the only aim should be to see
that the world applied the same rule TO
the great Virginian that is used in speak
ing of other, who have become promi
nent in history. That General Lee
stands without rival none will contra
dict. Virginia gave the coua.ry Wash
ingt0n for the revolutionary struggle of
seven years, who accomplished ali for
which the colonies fought, but Wash
ingtOn's environments faded when
compared with Inc conditions which faced
Lee during lhe four years of civil war
Ii was not by reason OF the disparity OF
numbers that the Southern Confederacy
was doomed to failure; not 10 the titan
tic struggle without organic llion, nor to
the blockade OF southern ports, but 20
misconception on the part of those hos.
tile to or unsympalbetic with the South
1t was supposed by such that slavery was
the paramount issEe, and ii accomplish
cd its purpose, for the reason that the
moral sentiment of ChrislendOm was
against il. The Senator then proceeded
in an interesting manner to give resume
of the actual issues which brought on
the war between the States, and showed
that they were similar to those TINT
brought to birth the Declaration OF
independence and the revolutionary
war-a vindicalion OF the right Of free
men to 1--we. Senator Blackburn in re-
ierring to the civil war said that during
the unequal struggle more victories were
placed to the credit of Southern arms
than were accorded to the oppo-
site side in spite of the odds.
There never was nor never will be
man who could have maintained an
army in the field under such condi
tons as Lee. Virginia had sent
forth Washington TO battle for freedom.
The State had later sent forth a Lee
who stands above his prototype-greater
than Wellington, Napoleon o. Wash
ington-as the present occupant of the
White House, Theodore Roosevelt, has
truly said, in one of his works. His
name has been placed in the Hall OF
Fame in New York by a jury not one
member of which is a Southern man.
Tie Senator then in vigorous manner
recalled the gifts % Virginia to the ns-
ton, and ayerred that Lee and Jackson
were the greatest Of all her gifts Jackson
was a thnnderbolt whom only one man,
Lee, was fitted to command. The |
speaker in conclusion gave rapid sum
mary OF General Lees services during |
the civil war, and his action after the
cn.l .,..onIa. racayrtno, IA tho fact shaf Il