The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-06-11
Watterson and Evans
Speak at Vicksburs

stephen D. lee. at the vicks5urg "a
toaal PARK here today. Colonel Henri
wauerson. the noted editor of th'
Louisville. lKyJ cosref-Jo1ruai EaI
chosen 70 president and paid eioq8eur
tribute 70 the no1t hand 70 the f0rmei
Confederate general Upon taking ths
eEair az presiding officer Mr- Waiter
soa said.
Standing b. the Father u Waters
lst ne FIRST give thanks % God that
from the pals q S. Anthony 70 the
Gulf o. Mexico. IL aoFs through 81 un-
broken succession of American states.
zt once chain ard sn emblem u per
petaaI un50n between ne north and
TIE south.
Il was - gain this outlet ~ the Eea
that ue acquired the Lo1isian4s u
France u was u keep il open thar
TIE ye0mene Of the great northwest
took the field The purpose 70 close i
proved Al error 0f farFeaehing magni-
tnde. but II il Be true. AZ Gibbon tells
~. that History is little more than
the register of the crimes. foliles and
uisgortunes Of mankind what must
not all of Us have 70 answer for when
Reason comes 70 the final disposition
Of the facts Of a conflict which even
nov battles philosophy: because the
south, foredOOmed to defeat. Tisked All
and had everything % lose: the wonder
being. and the glory. that against such
ODDS the self-conhdent but vanquished
and vanished COnfederacy was able TO
hold out 80 long
Those Of ~ who survive that dread
ordeal. are old men now and each an
nual rOll-call brings fewer Of Us To-
gefher Presently there will remain
among the living not one who fought
on either side Happy those who
have been spared to look upon land
never again 70 be wet BY fraternal
blood and a people reunited forever
IN hand and heart The mystic chords
OF memory. stretching from every bat
tlefield and patriotic grave to every
living heart and hearthstOne," touched
long ago by "the angels Of our better
nature" swell al last the universal
chorus Of the Union. the memory Of
deeds of kindness and Of valOr done;
Of a common blood and race: for. i'm.
possible as the line Of fire seemed.
We were one people then and we are
one people now. the war Of sections a
mutual and a blessed heritage.
This Is why we are assembled in a
national cemetery to rear memorial
TO Confederate general lie was Of
the best the south has 10 offer upon
the altars Of American manhood all
that the north could wish an American
TO be. / have ridden to battle with
him. and kneit by his side IN prayer.
and can truiy say that what his great
kinsman was IN Virginia be was to
Mississippi:
so prompt and capable and yet so
calm He nothing lacked in soldier
ship, except good fortune"
II will be for another to swell upon
his many and surprising virtues, BIS
skill and prowess in the field. bis sery
ice TO the arts Of peace; bis simple
kindly. sturdy manfulness in the pres
ence OF death. Lee IN every drop
OF his blood, in every inch Of his sta
ture. in every thought and fiber Of his
splendid intellect and delightful per
sonality
Let me end where J began. TOT we
stlIl stand by the side Of the Father
Of Waters regret that the battle
ship which but few weeks ago came
and went. did not penetrate yet a little
farther up the mighty stream SO that
the buillles from her decks might have
looked upon the fields where Grant and
remberton. conteuded for the right Of
way, SO that the heroes sleeping here.
might have heard the thunder OF her
guns. shotted with the words OF the
noble Fremont, the navy IS without
sectional prejudice and its patriotism
knows no boundaries save those OF
our own great country" but ] am re-
jciclng to feel that wherever She sails.
fhe viii carry with her the enigy
Of that gallant Mississippian. who On
life signalized an that Is chivalric in
American manhood and an that was
typical Of the civilization Of the south
10 the end that. when her officers en-
tertain the valiants OF other lands.
from the North Sea, immortalized by
Paul Jones. TO the Sea Of China. inn
mortalized by George Dewey - the
Stars and Stripes above hem-they
will need only to point to the likeness
OF Jefferson Davis. the chief of the
Confederacy for proof OF the rehabili-
tation Of the sections and the perpeui.
ity Of the Union"
After the unveiling of the statue.
accompanied by a salute from the
Warren Light Artillery and the singing