The Washington herald., 1907-10-25

r. posts than the Burnside. condemn
ing the speech of Rev. John Van Schaick.
jr.. pastor Of the Church of our Father.
who eulogized the private life of Gen.
Lee. The Burnside Post has passed con-
demnation on the minister In the
PhH Sheridan Post. such resolutions
were defeated and, although other
branches may consider il. Rev. Van
Scnaick, who gave out "a statement yes
terday will have nothing further to say
in reply TO the attack on his speech and
his motives
On October 9, the condemnatory reso-
iutiOns were passed by Burnside Post
and fight was made Wednesday night
20 have the action rescinded, those op-
posing il being Corporal James Tanner
and Chaplain Couden. Of the House. the
latter declaring that the attack would
hurt the post more than the minister
Those opposing the minister include \. :.
Perman and W II. Ragan, who intro
duced the resolution
The resolutions include part OF the min
ister's remarks at the exercises at East
ern High School on February y last in
which he said that, having lately attend
ed the celebration OF the one hundredth
anniversary Of the birth Of Gen. Lee. he
felt Il timely 10 call attention to the fact
mat Lees spirit was as great as his
generalship, for the reason that. after
defeat. he refused 10 eXpatriate himself
but stood by and aided both the South
and the North To heal the nations
wounds.
The resolutions then proceed as follows.
Therefore be il resolved, by BURNSIDE
Post, Department of the Potomac. Grand
Army OF the Republic that we regard
such utterances as untimely. iu-adv:sed
and unpdTiOtic. Untmely I'm that the ac-
c2sicn was one 20 pay tribute TO the
noblest character Of that period Of our
country's history. and not an occasion 10
exploit one whom every patriotic citizen
must regard as a traitor 10 his country
lll-advised In that our youth may not dis
criminate between the private life Of Cen.
Lee and the great crime he committed
tnpatriOtic because no word Of condem-
nation was uttered against the treason of
one who was a leader in the great rebel
lion.
Resolved that the sentiments ex-
pressed do not meet the approval of for
mer Union soldiers and sailors
Resolved that Burnside Post feels 81
hopes such a prostitution of a patriotic
occasion may never again occur in con
nectiou with any public schools
Resolved that a copy Of the foregoing
be sent the Rev. Mr.. Van Schaick, the
superintendent Of public schools and the
principal Of the Eastern High school
In reply 70 these resolutions. Rev. Van
Schaick yesterday, Iu part, said
Doesn't RctrHct Words.
IF you viii pardon personal refer
ence, let me say ! am a Northern man.
For many generations my family has
lived in the State q New York. I am a
Son OF the Revolution. My kinsfoIk were
in the Northern army during the civil
war My brother is an officer of the army
now, and a Spanish war veteran. ] was
brought up 70 honor and revere the men
who saved our country in her darkest
hour of trial
You have before you a substantially
correct account of the opening sentences
Of my address Of February l.. 1907. For
that address ] have neither apology nor
defense. / have but one regret. and that
is that every member of your post was
not present. II you had been. these reso-
lutiOns would never have been consid-
cred.
What was my onense? a passing ref
erence 10 Gen. Robert r. Lee. How was
II made2 BY quotation from Justice Brew
ct and President Roosevelt What did I
say? That sreat as We're the achieve
ments Of Lee as "a general infinitely
greater was his spirit as a man. In what
way2 That. after the civil war. he sub
mitted like a man, took his defeat re
fused TO live abroad. and set To the young
men of the South an example Of loyalty
To the Union that he then saw was inev-
liable. and which he finally saw was for
the best.
i value the good opinion and the good
viii OF Burnside Post. and Of every
Grand Army post in the country but not
even 20 retain that good opinion would
retract utterances like these Nor do !
believe that any Grand Army post in this
country that understands the facts of my
position would want action of that kind
Rev. Mr.. Van SChaiCk includes in his
reply to the post a copy Of the letter sent
by President Roosevelt To the committee
IN charge of the Lee anniversary ceIebra-
tion, in which the President took oc-
casion to pay high tribute, not only to
Gen. Lees ability. but TO his work after
thp war