Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-24

and A. S. Perham and w. II. Raglan were
active In opposition. Corp. James Tan
ner, past COMMUNICATIVE chief of the G.
A. R., although not member Of the
post, spoke by courtesy, and made Wig
orous defense of DR.. Van Schaick.
For six weeks the resolutions have been
up in Burnside Post, and the final action
last night drew a large crowd of vet
Grams from other G. A. r. posts.
The name of President Roosevelt figured
prominently in the discussion. as the
state ment to which exception was taken
was made by quotation from him.
The resolutions set forth:
Rev. John Van Schaick, jr., of the
clses of the Eastern High School at 80
o'clock yesterday afternoon tmedning
February Il. 1900. His address was. in
part. as follows:
Not long ago 1 attended the celebra-
ton of the Tooth anniversary of nle birth
of Robert E. Lee. l heard brilliant ad-
dresses by senator of the United States,
a justice of the Supreme Court, leader
of one of the great parties in the House.
But one thing above all others, In the
addresses was made plain: That great as
were his achievements as general.
splendid his victories on the field of bat
tie, the greatest thing about Lee was his
spirit. When defeat came down upon
MIN, ne was a man, ne refused 10 eH-
patriate himself: he took up life among
his people and labored to make the Union
real. strong and permanent.
THUS 1t was with Abraham Lincoln.
His greatest gift to his country was his
spirit. We glory in his achievements.
We tell again and again the story of his
rise from the soil. We write in our his
tories what he did for the nation. But
his permanent contribution to civilization
was the life he lived and the spirit he
showed
Previously Announced Intention.
1T is credibly reported that the rever-
end gentlemen. though expostulated with,
had before this declared his intention
to eulogize Gen. Lee in public. and has
since asserted that the majority of the
comrades of the 6. A. X. are in sympathy
| with his sentiments, and ne has recently
written: 1 have no fears that time will
not set me right
Therefore, be 1t resolved by Burnside
| Post. Department of the Potomac, Grand
Army of the Republic. That we r. gard
such utterances as untimely, ill-advised
and unpatriotic. Untimely. in that the
| occasion was one to pay tribute to ale
| noblest character of that period of our
! country's history, and not an occasion to
exploit one whom every patriotic citizen
must regard as a traitor to his country.
! Ill-advised, in that our youth may not
I
| Gen. Lee and the great crime he COM
mitted. Unpatriotic, because no word OF
| condemnation was uttered against the
! treason of one who was a leader in the
great rebellion.
| That the sentiments expressed do not
meet the approval of exCnion soldiers
and sailors.
| THAT Burnside Post feels so strongly in
this matter that We earnestly hope such
Il p.os,Itution of patriotic occasion may
! in in tiTn rayi-h
| public school.
That a copy of the foregoing be sen,
| the Rev. Mr.. Van Schaick, the superin-
| tendent of public schools and the princi-
pal of the Eastern High School.
DR.. Van Schaick's Response.
| In response to these resolutions DIR. Van
Schaick, under date of October %, wrote
| letter TO the post, in which he stated
| Upon receipt of your communication
| of October II, transmitting resolutions
| adopted by you October ., it was my
| first impulse to give them out for publica-
ton without any comment of my own.
| Had you been any ordinary body of men
| that would have been my acton i am
| too busy in this city which we all love
TO stop for either praise or censure.
| But you are veterans of the civil war,
men to whom l am bound by every tie
of gratitude; men many of whom are lead
ers in this community, and | am frank
to say that | am not Indifferent to your
attitude and acton.
| IF you will pardon a personal refer
| ence. let me say | am northern man.
For many generations my family have
! lived in the Old state of New York. |
am q Son of the Revolution. My kins-
| :olk were in the northern army during
the civil war. My brother is officer
of the army now and a Spanish War Vet
| IRAN / was brought up to honor and
revere the men who saved our country in
| her darkest hour of trial.
| 'All my life my relations with the
! Grand Army of the Republic have been
very close. Repeatedly have l been chosen
as orator on Decoration day. Twice il
| was my privilege to arrange patriotic
exercises and decorate graves in a com
| munity where Memorial day was unno
ticod for years. Repeatedly have l beer
invited back north to speak on May 80
Sympathy With Veterans.
I'm my eight years in Washington
have had the honor of extending the use
of my church to various patriotic societie.
of the civil war. / have preached to
congregat ION and worked with a board o
trustees in which the veterans are large
~ represented. l have sat by your com
radys when they have passed away.
have said with you the last words a
arlington. | have done these things no
from policy, but principle, not because o
duty only, but because l have realize,
that the man of my generation can neve
pay the debt thoy owe to the men o
yours.
You have before you q substantially