The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-01-23

RoosEvELTs TRIBUTE TO GEN
ROBERT E. LEE.
Appeals TO the People Of Every Sec
ton to Commemorate His Life and
Deeds by Establishing Permanent
Memorial at Some Southern Insti-
tuition.
Washington, Jan. 19.-With elabo-
rate exercises in the presence OF a
distinguished audience, the Tooth an
niyersary of the birth of Gen. Robert
e. Lee, the soldier-patriot of the Con-
federacy. was commemorated here
tonight under the auspices Of the Uni
ted Confederate and Southern socie-
ties of the District of Columbia. The
immense ball room of the New Will
lard. hotel, where the meeting was
held, was filed to overfowing. The
United States Marine band stirred the
audience with "Dixie" and other
southern melodies. Almost every
mention Of the name Lee was greet
ed with applause. Although unable
to attend, President Roosevelt sent a
letter in which he extolled the vir-
tues of the Confederacy's great gen.
eraL in war as well as in peace. His
suggestion that the centennial ami
Yersary be celebrated by the estab-
lishment Of a permanent Lee memo
rial at some great representative ed
ucational institution Of the south met
with instant favor.
Hillary A. Herbert Presided.
The exercises were presided over
by Hon. Hillary A. Herbert, former
secretary of the navy, and were open
ed with prayer by Rev. Roland Cot
ton Sr,ith, D. D., rector Of st. Johns
Episcopal church, Who was followed
by Rev. William T. Thompson, D. D.,
with the reading Of selections from
the Bible, after which the surpiiced
choir Of the Church of Epiphany rem
dered "The Souls Of the Righteous"
Chairman Herbert then delivered a
brief address, after which he read an
extract from the Life of Thomas H.
Benton" written by Theodore Roose-
Welt. in which he referred to the Con-
federacy leader as the very greatest
of ell the captains that the English
speaking peoples have brought forth, .
and trat the world had never seen
better soldiers than those who follow
ed him.
The reading of the presidents let
ter was assigned to Mrs. Ralph Walsh,
president of the District of Columbia
division, United Daughters of the
Confederacy.
The Presidents Letter.
White House.
Washington, Jan. 1s, 1907.
To the Hon. Hillary A. Herbert
Chairman; Chief Justice Seth
Shepherd, Gen. Marcus J. Wright,
Judge Charles 3. Lowry, Mr.. Will
liam A. Gordon, Mr.. Thomas Mel
son Page, President Edwin Alder
man, Mr.. Joseph Wilmer, and 9th
ers of the Committee Of Arrange
ment for the Celebration Of the
Hundre6th Anniversary Of the
| Birth of Cen. Robert E. Lee.
Gentlemen: I regret that it is moi
in my power to be with you at your
celebration. I Join with you in hon
oring the life and career of that grea
soldier and high-minded citizen whose
fame is now a matter Of pride to al
| our countrymen Terrible though the
destruction of the Civil was was, aw'
full though it was that such conf1ic
should occur between brothers, it il
vet a matter for gratitude on the par
of all Americans that this, among
contests of like magnitude, should
| have left to both sides as a. priceless
heritage the memory Of the might.
men AMI the glorious deeds that tn
iron days brought forth. The courag
and steadfast endurance, the loft.