The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1909-06-18

lue great NOTIuWcbt, uOAuluS my W
commission at large and from the Dis
trict of Columbia, where / was born,
but claiming some time to be q Ken
tuckian. Nm state, or sectional lines,
have ever made a pent-up Utica for any
of us. Each of us breeds back to good old
Anglo.Saxon and Scotch-Irish stock. In
the bygone days, the two most kindred
American types were to be found in Bos.
ton and Charleston; and, still, there are
those who, enjoying the gracious hospi-
tality of the Algonevin Club, in the
Yankee city, and the Palmetto Club, in
the city of the Huguenots, cannot tell
one from t'other, particularly after 10
o'clock in the evening.
AS Mr.. Watterson ceased speaking,
two little lads stepped out, pulled two
strings, and the flags which had low
ingly shrouded the great monument lut-
tered and fell away.
There vas an ~instant's silence, tribute
to lfe-like representation of the famous
Southern soldier, then one spontaneous
cheer burst forth from the threats of
the thousands grouped around it, while
above the cheers came the boom Of the
artillery salute.
The two little boys who unveiled the
statue were John G.. Lee and Lee Harri-
son, grandsons of Gen. Lee, while the
generals son, Blewett Lee, of Chicago,
stood at their side and directed them.
When the noisy enthusiasm had died
down a bit, Gen. Clement Evans, COM
mander-in-chief of the Confederate Vet
erans, formally presented the statue to
the federal government on behalf of the
people of Mississippi and the Confederate
Veterans.
When Gen. Evans finished, and Col.
Watterson arose to present Gen. Grant,
who had been delegated by the secretary
of war to receive the statue, a storm OF
applause broke out and continued for
nearly twenty minutes. 1t seemed a.
though the old ~gray-haired and gray-clai
soldiers had gone mad in their demon
stration of welcome and affection for the
render. Col. Watterson smiled and
shrugged his shoulders, as much as to
say, "You see, he needs no introduction"
and sat down.
The big general, in his cool and snowy
uniform Of white, the twin stars of a
major general shining out upon his col
lar, stood mute and immobile on the
platform. 1t was evident that he was
touched, and he controlled his
with great trouble.
His hands were clinched and eyes filled
with tears as he waited for the demon
~stration to subside. And when silence
was restored and he began to speak
was a very noticeable tremor in
his voice, while Mrs. Grants eyes were
filed with unshed tears.
Mai. Gen. Frederick Dent Grant, of
the Department of the Lakes, represent
ing Secretary of War Dickinson, who
was unable to be present, received in be-
half of the national government the
statue of Gen. Lee from the United Con-
Veterans. Gen. Grant referred
o his acquaintance with Gen. Lee,
which he said continued through many
and afforded him the greatest
happiness and qualification. He reviewed
he career of Gen. Lee, who died "leav-
ng an untarnished record, and a mem
,ry deservedly honored with admiration
md respect, because of his noble life
ind character, of which his surviving son
friends will ever be proud, and
all who follow him may emulate"
After the second demonstration, which
marked Gen. Grants concluding words,
lad subsidized, the Vicksburg school chill
lren sang america" to a band accom-
,animent.
Col. Peck, in his address, said in part:
This day is a dream, a dream that
las led and beckoned us through many |
weary years, and now, on this historic
pot, breathing conservation of the past,
bow our heads to the majestic pres
mt and to the soul of peace. 1t is not
;or us, at such a time, to ask how Ian
yuor and sorrow and the tears came
about. History is slow of speech, and
,ur ears habitually hear only the voices
hat come to them from long familiar
events. But this day is filled with un-
;peakable meanings. Here brave men
ought, and here North and South sent
far different from those
which fill the air today. But love is n
more effective weapon than hate, and we
nay well give thanks that the real cap
ure of Vicksburg, now going on in 1909,
instead of 1868, costs no lives, leaves
10 mourners, no broken hearts, but is
-ictory which both sides win, while
banking God that they discovered each
,ther. The lesson of the hour is the
,reatest that can come to any people,
nd it is the one which has come to the
American nation in a deeper sense than
t has ever come to any other country.
t is the lesson of peace, of good will.
Here today, proud of his fathers re-
is the only son of Gen. Lee, in
hose honor the bronze image is erected,
nd here, solemnly joining in the great
is the son of Ulysses S.
rant, the illustrious commander of the
Union forces at Vicksburg. They came
from Chicago, travelling as COM
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