The gold leaf., 1910-02-24
Thomas ] Pence, in News and Observer.

Washington, d. c., Feb. 1G.-Al.
though urged by several constituents
to oppose the acceptance of the
statue of Gen. Robert f. Lee in
Statnary Hall Senator Borah, OF
Idaho, has declined to do any such
thing, and his action is in striking
contrast with that of the other Sena,
tor from Idaho, Mr.. Hpvburn, who
recently waved the bloody shirt in
the Senate.
/ In a letter expressing admiration
for the lofty character of Gen. Rob,
ert f. Lee, and preaching the doc
trine of perce, Senator Borah said
to a constituent, Col. Wood, OF
Boise, Idaho:
"My Dear Colonel | received
some time ago your letter, also
enclosing circular letter from the
cOmmandery of the State of Oregon
| both earnestly protesting against
the placing OF the statue Of Gen
Robert + Lee in the Hall of Fam"
have received numerous other
/ petitions along the same line.
should have answered sooner, but
press OF business has prevented my
! doing so. In view, however, of sOmt
telpgrams which | have received
! along the same line within the last
few hours, | feel ought to say tC
you frankly how | feel about the
matter. | am not going to criticise
| by any means, or find fault witt
those who differ from me, anC
especially is this true with reference
TO the Grand Army of the Republic
They earned by their sacrifices the
right to speak upon such matters
and no man likes to differ from them
in the first place under the statute
it is peculiarly the province of eacf
State to select those whom it would
with propriety interpOse an objection
to the placing OF any statue there
which a particular State selects.
But in the second place, and fol
a more controlling reason, | cannot
look upon the placing of Lees statue
| in the Hall of Fame as q reflection
upon you or your comrades or any
disparagement of the cause for which
you rendered the last full measure
or DEVOTION If | viewed it in that
light | would, of course, vote against
it. 1t is rather to my mind {
manifestation of the profound de
termination upon the part of all that
in SO far as can be done, every vestigt
of i'll will, of sectional difference, shall
befOrever and under all circumstance!
ignored. We are again one people
dominated and controlled by tht
pride, the unity of purpose, and the
patriotism of one people, | do not
believe that any act upon the part
of the North great or small. shoulC
stand in the way of summOning th'
highest energies of a reunited people
to the solution OF the problems which
| sincerely believe are no less grav'
than those of fifty years ago.
81 would not, Therefore, give m1
Iconsent to this statue being placed
in the capitol because of Lees mill
tary genins-though in my opinion
only Hannibal, Napoleon and Gran
precede him; nor because of his pur
and spotless personal life-thOugl
in this respect he seems to have wOl
the admiration and love of all wht
came within the spell of his fascina
ting character. These have beeI
plead i'll his behalf But do so, Col
Onel because | do not want, more
over under no circumstances do
propose if | know it, by any act o
mine to foster or keep alive natiOna
strife or feeling. ] believe my cOurs
Is in thorough harmony with tn
fOrbearance aud tolerance with whiCl
Lincoln baptized a nation. | believe
too, that it is in harmony with th
actions of our great commander a
AppomattOx You will remembe
that when our troops began to fir
the salutes OF victory, Grant CAV
orders that the firing should cease
saying, "The war is over. these mel
are again our countrymen. 1Ol
will recall, too, that after the wa
Gen. Lee was by direction of Presi
dent Johnson indicted in the court
of Virginia. Gen Grant. then in com
; mand of all the armies of the United
States went to his rescue and declared
that he would resign his position
such proceedings Were pushed. Th
! indictments were dismissed.
Il believe, in other words, Colonel
that if the precepts of the parable o
the prodigal son are sufficient upOI
which TO found a religion, the.
ought to have at least as wide dill
fusion as possible in a Christian
nation. And this does not detrac
from or impeach the honor an
glory which belongs to you ant
every member of the Grand Army 0
the Republic. Your place is too vel
fixed in the history of this countr.
to be in any wise affected by
tolerance which a different age and
different generation require. Fror
IL