The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-10


 state as a tribute from all the young nsonis of Alabama We believe with Ruskin. that one grand and noble work of art is better worth while than. many inferior ones, and we feel sure that no monument of whatever statue, could be too great and beautiful 70 express the veneration that our South- ern boys and girls feel for Lee.
 HistorIcnl.
 Ii gives me pleasure to present to readers of U. D. C.. Column an ad- dress by Dr. Edwin D. Norton of oen- eraI Lees staff he says:
 T am pleased to know that my brief notes go to The Montgomery Adver- tiser to the able editor of The Daily ''Encyclooedia" of Alabama. have man blood relatives and personal friends in the Capital City of Alabama. Gen. Robert Edmund Lee, "Soldier, Pa
 trics. Teacher. Cavalier"
 We dream, and life seems only glo-
 rious thing of beauty;
 Awakened, we find the same a mighty thing of duty"
 We are here today to honor the mem ory of Gen. Robert Edmond Lee. the illustrfous commander of the armies of the Confederated States of America soldier. patriot, teacher. cavalier and Christian gentleman.
 cavalier of old Virginia. who de- clared duty" the most sublime word in the English language. Duty was the polar star of all the years of his eventful life. The central figure in the galaxy of United States ofifcers--he points the way of triumph from Vera Cruz to the halls of The Montezumas." The story of this brilliant campaign is most charmingly told by Lieut.. Col. Henderson. Chief of the School of Strategy of the British Army. It can be found in The Life of General Stone wall Jackson" by this distinguished English soldier and writer. On this day. the centennial of the birthday of Gen. R. E. Lee, our second Washing ton. we may fondfy declare him First in the hearts of his countrymen. We pause for moment to record an indisputable and unanswerable truth of history The great American war" was not, as often stated. "a civil war;" it was simply "a war between the States. The secession" of the South, am sure. prevented a true civil war. in the North between the Conservatives and the Radicals: in the South between the Union men and the Fire eaters"
 Would you know the terrible mean ing O. "a civil war" look to the French Revolution" and it's millions of lives lost to the guillotine. We are proud of the name of rebels"
 George Washington was our first rebel" and today we honor the mem ory of our second rebel" R. E. Lee. and we glory in our unshackled South. The rebel" is The vidette'' in the great army of human liberty and dear old Dixie" Is the last citadel of con- stiutional covenant in America
 With the word duty" burning in his fvI 4wuIIxfn1 walking the floor of his room in Wash ington City. On his table there is an offer from his old beloved commander. General Winfield Scott It offers him the command of the armies of the Uni- ted States. There is a mighty strug- United States and his love embraces ''old Virginia" He reviews the story of our great republic and the history of Virginia, Mother of States and Statesmen" He sees three mighty States. Ohio. Indiana and Illinois. carved out" of the great Northwest territory, a gift to the republic from Virginia. He is asked to turn his sword against his native State, the State of George Washington, his ideal man, soldier and statesman. As the morn ing light creeps through the windows he makes his decision, 1t is in favor of Virginia. He recalls the response oA GGHcFdk 0SA6buOIpS OI OCOI WhSH the latter was offered the command of the British troops in America at the commencement of our revoiution: 'I decline the honor," says CAgelthorpe. 'I can not fight against my own chill dren."
 The humanity and magnamity of Gen. eral Lee was colossal in character.
 On June 24. 1859, M. Jean Henri Du- nant, a philanthropfc citizen of Ge- neva, Switzerland. witnessed the bat tie of Solferni, which left $500 Aus trians, French and Sardinions dead and wounded on the field of battle. His whole heart was touched by the suf- ferings of the wounded and he recog- nized the want of supplies. medical at- tention and nurses. His subsequent lectures at Geneva, his book. "A Souve- mir of Solferino," and his appeal to the crowned heads of Europe. was the germ of the international Red Cross Society. This society, however, was not organ ized till years afterwards. The first international conference was held in Geneva in 1863.
 All of the provisions of this humane organization first were put in practi- cal operation by the several Confed- crate generals in Virginia and through out the South during the war between the States. General Stonewall Jack son, at the suggestion of Dr. Hunter