The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1907-01-24
ROOSEVELT ON GEN. LEE

teas1nkS ana Bout4eTn Doe1ssao8 %
The District Of csiumtia-EvefT
Mention Of Lees Name arseted
with Applause.
Washington, Speeial--With elab--
crate exercises and in the presence of
q distinguished audience, the Tooth
anniversary OF the birth Of Gen. Ro-
bert Z. Lee, the soldier patriot OF
] the Confederaey, was commemorated
here under the auspices of the Unit
ed Confederate and Southern Soele-
ties of the District of Columbia. The
immense ball room t'f the New Vii.
lard Hotel, where the meeting vas
held, was filed to oserfowing. 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 vlr-
tues of the Confederaey's great gen.
eral, in war as well as in peace. His
suggestion that the centennial anni-
versary be celebrated by the estab-
lishment of a permanent Lee emorial
at some great representative educa-
tional institution of the South, met
with instant favor.
The exercises were presided over
by Hon. Hilary A. Herbert, former
Secretary Of the Navy, and were OPP
ened with prayer by Rev. Roland Cot
ton Smith, ID. d., rector of St. John 5
Episcopal church, who was followed
by Rey. VIM. T. Thompson, D. d.,
with the reading of selections from
the Bible, after which the surpliced
choir of the Church of the Epiphany
rendered "The souls of the Right
, eous."
) Chairman Herbert then delivered
brief address, after which he read
an extract from the "Life of Thomas
H. Benton,' written by Theodore
Roosevelt, in which he referred t.
the Confederate leader as the every
greatest of all the captains that the
English speaking people have
brought FORTH" and that the worls
| had never seen better soldiers thar
those who followed him.
. The reading Of the president s let
= ter was assigned to Mrs. Rapll
e Walsh, president Of the District o
Columbia division, United Daughter
Of the Confederacy.
: The President 8 Letter.
The White House,
Washington. Jan. Is.
, To the Hon. Hilary A. Herbert, chair
man; Chief Justice Seth Shepherd
i General Marcus j. Wright, Judg
!. Charles B. Howry; Mr. William A
Gordon, Mr.. Thomas Nelson Page
! President Edwin Alderman, Nj
. Joseph Wilmer, and others of th
- committee OF arrangement for til
! celebration of the hundredth ann
- versary of the birth Of Geners
Robert E. Lee:
Gentlemen: / regret that it is nc
/ In my power to be with you at you
= celebration. l join with you in ho1
oring the life and career Of tn;
b great soldier and high-minded cit
- zen whose fame is now a matter {
4 pride to all our countrymen. Terrib
as the destruction of the civil Wa
- was, it was awful that such a col
% f1ict should occur between brother
- - 1t IS yet matter Of gratitude on IL
~, y. part Of all Americans that this, alol
- - among the contests Of like magnitud
" " should have left both sides as a pric
" less heritage the memory of Il
- mighty men and the glorious dee,
that the iron days brought fort
y The courage and steadfast enduran
- the lofty fealty to the right as
u was given to each man to see Il
u right, whether he wore the Gray
, whether he wore the Blue, now ma
- the memories of the valiant fea
~ alike of those who served under Ora
- 10 and those who served under Lee, pre-
tn lous to all good Americans Gener
u Lee has left US the memory, not me,
u ly of his extraordinary skill as a ge
eral, his dauntless courage and hi
- leadership in campaign and bait
but also Of that serene greatness
nc soul characteristic of those who me
readily recognize the obligation
CD civic duty. Once the war was ov
On he instantly undertook the tack
ir- healing and binding up the wounds
ne his countrymen, in the true spirit
- those who feel malice toward no
~ and charity toward all; in that sp
ne 1t which from the throes of the ci
war brought forth the real and ind
soluable Union of today. It was e
inently fitting that this great m;
this war-worn veteran of a migf
an struggle, who, at its close, simply a
on quietly undertook his duty as a pla
he everyday citizen, bent only uI
M helping his people in the paths
peace and tranquility, should turn
I'LL attention toward educational wol
IN toward bringing up in fit fashion
m younger generation, the sons of tn
led who had proved their faith by th
49,, endeavor in the heroic days
20 There is no need to dwell on G
IL J eral Lees record as a soldier.
.l Ihe son of Light Horse Harry Lee,
=. ~ the Revolution, he came naturally
his aptitude for arms and comma
His campaigns put him in the fc
most rank of the captains of all I'll
ne. But his signal valor and address
To- war are no more remarkable than
spirit In which he turned to
work of peace once the war was
nlc er. The circumstances were such t