The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-20
Work Was Greatest in
 Peace. LETTER TO GATHERING OF SoUTHRoNs AT CAPITOL Set Noble Example to Ills Devoted Followers. Chief Executive Believed His Gre.test. Service Was in Precsst Leokins Toward the welding rogcther of Sections After
 

rate exercises and in the presence Of . distinguished audience, the Tooth an- niversary of the birth of General R. IA Lee, the soldier patriot of the Confed- eracy was commemorated here tonight under the auspices of the United Con-f federate and Southern Societies of the District Of Columbia
 Although unable to attend, President Roosevelt sent q letter In which be ex~ tolled tho virtue of the Confederacy'a great general. His suggestion that the centennial anniversary be ceie- brated by the establishment Of . per manent Lee memorial of q representa- tive of an educational institute of tho south met with instant favor.
 The exercises weEe presided over by Hon. Hilary A. Herbert former sscre- tary of the navy.
 Following brief remarks by Eenator Berry of Arkansas, and Justice David Brewer of the United States Supreme Court. Rep epresentative John Sharp Wil-s Hams of Mississippi spoke.
 Mir. Roosevelt wrote:
 The White House.
 Washington. January 1G. 1901. To the Hon. Hilary A .bHerbert chaire
 man; Chief Justics seth Shepard.
 General Marcus !. Wright, Judge
 Charles B. Howry, Mir William A.
 Gordon. MT. Thomas Nelson Page,
 
 Joseph Winner; And others Of the
 cemmitte of Arrangemeutg for
 the Celebration ef ths Hundredkh
 Anniversary of the Birth of &arr
 eral Robert E Lee:
 Gentlemen:4-@I regret that it ie not in my power to be with you ak your celebration. join with you ln henaf- soldier and hiEh-minded citizen whoaa fame is now matter of pride to all our countrymen. Terrible though tho destruction of tho civil war was. aw- ful though 1t was that such con- fiict should occur between brothers. it is yet matter for gratitude on the part of all Americans that this. alone among contests of like magnitude. should have left to both sides as a priceless heritage, the memory of the mighty men and the glorious deeds that the iron days brought forth.
 The courage and steadfast endurances the lofty fealty to the right as 1t was given to each man to sec the right, whether he wore the gray or whether he wore the blue, now make the niernoF- ies of the valiant feats, alike of those wEo served under Grant and of those who served under Lee, precious to all good Americans General Lee has left us the memory, not merely of his ex- traordinary skill as a general. his dauntIess courage and high leadership in campaigns and battle. out also that serene greatness of soul characteristic of those who most readily recognize tho obligations of civic duty. Once the war was over he instantly undertook the task of healing and binding up the wounds of his countrynen. in the true spirit oftthose who feel malice toward none and charity toward all; in that spirit which from the throes Of the civil war brought forIh the real aud indissoluble. Union of today. It waa eminently fitting that this great man. this warworn veteran of mighty struggle. who. at It's close, simply and quietly undertook his duty as Q plain. everyday citizen. bent only upon help- ing hts people In the paths of paaca and tranquility, should turn his atten- ton toward educational work; toward. bringing up iu fit fashion the younger generation, the sons of those who had proved their faith by their endeavor in the heroic days.
 Natural Aptitude For Arms.
 There is no need to dwell on General Lees record as a soldier. The son of Light Horse Harry Lea. of the revoiu- ton. he came naturally by his aptituda for arms and command. His eam- paIgns put him in the foremost rank of the great captains of all time. But his signal valor and address in war are no more remarkable than the spirit i'm which he turned to the work of peace once the war was over. The clrcum- stances were such that most men. evan of high caractsr, felt bitter and yindic- tive or depressed and spiritless, bue General Lees heroic temper was not warped. nor his great soul cast down. He stood that hardest of all strAins, tho strain of bearing himself we'll through the gray evening of failure; and there fore out of what seemed failure ho helped to build the wonderful and which all his eountrymen, North and South, share.
 Immediately after the close of hos. tilities he announced. with clear slghtedness which at that time few tn- deed of any section possess, that the interests ot the Southern States were the same as those of the United States; that the prosperity of the South would rise or fall win the welfare Of the whole country; and that the duty of its citizens appeared too plain to admit of doubt. He urged that all should unlts in honest effort to obliterate the effects of war and restore the blessings of peace: that they should remain in tho country, strive for harmony and good feeling and devote their abilities to the interests of their people and the heal- ing of dissensions. To every one who applied to him this was the advice he gave.
 Refused PecuniaFy Ala.
 Although absolutely without means, he refused all offers of pecuniary aid. and all positions of emolument, although many such. at high salary, were offer- ed him. He decined to go abroad.