The National tribune., 1910-02-10
SENATOR HEYBUHN ON LEE.

SENATOR HEPBURN ON LEE.
Last Monday was q notable scene in
the United States Senate. a bill was
before that body. introduced by Senator
{ Rankhead. of Alabama, TO loan tents
land other paraphernalia in the War De-
Ipartment to the Confederate veterans
! for their coming Reunion at Mobile.
/ This was passed by a vote of 81, with
| but one in the negative, that being cast
| by Senator Hepburn, Of Idaho. When
| it was known that Senator Hepburn was
going to make a speech the Democrats
decided to answer it by absolute silence.
As he began every Democratic Senator
! but Jeff Davis, of Arkansas. and many
of the Republicans left the chamber.
iSenator jeff Davis remained, and two
or three times interrupted the speaker
with questions. Senator Hepburn, after
referring to the bill, giving his opinion
of it in a somewhat fiery speech, said
| that the issues of the civil var had been
determined upon the battlefield, and he
Ideeply regretted any move to bring
| them once more to the front and stir
up public feeling. He made the strong
point that Virginia had no part in pass
| ing the law creating Statuary Hall, but
at that time she was doing her utmost
| to destroy the Union. II she had want
cd to memorize one of her worthy sons
why did she not select some of the early
Lees, the Marshalls, the Masons or the
Patrick Henrys? As n Union man he
did not propose to sit idly by while men
who engaged in the coming celebration
were to wear the Confederate uniform,
carry the Confederate flag all the time
they were using Government property.
!. he attacked the action of Lee in taking
the oath of allegiance to the Confeder-
acy while he was yet an officer in the
Regular Army, and said that but for
this and other acts of the officers of the
Regular Army the. war would not have
lasted more than month, and contin-
ued:
II say to the people who sent this
Image here, take it away.
1T is not dear to the American peo-
pie.
Il ask you to take it away and wor-
snip II IL you VIII, anu IHdhe the re-
quest in no reproach to the State of
Virginia.
place it among the most sacred Of
the gods in your temple. but for Gods
sake don't start again the spirit which
resulted in so much carnage and suf-
fering in this Nation.
81 do not mean that there will be
war. Sectional warfare can never re-
suit in this country again, but let US
avoid cIIcb copditinps will
controversy and stir up feeling. Parade
the glory of your own household with
in it,
We are willing to close our eyes to
the pages of that period unless you
by your acts bring it out and force the
issue 81,
II appeal to you as American citizens
to send these memories back to the
fireside where they are appreciated.
This great building belongs to the
Nation, and no discord should be
brought within its walls either by ac-
tion or by speech"
Weldon Brinton Hepburn was born in
Delaware County, Pa, May %, 1852,
his parents being Quakers of English
descent. He was one of the pioneers of
Idaho, moving to Shoshone County in
the Winter of 1891, and has resided
there ever since. He has been Re-
publican from the first, and a man
whose activity and wisdom can always
be relied upon. He stood firmly against
the Populists and Free Silverists, going
down to defeat when a nominee on the
Republican ticket for Congress He
was elected to the Senate Jan. 13, 1909,
receiving the entire Republican vote of
the Legislature, to succeed Henry Heit-
field, Democrat, and Jan. 13, 1909, was
reelected by the unanimous vote of the
Republicans of the Legislature His
term will expire March 3, 1915. He is
everywhere regarded as a rising state
man, whose reputation for ability and
integrity to the best interests of the
country will soon become world wide
He is the only man in the Senate who
said what every loyal man and woman
in the country wanted said. He said
it well and strongly, ard during the de-
livery of his speech the galleries were
packed, with every man and woman
hanging in rapt attention on his words.