The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1907-01-24

| O000Eal Loo q farewell aQQro6S was
read by E. E. Hllliard. Mr.. Butter
worth then introduced as the orator OF
the occasion, Rev. P. N. Stainback,
of Weldon.
MR.. sTAINBACg's ADDRESS.
Mr.. stalnback expressed great pleas
ure at the privilege Of looking into the
faces of 80 many of his comrades, who
waded through the awful conflict
from 81 to rs. He captured his au-
dience in the outset by declaring that
the man whose birth they had met to
celebrate was tie greatest general of
any time, and it there is ever to be
another as great as Lee, he will have
to be the son of a Confederate soldier
The speaker briefly reviewed Lees
childhood and his coarse at West
Point, reciting his tender care for his
mother in hts childhood and his man
ly coutee at West Point, leaving the
institution without sihgle demerit.
Concerning Lees service in the United
States army, he quoted General Scott,
who said that he was the foremost man
In the army.
! When the time for secession came
Lee regretted the necessity, for he
loved this great country but be de-
g., clsred that he could not draw his
sword against his beloved Virginia.
The speaker rscounted ths sacrifices
which Lee made In signing his com
mission in the United States army to
take up his work for the Southern
Confederacy. "When we honor Lee,"
said the speaker, eve honor ourselves,
and l want our children and our chill
dren's children taught that the Con-
federate soldier was not rebel or
traitor, but patriot, true to his coun-
try and his convictions"
He quoted Lee, who said, at is bet
ter to sacrifice life, fame and every
thing dearest to the hearts of men
than to sacrifice principle" and here
the speaker eloquently declared that
the time will never come when the
name OF Lee will not be honored in
this country.
In speaking OF the great chleftain'r
leadership he said that he was not re-
sponsible for the defeat at Gettysburg.
for had Lees plans been executed the
Confederates would have gained vic
tory; nor could any other man In
America have held off the Federal
forces ground Petersburg for months
as Lee did.
Speaking of the close of the war Mr..
Stainback spoke beautifully of Lee in
defeat. At Appomattox Lee was the
idol of his men, and there he showed
himself at his best in his concern tor
his men and the cause they had to
give up. The Confederate army sur
rendered with less than 5000 while
| the Federal troops numbered 100000.
The speaker paid high tribute to
Gen. Grant to whom Lee surrendered,
for he allowed his army to offer no in
suits to the overpowered Confederates.
Alter describing the serious, sad
hour when Lees farewell address was
read, the speaker in burst of elo-
quence exclaimed, "Thank God, COM
rades, ii we did have to gronud OUT
arms and furl our flag, we did it in
honor, and those principles for which
we fought are not dead. They we're
right and will be forever. If they
were right in 1861 they are right in
1907. / would utter no word OF dis
cord now, but If our prosperity and
National greatness shall continue
they will continue because we have all
over our land good and noble patriots
who are imbued with the spirit of
Robert E. Lee. There has not been a
man like Lee in hundred years, and
1 do rot believe there will be another
like him in five hundred years more -
In. closing the speaker paid beautiful
tribute to Lees private lie, which
showed him pure and gentle and good.
His last days were spent as an educa-
tor, training the minds OF the young
into the way of right living and Tor
the characters that shine out in true
manhood.
The address was thoughtful, we'll
timed, appropriate and beautiful in Its
tribute to such life and more than
once while it was being delivered the
old soldiers evinced deep emotion and
wept tears of gratitude as they remem
bered the great and beautiful life Of
their noble leader and heard bis virtues
so beautifully described by the speak
or of the day.
At the conclusion OF the address by
motion of Rev. Mr.. Phelps there was 8
unanimous vete OF thanks to Mr.
=