The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-01-24

IT afo vi lLOuSH
gray evening of failure, and therefore
out of what seemed failure he helped
to- build the wonderful and mighty
triumph of our national life, in which
all his countryEen, North and South
share. Immediately after the close OF
hostlhties he announced with a clear.
sipEtedness which st that time few
indeed Of any section possessed. that
tie interests of the Southern States
were the same rs tDoSe Of the Unit
ed States; that the prosperity of the
! ScatE would rise orsfall with the wei.
fare of the whole country and that
the duty of the citizens appeared too
iplesn to admit of doubt. He urged
that all should unite in honest effort
to- chliterate the effects of war and
restore the blessings of peace; that
| they should remain in the country,
strive for harmony and good feeling
and devote their abilities to the in
~terests of their people and the heal
ing of dissentions. To every one who
applied to him, this was the advice
he gave: Although absolutely with
out means, he refused all offers of pc
cuniary aid, and all positions of emol-
u1nsnt, although many such, at a high
salary. We're offered him. He declin-
ed to go abroad, saying that he
sought only ga place to earn honest
bread while engaged in some useful
work" This statement brought him
the offer of the presidency of Wash
ington College, a little institution in
Lexington, Virginia, which had grown
out of a modest foundation known as
Liberty Hall Academy. Washington
had endowed this academy with one
hundred shares of stock that had
been given him by the State of Vir-
einia, which he had accepted only on
condition that he might with them
endow some educational institution.
To the institution which Washington
helped to found in such spirit, Lee,
, in the same fine spirit, gave his SER
vices. He accepted the position of
president at a salary of $500 a year
! In order, as he stated, that he might
do some good to the youth of the
South. He applied himself to his
new work with the same singleness
of mind which he had showed in lead
. ing the army of Northern Virginia
. All the time by word and deed he
. was striving for the restoration OF
Al real peace, of real harmony, never
uttering a word of bitterness nor al
lowing a word of bitterness uttered
In his presence to go unchecked. From
the close of the war to the time Of
his death all his great powers were
devoted to the two objects; to thu
reconciliation of all his countrymel
with n another, and to fitting thu
youth of the South for the duties o:
a lofty and broad minded citizenship
Such is the career that you gathe
: to honor; and I hope that you vii
take advantage of the one-hundredtl
anniversary of General Lees birth b,
appealing to all our people, In ever
section of this country, to commen
r crate his life and deeds by the es
tablishment at some great represen
tative educational institution of tn
South of a permanent memorial, tho
will service the youth of the comm
years, as he, in the closing years o
his life, served those who so sorel
needed what he so freely gave.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
- Following brief remarks by Sens
tor Berry, Of Arkansas, and Justie
y David Brewer, of the United State
Supreme Court, Representative Jnt
! Sharp Williams, Of Mississippi
= spoke.
na The annual ceremony of present
le ing crosses of honor to Confederat
r. veterans of distinguished militaT
record then occurred, the exercise
being brought to a close with a ben,
n diction by the Rt. Rev. Henry !
SatterIee. bishop of Washington.
il Is