The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1907-02-19
GENARAL Lee
AT AUSTIN
Noble Efforts in Behalf OF The
ViCkSbuTg National Park.

Stephen d. Lee is at present in
Austin where he is endeavoring
ID interest the Texas Legislature
in the matter OF making an ap-
preparation for monuments in the
National Park.
In many of the states Of the
country citizens are agitating
the question of appropriations
for the Vicksburg Park. A late
issue Of the Wisconsin State
Journal contains an appeal for
an additional appropriation.
Gen. Lee went to Austin from
Little Rock. The following from
the Arkansas Gazette shows
how active he was in the Arkan-
sas City:
"Gen. Stephen d. Lee, COM
mander-in- chief of the United
Confederate Veterans, address
ed the members of the General
Assembly yesterday morning af-
ter the adjournment of the SEN
ate and House, upon the subject
of an appropriation by the state
of Arkansas for a suitable me-
mortal in the Wick sburg National
Park to commemorate the valor
of the Arkansas troops during
the Cival war.
Gen. Lee, in opening his re-
marks, referred to the fact that
-sectionalsm has become a dead
issue, and that the people of the
South and North have again be-
come united and friendly. The
national government, he declar-
ed, has shown that it is proud of
the heroism and fortitude of both
the Confederate and sUDion sol
diers by the creation of four ma
tional park5-at Gettysbur e,
Shiloh, Chickamauga and Vicks-
burg-at which memorials could
be placed that would bear down
to future generations the story
of the valor of the men who had
staked their all upon the battle
fields, and he added that he was
hereto test the pride of Arkan-
ses as compared with the pride
displayed by the national gov
ernment.
Continuing, he stated that
n rly all of the Northern states
have placed splendid memorials
IN these parks. but that the South
had been slow in that regard be-
cause it had to rebuild its for
tunes after the war. Inasmuch
as the South is now undergoing
an era of unprecedented pros
perity, Gen. Lee said that it was
now able co look to the matter OF
the erection of memorials to its
soldiers. He referred to the parl
taken in the war by the Arkan
sas troops and said: Arkansas
shows that it has record equal tC
that made by any state in the
Union. If the people of Arhan-
sas feel proud Of its record, why
snodld they not memorialize it as
other states have?" He referr.
ed to the fact that the Legislature
is composed of comparatively
young men, and stated that they
had heritage they should fee
proud of and cherish.
In conclusion, Gen. Lee called
attention to the bill that would
be presented to the legislature
and said: 81 beg your careful
consideration Of the bill and asl
that you make liberal appro
priation so that the valor of you
soldiers may go down in histor.
along with the valor of the sol
diers of other states. | appea
to you TO do credit to the gallan
men of the COS from this grea
commonwealth.
Gen. Lee was introduced b
Representative 0. n. Killougt
and the meeting was preside
over by Representative Heartsi
of Sebastian county. Follow
ing the address a reception wa
held at the bar of the house, an
Gen. Lee was presented to nearl
all the members of the Gener,
Assembly"
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