The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1908-06-05
General Lees Last Speech.

The following is a portion of the
speech prepared by Gen'l Stephen
j.. Lee 10 be delivered at the Birm-
ingham reunion, and was given to
the associated press and newspaper
men in advance Of delivery
The speech, eloquent and appeal
ing. says ia part:
1t II now fourteen years since
the Confederate veterans enjoyed
the hospitality Of this Magic City.
We remember greatfully the cour-
tesy Of our former unsurpassed well
come, but today we are ready to
believe that Birmingham can sur
pass itself Then there was with
as the incompatible Gordon, sol
dier, statesmen and orator, who,
along with the valor0us Longstreet
and the gallant Wheeler were Ala
bama 5 Paladins IN the armies of
the Confederacy 1t was from Ala
bama that 4ancey voice, like a
silver trumpet called the South to
arms, with an eloquenee more pO-
tent than Clan Alpine's fiery cross.
Alabama was the cradle of the Con-
federacy Here was installed the
provisional government of the new
nation, and here her illustrious
chief took the oath of office which
mo man but him should ever take,
and from Alabama came the great
admiral who loated the Stars and
Bars upon every sea and single
handed swept a nation 5 commerce
from the waves.
Since the war | have heard
many addresses to Confederate vet
Grams. Our orators have been rich in
arguments to demonstrate the cor
rectness of states rights views and
the soundness Of the Interpretation
of the constitution held by South
ern statesmen. They have display
ed the firm historic basis of our po-
IiticaI faith They have spoken in
comforting words of unexpected
beneGcent results Of Of the war, of
the preservation of the rights Of the
states in the union, of the discipline
Of adversely which prepared us to
meet the terrible race proplem with |
untiinching courage, interchangeable |
patience and united strength. They |
have taught us that the lost cause |
was not wholly lost, that the best
fruits Of the great conflict came to /
the South when the master was /
freed from the slave and the old I
ice ergs of sectional hate were set
adrift in the warm gulf stream of a
new national patriotism.
Nevertheless it has not seemed /
the whole truth to me that the Con-
federate soldier went into battle to
vindicate a constitutional argument.
He went to war because he loved
his people; because his country was
invaded because his heart was
throbbing for his hearthstone.
Here was the land which gave him
birth Here was his childhood's
home. Here We're the graves Of his
dead Here was the church spire
where he had learned it was not all
Ut life To live, or all of death to die
No hostile foot should ever tread
this consecrated ground except over
his dead body. 1t was the prospect
Of invasion that made the border
states with bleeding hearts try to
cast their lot With the Confederacy.
He who could have expected Lee
to DO battle against Virginia, or a
Hampton to draw his sword against
South Carolina, has never learned
lhe language af the human heart.
Nothing but the most devoted
love Of country could ever have
sustained the Confederate soldier in $
his unequal and terrible struggle.
Neither do | consider it neces-
sary To find a reward for the Con- 3
federate soldier in unexpected good !
results Of the great conflict. The
reward Of noble action lies in the {
capacity to do them. The Confed-
crate soldier who fought with un-
tlinehing courage had the reward of
being a brave man. He who loved |
his country had the reward of be-
ing true patriot. He who faced
the cannon 5 mouth for those he 5
loved dearer than life had the re- )
ward OF being hero. He who was :
faithful unto death had the reward
OF q stainless honor. What other