The Washington herald., 1910-01-16
LEE AND HIS UNIFORM
Reasons Why Hero of COnfederacy Deserves
Place in Hall of Fame

Gen. Lee should show him IN the uniform
Of the great general they little less than
worshiped and her soldiers willingly
fought under,
As a Nothern soldier I am frank 20
say that in this late day. nearly half a
century after Gen. Lees surrender at
Appomattox, where he and his soldiers
were so generously treated by another
great American general to whom he sur
rendered, that am glad to see the old
Confederates who followed Lee made
glad. What harm can come from making
them glad? What danger is there in the
gray uniform? 1t is but a memory. Il
makes Gen. Lee none the less one Of
the very first generals Of the American
republic. OF the world, who, before wear
ing that uniform. had honored the United
States as but few officers Of his rank had
ever honored 1t.
= In years to come, the fame of such
soldiers as Grant and Lee. Sherman and
Stonewall Jackson, Sheridan and Long
street, Thomas and Joe Johnston, Meade
and Joe Wheeler, will contribute largely
TO the honor and glory Of the American
nation, and few will stop to ask which
army they served in. They were leaders
in the greatest event the nation has
known, an avent that absolutely had 10
come if America was to become the great
nation that it is, and is TO be, the first
Of all Of the nations in the wide world.
Compromising had failed 10 cure the
cancer; all other efforts had failed; and
many of them had been made by the most
able and distinguished Of our statesmen.
Only the clash of arms, the thrust Of
bayOnets. the rattle of musketTy, and
he Shrek of shells and solid shot could
constitute the needed remedy for the
correction of something that simply had
10 be corrected. if the nation was to
progress and grow mighty in power, re-
spect, and grandeur.
II have long been Of the belief that
It was a good thing for the country to
make that gigantic test Of the eos, test
that gave the world to know beyond the
possibility Of a doubt that the Americans
are the best type Of the worlds people,
I do not eensure myself for strongly
advocating the allowing OF Virginia to do
Just as she pleases, under the law, in
the matter OF the two statues in the Hall
of Fame I do not censure myself; for
being glad that the statues of those two
great men. great soldiers, and the best
known type of Christian gentlemen, glad
dens the hearts of Lees soldiers and the
South generally, I do not censure myself;
for sincerely regretting the action OF
members of the Michigan Loyal Legion in
urging Congress not TO permit the statue
Of Gen. Lee IN the Confederate uniform TO
be unveiled in the Hall of Fame, do not
ceusure myself With deep regret, ]
lament the unwise. not to say unpatriotic
action Of a handful of Grand Army men
in Chicago who Joined the Michigan Loyal
Legion members in demanding that Con.
gress prevent the placing Of the Lee
statue in the Hall of Fame II was in
bad taste. regret II because Of the ef-
feet that their action wifi have upon the
South. and the grief and righteous indig-
nation it will cause the survivors Of the
men who bravely followed Lee. I regret
| it because It will bring ridicule upon the
! Grand Army Of the Republic and the
| Northern soldiers generally. I regret II
! because before THIS century is gone every
descendant Of the Michigan men and The
| Chicago men who placed themselves In q