The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1907-01-24


gTay evening Of failure. and tkireforE
out of what seemed failure be helped
TO build the wonderful and mighty
triumph Of our national life, In which
sll his eountrymen, North and South.
share. Immediately after the elo<s of
hnstllles be announced With n clear
siyhtsdffsss ~hish 1T that time few
indeed Of any section possessed, that
the interests of the Southern States
we're the same as those OF the Unit
ed States; that the prosperity of the
SeuiE wobid rise or fall with the vel
fare OF the whole country and that
the dnts Of the citizens appeared to-.
pain to admit Of doubt. he urged
tha. all should unite IN honest effort
10 chliter.te the effects OF war and
restore the blessings OF peace; that
they should remain in the country
strive for harmony AID good feeiing
and devote their abilities 10 the ia
terests of their people and the heal
ing of dissentions. To every one who
applied to him, this was the advies
lie gave: Although absolutely with
out means, he refused all offers of pc
euniary aid, and all positions Of emol-
ument, although many such, at a high
salary, were offered him. He deelin-
ed to go abroad, saying that he
| sought only "a 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 II
lexington. Virginia, which had grown
out oF 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
iii the same fine spirit, gave his ser.
vices. He accepted the position OF
president at a salary of 81 800 yeat
| in order, as he stated, that he nigh
do some good to the youth of The
South. He applied himself to hi
new work with the same singlenes
of mind which he had showed in lead
ing the army of Northern Virginia
All the time by word and deed h
was striving for the restoration o
real peace, of real harmony, neve
uttering a word Of bitterness nor al
lowing a word of bitterness uttere'
in his presence to go unchecked. Fror
the close Of the war to the time o
: his death all his great powers wer
; devoted to the two objects; to tn
reconciliation OF all his countryme
with one another, and to fitting tn
youth of the South for the duties Q
a lofty and broad minded citizenship
Such is the career that you gathe
to honor; and [ hope that you wi
> take advantage of the one-hundredt
anniversary of General Lees birth b
: appealing to all our people, in ever
> section of this country, to CONNER
>. crate his life and deeds by the e.
y tabllshment at some great represel
tative educational institution of IL
:, South of a permanent memorial. tn;
y will service the youth of the comm
years, as he, in the closing years ,
= his life, served those who so sore
needed what he so freely gave.
= Sincerely yours,
y THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
f Following brief remarks by Sen
q tor Berry, of Arkansas, and Justi
- David Brewer, of the United Stat
= Supreme Court, representative in
8 Sharp Williams, of Mississippi
- spoke.
,e The annual ceremony Of presen
@ ing crosses Of honor to Confedera
e. veterans of distinguished milital
70 record then occurred, the exercis
Is being brought to close with ben
h. diction by the Rt. Rev. Henry
20 Satterlee, 49, of Washington.