Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-08
FORMAL PROTEST.
Woman's Relief Corps On Heeoro
Against Lee Statue.

The following resolutions auop'eo ny
the Woman's Relief Corps. department
of the Potomac in an annual convention
held some years ago. are extremely m
teresting in view of the present protest
against the placing of the Lee statue III
the Hall of Fame at the National Capitoi'
The resolutions, which were iulIIisheo
the Journal by veteran now at losus'
were prompted by the query as 10 why
if Virginia desired to place statue ol
Gen. Robert Z. Lee in the National faii
of Fame, the North should object.
The answer was
Whereas, The Legislature of the state
of Virginia contarnplates placing in Stat
uary Hall. of the Capitol in Washiistoiii
a statue of Robert +. Lee, VINO was ~.
general commanding the forces ior LOU.
long and bloody years in rebellion asain az,
the government and constitutions c du
thorities of the United States, therefore
be it
Resolved. by the Woman's Relief corps
Department of the Potomac, inat we
believe that the contamination OF thla NJ
tention on the part of the legislature OF
the State of Virginia would be piot
upon our National escutchcon ana an IN
effaceable stain upon the memories OF
more than 1900 fields of battle in a vic.
the Union and principles of liberty,
Resolved. That the placing OF thcc
statue of Robert f. Lee in the Cdpitoi
of tic nation would be to put premium
upon treason and to brand PATRIOTISM
with bar sinister
Resolved, That we. the mothers, Wives
daughters, and sisters of Union soldiers.
sailors and marines who aided in putting
down the rebellion do with other loyal
women. enter emphatic protest against
this suggested surrender of the Hans OF
Congress to effigies of the enemies or
the Union as it was established IN the
beginning, and in support of our protest
we set forth the following good and sufii-
cient reasons:
Robert f. Lee, American born and bred.
was educated by the United States gov,
Military Academy where he took a SOL
emn oath at each promotion in rank to
support and defend the Constitution of
the United States against all enemies,
foreign and domestic. For 81 years he
wore the uniform of the United States
army and received his sustenance and
support from the eXchequer of the gov
eminent.
Then this same Robert E. Lee betray ed
the government that educated and made
him all that he had achieved of name
and fame. April %. 1861. he resigned his
commission as colonel of the United
States army. laying aside the blue uni
form of loyalty, put on the sad gray of
ually commander-in-chief of the forces
in rebellion. and thus set the seal of
treason upon his hitherto honorable ca
reer.
This act of treason was not committed
in the white heat of passion. nor was it
the sudden impulse of hot-headed youth.
Lee had passed the half century mark,
and for three decades had helped to
make efficient the military forces of the
country which he deserted in her hour
of need.
Premeditatedly. and with malice afore-
thought Lee left the Union and Joined
hand with those who had on oath regis
teed to destroy the government and trail
It's nag in shame and dishonor. With
him there went into the shameful rebel
lion 200 officers who had received their
education at the expense of the govern
ment. and who had been inoculated with
me virus or dlsloyalty by and through
the example set by their leader, Robert
L. Lee.
Then followed four years of wars
sec d e. with a cost to the Union of ST.
0O0,O 1000 of Money. and which wrecked
the lives of a million of men.
When the end came Lee quit. as he said
at AppomatoN. because of "overwheln-
ing forces and congratulated his men
on your constancy and devotion to your
After all that had passed Lee still de-
ciared his allegiance to the broken and
dlSmembered fragments of a so-called
country" History does not record that
ne ever uttered word that expressed
regret or sorrow or his acts of deser-
tion and treason. Therefore, we protest
against this contemplated statue.
Lee deliberately carved with his own
hands the niche in Fame's Temple no
desired to fill. and died as he had lived.
IN the belief that he had done an honor
able thing in placing the state above the
Onion: and in deserving the flag.
we bear no malice toward single sur
vIVor or the men in rebellion. We will
nave the tenderest charity for AN. We
VIII Surror All those in need and distress.
we VIII aid and care for their widows
an. dependent ones. We will care for
.he graves Of their war dead and bury
tnn ,c whom death claims every day. We
WI! GLADLY pledge ourselves to educate
.hclr orphan children. as we educate
.n0Se or our own brave heroes. and we
VIII cndeavor to inculcate those lesson
oI PATRIOTISM and devotion To country.
which viii forever bar dascrtion to that
Bnt never. while the stars shine in the
,, ,.;,, and The sun gives light by dav.
wiz we consent to have treasan thus
o"ndnn"d and disloyalty tniy exalted
ana amu saori'ied. FOR the emolutioh of gen