Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-04

are sleeping far away, and this is a ma
tional cemetery.
mo one knew better than did Robert E.
Lee what might be the cost to the people
of Virginia of the course they were pursu-
Ing and the cost to himself of the step ne
was taking he walked for the last time
out of the portals of yonder noble mansion;
for. soldier he was. he knew the might
and the power of the government that had
Its seat, then as now, in that capital across
the river The Union was in the throes of
threatened dissolution. and he loved the
Union, but 1t was duty that called him. His
allegiance, in his thought, was due in that
crisis to Virginia"
The speaker referred to parallelism be-
tween the career of Napoleon Bonaparte
and that of Robert E. Lee. After declaring
that while at Arlington 1t Is almost impos-
sible not to think of its former owner. Mr..
Herbert said 1t was right while performing
the sacred duty of decorating the graves, to
record allegiance to the reunited republic.
But, even while doing this without reser-
vation,'' he added, this question rises to
our lips: Was Robert f. Lee and were these
comrades of ours traitors? With the great
war In which they fought far away In the
dim past. what we have a right to ask is:
Were they, the history and Constitution or
the United States considered either techni-
cally or legally traitors? This may be purely
an academic question. In sense 1t Is,
because all admit that practically the
Union of these states is indissoluble; but In
another sense 1t Is not. We had the
right sovereign states to submit the ques-
ton to the arbitrament of war. We did IL,
and like others who have gone to war we
must abide the Issue. So that now. If
state should attempt to secede those VINO
should cast their fortunes with II would pc
rebels But not so in 1851, Then the right
of q state to withdraw from the Union was
an open question"
Use of Word Rebels"
Further. the speaker said:
iS To that of
the south were rebels. We were not revo-
lutionists; we were the conservatives. stand
Ing on the old lines. standing for con-
stitutional rights that had been conceded
by the fathers, exercising those rights in
an attempt to take out of the Union with
us the Constitution they had framed. and to
set up in a government of our own that
sacred instrument, with the intent to main
tain II forever. If the north was right to
fight for the Union, assuredly we were right
In fighting for principles conceded by the
trainers of that Union. and such, | repeat
will be the verdict of history. But
were defeated. The confederacy Is dead
and with it is buried forever the doctrine
of secession Did you and /, therefore
who fought for the confederacy. shed our
blood In vain? Did they die in vain, these
comrades of ours, whose graves we deco
rate today? No, no. thousand times, not
IF this Union is now more perfect than
ever the fathers dreamed of. it is because.
first, there unsettled questions
to divide US; and after that chiefly be-
cause of the courage and devotion displayed
on both sides during the civil war.
In conclusion former Secretary Herbert
said:
II congratulate you. my comrades. and l
congratulate the Congress and the people
OF the whole land, that this mighty nation
Is now thus honorng the confederate dead.
And / predict that the time Is soon COM
ing when no American Congress and no
American historian will speak of those
whose graves we decorate this day
rebels"
Other Numbers of Program.
Mr.. Herbert was frequently interrupted
by applause The hymn. Rock of Ages"
by the band, followed the Grafton. and at
It's conclusion Chairman Hickey announced
that Representative John Sharp Williams
of Mississippi was to have made an ad-
dress, but ne had been detained and had
not arrived. He then introduced Mr.. John
T. Callaghan who read the following poem
commemorative of and written for the
occasion by Josh Davis. financial secretary
of Camp III, G. V. A, entitled I'VE Gather
Sweet Flowers
To place the gyayes of comrades here laid,
AS memory's token of ties yet unbroken-
Though tnged by sadness too deep 10 be said.
We come here to honor all those who lie yonder:
Men, noblemen all, In the highest degree;
Who fought for principle. with hearts invincible
Except TO the crash, of the end soon to be.
When gives up life in his loved country's
He fills TO the uttermost honor's decree;
Therefore let bow in rapt reverence low
To the tombs that surround US. howe'er plain
they be.
Survivors we are of that terrible war
With the weight Of years gathering surely and
fast;
So soon will we meet you, aud lovingly greet you
And join IN the roll cslI'' with those who have
passed.
With destiny finished and fame undimnished
Our throng In its passing must surely impress
The world with Its daring and dignifed bearing
The southand's defenders, through pain and
distress.
The quartet sang Nearer My God to
Thee" at the conclusion of which the
southern Cross of stars of white immor-
telles on a field of blue immortelles which
was presented by A. j. McLauren Camp
u. S. c. v, of this city, was unveiled by
Miss Elizabeth Gould. the maid of honor of
the camp of confederate veterans OF the
District of Columbia feature OF the
ceremonies was the choral cross" formed
of about eighty young girls all dressed in
white. with red sashes extending from
shoulder to waist They were ranged from
each arm of the fora1 southern cross" AS
the latter was unveiled the chorus sang
abide With Me-. with orchestral accom-
paniment.
representative Williams Arrives
While the singing was In progress Repre-
sentative Williams arrived. His appearances
upon the stand was greeted with applause,
which redoubled when Chairman
Hickey introduced him. and said he would
speak. Mr.. Williams began his address by
telling of his troubles In trying to get from
New York In time to be present at the cere-
monies. He had found that the train on
which he had intended to leave New York
did not run on Sunday, and he had been
forced to take a later train. This was
tardy In arriving here. From the railway
station he had hurried to catch a trolley
car for the cemetery, only to reach the car
station In time to see the train he wished
to catch leave. He had, however, late as
he was. reached the field of battle, as 1t
were. to report for duty. which was an old
confederate habit.
Mr.. Williams spoke of Arlington as being
the home OF Gen. Lee, and said that the
people who visited the cemetery were apt to
make inquiries regarding the life and char
acter of Gen. Lee. He paid tribute to the
soldier OF the war between the states, and
alluded to the fact that he had recently
heard much about the strenuous life and
had read of the simple life. which he
thought was the finest thing he had ever
read. The southern soldier had given the
world q lesson of brave and honest devo-
ton to duty, and the world was beginning
to understand the honesty of pUrpoSa of the