The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1908-06-18
READ LEES LAST ADDRESS.
The Late Commanders Post
Humous Speech to Con-
federates.

Il
Ia the galleries OF the Birmingham
Hippodrome auditorium the eigh-
teenth annual reunion otConiederste
veterans was called to order at 10
O'Clock Tuesday by Major George P,
Harrison, commanding the Alabama
division OF the Confederate veterans.
The invocation was delivered by the
Rev, DR.. J. William Jones, chaplain
general.
Tuesdays programme included an
address OF welcome on behalf OF the
Coniederate veterans of Alabama by
Brigadier General W. Bush, on be.
hall Of the Sons OF Veterans by Gen.
ersl Rufus \ Rhodes, on behalf Of
Alabama Daughters OF tine Conieder.
acy by Mrs. Charles g. Brown and
reading OF the address OF Stephen d.
Lee, written before the death OF the
late commander.
General Lee wrote in part:
Ii has rot seemed the whole truth
TO me that the Confederate soldier
went into battle so vindicate "A con,
stisutional argument. He went to
war because he loved his people; be
cause his country was invaded; be-
cause his heart was throbhing for his
hearthstone. Here WAS the land
which gave him birth. Here Was She
church.spire where he had learned IL
was not all OF lie TO live or all OF
death 80 die. No hostile foot shall
ever tread this consecrated ground
except over his dead body. 1t was
the prospect OF invasion shat made
the border states with bleeding hearts
try TO cast their lot with the Conied-
erscy. He who could have expected
Lee to do battle against Virginia,
or Hampton to draw bis sword
against South Carolina, has never
learned the language OF the human
heart. Nothing but the most devot-
ed love OF country could ever have
sustained the Confederate soldier in
his unequal and terrible struggle.
Neither do | consider 1t necessary
TO find a reward for the Confederate
soldier in unexpected good results OF
the great conflict. The reward OF
noble actions lies in the capacity to
do them. The Confederate soldier
who fought with uIfinching courage
had the reward OF being a brave
man. He who loved his country had
the reward OF being true patriot.
He who faced the lannon's mouth
for those he loved dearer than life
had the reward OF being q hero. He
who was faithful unto death had the
reward OF stainless honor. What
other course could Southerner have
! taken?
Robert Z. Lee and Jefferson Davis,
before they passed from us, gave us
the same counsel They advised US
to accept Loyalty the results OF the
war, and to devote ourselves 10 the
upbuilding OF our wasted country.
That counsel was accepted.
The Confederate soldier has given
TO the government at Washington
the same faithful support which be
gave to she government at Rich
mond. His patriotism has expand
ed It's boundaries without losing its
quality. He yields to no man In his
love OF the whole country and HE
devotion TO her cause. In the war
with Spain he gave proof that his
sword was not asleep. 1t is all his
country wherever the flag floats,
which his ancestors filed with stars.
That he has rebuilt the prosperity
OF the South; that he has restored
the commercial majesty OF this glor-
ious land, this great city is witness
The brain OF a Confederate soldier
conceived it, and the hands OF Con.
federate soldiers have been busy In
its work They served their country
In peace as in wear. They point
their children to the busy, happy
prosperous land, beautiful as the
dawn, strongin developing resources,
rich In promise Of all that makes q
state, and say, Behold our greatest