Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-20
mind which he showed in leading the army
of northern Virginia.
Striving for Real Peace

mind which he showed in leading the army
Of northern Virginia.
Striving for Real Peace.
"All the time by word and deed he was
striving for the restoration of real peace.
Of real harmony, never uttering a word of
bitterness nor allowing a word of bitter
ness uttered in his presence to go I'M
checked. From the close of the war to the
time of his death all his great powers were
devoted to two objects: to the reconci ia
ton of all his countrymen with one an
other. and to fitting the youth of the south
for the duties of a lofty and broadmnded
citizenship.
Such is the career that you gather to
honor. and / hope that you will. take adj
vantage of the Tooth anniversary of Gen.
Lees birth by appealing to all our people,
In every section of this country, to COM
memorate his life and deeds by the es-
tablishment. at some great represent tive
educational institution of the south, of a
permanent memorial that viii serve the
youth OF the coming years. a. ne, in the
closing years of his life. served those who
SO sorely needed what he so freely gave
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Tribute by Senator Berry.
Introduced as a confederate veteran OF
distinguished record Senator James H
Berry of Arkansas, made a brief address
in which he said:
Tonight, just as we gathered here, so
in every town and city in the south there
are assembled hundreds upon hundreds of
loyal citizens of the south to do honor to
the memory of Gen. Robert E. Lee" The
senator paid glowing tribute to the
southern soldier boys masse, and as an
illustration of their spirit declared that
there was not confederate soldier worthy
of the name, who, upon hearing of the ar
rest of Jefferson Davis on a charge of
treason. but would willingly have declared
himself to be equally guilty with the presi-
dent of the confederacy.:
After sketching the early career of Gen
eral Lee and referring to his gradua ton
from West Point and probable ambition to
command the army of the United States,
Senator Berry aroused the audience to
thusiasm when he asserted that Lee was
pre-emnently an unselfish man.
. HE had his beautiful home across the
Potomac and every promise of a success
full career; and yet, when it came time to
make his choice, he said Virginia has Sc
coded and owe my first duty to her. l am
going south to share the sufferings of my
people, +"
Applause greeted every mention of the
name of General Lee, but Senator Berry
drew forth an equal exhibit of apprecia
ton of the memory of Lees opponent, Cen
eral Grant, as he described the latter's at
titude toward the defeated officers and
men at AppomattoX.
AS Senator Berry concluded his address
the Marine Bank struck up Dixie and
the answer from the audience was imme
date, every one standing until the last
note of the air died away.
Justice Brewers Tribute.
Justice David Brewer of the United
States Supreme Court was the next speaker
and he too paid marked tribute to the SOL
der in honor of whose memory the meet
ing was called.
Gen. Lee a profoundly earnest,
serious and thoughtful man." he said. Il
have often drawn a mental picture of him
standing on the porch at Arlington and
gazing possibly at the Capitol on yonder
hill and then turning his back upon 1t all
upon the city and the government founded
by the father of his country-to answer
what he believed to be the call of duty
When the war was ended Gen. Lee did
what he could to rehabilitate his stricken
country. Every one knows that he could
have gone across the waters and found
a hearty welcome and a life of luxury and
ease'-and Justice Brewer read a series of
extracts from the letters of Gen. Lee to
show the attitude of the toward the
south-"his south'-after the surrender of
Appamatox brought forth the even sterner
duties of peace.
John Sharp Williams Address.
The last address of the evening was de-
livered by Representative John Sharp Will
lams of Mississippi. He said:
If our custodanship of our own destiny;
now regained, is ever again to be lost 1t will
be because we lost sight of the example
set by Robert E. Lee. 1t willGbe our own
fault because it can come only result
of a demonstration, by ourselves to the
balance of the United States and to the
world that we are lacking in self-restrant
lacking, in a word, in the capacity of self
government, and consequently the capacity
to govern wisely another race committed
to our charge.
others to mad deeds. ever came from the
lips of Robert Edward Lee.
ITO solve our problems of peace we have
only to invoke the spirit of Lee in war
invoked his sword. That spirit was
frmness, calm, equipoise-a noble self
in self-defense without hatred or malice.
He emphasized our duties-things to be
done by us, more even than our rights
things to be demanded by u.s.
Among Great Captains.
Our Englsh-speaking branch of the
white race has produced great captains.
Their forte was to battle against odds
Richard, the Lion-hearted, on the plains of
Acre; the black prince at Crecy and Poic-
tiers, winning his spurs in the sweat and
blood of battle; Prince Hal at Agincourt
wishing not another man from England to
share the world-renown of Saint Crispins
day; Cromwell and Prince Rupert-great
generals both; Marlborough pitted against
grand monarqueS and Dutch councillors;
Give and Havelock pitted against Asiatc
hordes on the plains of India; Wellington,
stolid and impressive, in the trenches of
-. 1.....,......... NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.