The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-01-23

have been the cause or the occasion
of our war. | believe and / love To
think that the real underlying reason
for that mighty. conflict was the clash
Of these two splendid ideals in the
minds OF men.
The issue was Joined. the last dread
tribunal was raised: war was declared.
When tho smoke Of battle died away.
which Ideal was triumphant What
aid the God Of war declare Ia be the
final command To the heart. and con-
science OF every true American patriot
The voice of all the people of the
United States proclaimed at Washing
ton our national capital. Slavery has
gone forever. all controversy as tn the
nature Of this government. whether =
compact between the states or an in
disSoluhle union are now purely acaa-
cmic. the states have equal rights in
the union. no rights out OF the union
The war has So decreed: and we of the
south accept and submit
But is 1t and should il be on one
side as sullen subiSSion and on the
other. idle boasting? Can we not look
forward To a free acceptance OF the
mind on the part OF :ne South and Il
glad cooperation OF both North ana
South in the splendid progress of our
common county? Yes. ! answer we
have il largely now and We shall / be-
lieve come 10 have it wholly: and here
General Lee helps us of the North and
South. When Colonel Robert Lee
measured as no other man tho force ~
these two ideals IN his own mind when
The question before him was. shall ]
accent the commission of the army az
the United States or shall | resign that
army ard offer my services To my
state When he Deliberately made the
choice. offered the sacrifice and sub
c.ttted IL Virginia. such action bV such
man lifts the controversy into the
high atmosphere where | have tried Ia
place ard keep il. such action thrills
the South with the consciousness Of
right: such action makes the serious.
thoughtful men of the north nause he
fore they call Lee and his fellow tralt-
Ds-e-e-
We. who look for hearty and entire
reconciliation between the sections Of
our beloved country consider these
striking facts. On the one side. we
hear '"Tne Outlook" an exponent OF
the BEST no:thern sentiment. declar-
ing that before the war these two
ideals of patriotism were equally al
loWablG and stating that. therefore. Lee
was as true 4 patriot rs Scott. each
following the ideal which seemed to
h5m to D right. Ne read again. |
thilk from Hamilton ,.arte that he
ana other wise and good northern men
are ready to admit that theoretically
the South was right n her main con-
tention. that logically and historically
the constitution was q compact be-
tween sovereign states with theOreti-
cal. political right to Secede. So they
and the growing number who think
like them. have respect and admiration
for the men who so valiantlv main
tanned their rights. ON the other side
Il large and growing number of the
southern leaders today admit that this
theoretic political right of secession
ought never to be carried into practice:
For it would destrov the union Of the
states: they confess that is better for
US that we did not win our indepen-
dence: they frankly assert that it is
better far for the Whole people that
slavery has been abolished. and that
the United States is one great, free
country under one lust and stable gov
ernment. Therefore NC have respect
for the political sagaCitv *Thich under
stood the signs OF the lines and pre-
ferred. in political questions practical
good to theoretical rights, and we have
admiration for the men who pursued
this object to successful end. in the
face Of misunderstanding disaster and
suffering. So we can be willing friends
without capitulation of our highest on
either side: so We can look forward TO
harmony, based on respect; so we can
expect fast and friendly progress with
so many interests. so many memories,
so many hopes in common.
Was then the bloody. costly civil war
a useless sacrifice? Did God leave his
throne when that war barred its brand
: for its fearSOme work? I think not,
my friends. The people of the North
and South misunderstood each other:
We're estranged by differences in ideals.
differences in political commercial and
social conditions. The war settled these
differences as only war can. The blood
and agony of war was needed to free
them into one people We are today
more entirely one people than we
! We're before the war. and look forward
to a closer union and a deeper friend
, ship. To our common country this
/ settlement of the long. vexed question
! this more hearty and perfect union is
. worth the war. Tho respect of the
outside world for the people who could
| fight each other so fiercely and then
| come together again so quickly to one
| government on the basis of equal lib
erty and justice: the respect of the
| soldiers of one army 1or the other:
! the respect for ourselves won by our
deeds of heroic bravery and constancy
! these are almost worth the terrible or
! deal and loss OF war. Lastly and es-
pecially for us the vanquished. the
combination of genius ana character
deVeiODed by our Southern soldiers will
we'll nigh balance by their splendid
example to our southern bows the ter
rible suffering and the bitter defeat Of
that awful war Is il not worth almost
| a war to develop and manifest to our
|! selves and to the world such a charac-
ter as Robert Edward Lee?
Let me give YOU an Incident and an
illustration. which has not yet. / think
beer seen in print. II was repeated TO
ne IN Richmond from an informal ad-
dress of DR.. Thatcher to q minister's
conference. At the time of the sur
render of General Lee. he was living
n Manchester. Just across the river
from Richmond. About the 10th or
11th OF April he was called from his
study by the sound of music and
marching. He stepped TO the door.
and saw a division of Grants victorious
army moving towards Richmond.
There rode the major general with his
brilliant staff. preceded by the band
ulaVinp its frinmuhanf music followed