The gold leaf., 1909-06-17

accompanied by salute from th
IWarren Light Artillery and the sing
ing of the Vicksburg school children
Mr.. Watterson. as prelude to tn
/ introduction OF Lieut.. Gen. Clemen
A. Evans, who presented it in tn
name OF the Confederate Veterans
and Mai. Gen. frederick ID. Grant, wh'
accepted in on behalf OF the Govern
ment and the army. and the Hon
George X. Peck, who delivered th'
grafton. said: II have declared tina
we are one people. No air lines, no
water lines, nor isothermal line'
separate US into geographic frag
ments. all the good on this side, al
the bad on that. The war ended
nearly fifty years ago. He who
thinks there are issues left Outstand
inc from the days of secession anc
slavery must have been dwelling in a
rut OF distorted fancies, nor have
travelled much beyond the shadow
OF his own roof tree.
THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH
"Mississippi and Massachusetts are
|.cOnyertible terms. Given the same
conditions their people would be the
same and would do the same. Dur
ing the thirty years Immediately
preceding the War OF Sections three
at least Of Mississippi's most popular
and celebrated public men came here
from the North: Robert J. Walker,
born and reared in Pennsylvania;
John A. Quitman, born and reared
in New York, and SargentS. Prentiss
born and reared in the State OF
Maine
81 am about to present you in sue
cessiOn Lieut.. Gen. Clement Anselm
Evans, Commander-in-chief of Con-
federate Veterans; Maj Gen. Fred
erick Dent Grant, of the army OF the
United States, and the Hon. George
Record Peck, of the great Northwest,
holding my own commission at large
and from the District of Columbia,
where | was born, but claiming some
time to be a kentuckian. No 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
bygoue days the two most kindred
American types were to be found in
Boston and Charleston; and, still
there are those who, enjoying the
gracious hospitality of the Al gOn-
quin 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 boys unveiled the statue.
They were John G. Lee and Lee Har-
risOn, grandsOns OF General Lee,
while the Generals son, Blewett Lee,
of Chicago, stood at their side.
When the enthusiasm had died
down Gen Clement A. Evans, Com
mander-in-chief of the Confederate
Veterans, formally presented the
statue to the Federal government on
behalfOf the people of Mississippi and
the Confederate Veterans.
When General Evans finished and
Mr. WattersOn arose to present Cen
eral Grant, who had been directed by
the Federal government to receive
the monument, a storm OF applause
broke out and continued for nearly
twenty minutes.
Gen. Frederick Dent Grant, of the
Department of the Lakes, represent
ING Secretary of War Dickinson, who
was unable to be present, received, in
behalf of the national government,
the statue OF General Stephen ID. Lee
from the United Confederate Vete-
rams. General Grant referred to his
acquaintance with General Lee which,
he said, continued through many
years and afforded him the greatest
happiness and qualification. He re-
viewed the career of General Lee, who
died, ''leaving an untarnished record,
and Il memory deservedly honored
with admiration and respect, because
of his noble life and character, OF
which his surviving son and friends
will be ever proud, and which, all
who follow him, may emulate"
Continuing, General Grant said: 81
myself, am especially grateful, to
have this opportunity OF speaking in
honor of General Stephen Lees mem
DRY, us less than two years ago, he,
my kind friend and hospitable host,
took me over these very historic
grounds at Vicksburg, and we re-
called together the incidents of the
fearful struggle which occurred
here, in 1868, where he and | both
have been wounded, General Lee dur
ing that struggle, as q distinguish
ed officer of the Confederate army,
and | being with my father, who
commanded the forces of the oppos-
ing Union army. We talked over the
battles OF the past with no feeling OF
bitterness, but only y with rejoicing,
that peace had been established and
that harmony, patriotism and loyal,
ty to one flag, now exist throughout
our great land.
''In the shadow of this beautiful
statue, built to the memory of this
knightly and chivalric soldier, | am
glad to recall the earnest wish cher
ished constantly by my own dear
father, General Ulysses S. Grant, for
peace and harmony among the Ameri.
can people. This wish was shown in
the terms granted here at Vioksburg
and also April 8, 1865, when at Ap.
pomattoX, upon reading that the
side-arms, horses and private prop,
erty OF his officers and enlisted men
could be retained by them. General
Robert +. Lee said to General Grant
These terms will have, indeed, a
most happy effect upon my army
and upon the whole South
PERIOD OF HARMONY.
Il am glad to recall that this sen
timent for harmony between the
North and the South, begun at Ap
pomattox, was cherished by General
Grant until the end of his life. as
shown by him, during the admins
tration of President Johnson and the
Reconstruction period, when Genera
Grant stood firmly and determinedlv
for the promises he had given to