The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-16
'sPEER ON THE IMMORTAL LIFE.
Georgia Jurist Speaks Before Ham,
ilton Club.

Chicago, ILL.,, April 9.-Attorney
General George w. wickersham. ad-
dressing the Hamilton Club member
ship at the annual Appomattox day
banquet here tonight. warmly upheld
the Taft Administration.
Judge Emory Speer. of Georgia.
discussed the dimly receding line of
,sectionalism between the North and
South. and Governor Adolph o. Eber-
hardt. OF Minnesota. addressed him
self to the subject Of the "new
North"
Mr.. Wickersham declared that the
first year OF President Taft's Admin
fstration, so far as possible in that
short space of time. was a fulhilment
of pledges made In tho Republican
platform. Expenses Of Administra-
tion. he said. had been reduced, reve-
nue. increased. valuable information
bearing on the correction OF coporate
evils collected, and In a general way
forces organized In q sane and order
ly manner to carry out promises made
TO the people.
Judge Speer. responded to the
toast ITO the men who surrended
and since then have carried the flag
and kept step to the music Of the
Union" paid tribute to Gen. Robert
f. Lee. leader OF the Confederate
forces. which surrendered. and prais-
ed I'm highest terms the action OF Gen.
Grant In making liberal terms for
the Confederates at Appomattox. He
quoted his historical data to show
that from the closing days Of the
war to the present time the spirit OF
-sectionaiism has been gradually
dying out In all sections Of the
country.
After drawing a graphic picture Of
Lee. presenting himself before the
Union generals and the conference
preceding the actual surrender. he
described Lees return to his troops
TO break the news.
'countrymen to know the emotions In
the lofty soul of the noble figure In
grey, as he regarded for the last
time that army OF tattered uniforms
and bright muskets. which, In the
words OF a Northern historian. OPP
posing a constant front to the mighty
concentration OF power brought
against II. vital In all It's parts. died
only with Its annihilation.'
That his military career. brilliant
and unstained from It's inception, had
ended he clearly knew Eut every
act OF his life and especially that most
critical and criticised. demonstrates
that OF all earthly considerations. his
personal fortunes were to him the
least. He had declared that duty
Is the sublimest word In any language
and II can be made palm to any i'm
partial mind that this loftiest type OF
American OF the Southern States cast
MS lot with his native State and It's
subsequent allies. from a sincere con-
viction OF duty. as holy and unselfish
as that OF any martyr. who. posted at
the shrine Of truth. had died In her
defence"
Referring TO the antagonism 70
placing a statue OF Lee In Statuary
Hall. and declaring that the sincerity
OF southern men I'm their efforts to
remove all trace OF sectionaiism can
no logger be questioned, Judge speer
concluded:
Nor can our country afford to de-
precate or discredit In any manner
the like character. or the military
honor OF the American States called
Southern. and nothing could be more
anrontive 10 strong and fearless
population. who have demonstrated
their devotion TO the flag. than any
authoritative attempt TO sully that
Southern symbol. tho stainless sword
OF Lee. II would obllterate In every
such state the fellcitous influences Of
the personal knowledge OF the genial
courtly. manly President Lincoln. the
tender mercies OF the gentle McKin-
ley. and all else that has been done
or attempted to cultivate fraternity
between the Statcs once dlsordered
diSCOrdont and bctttgoror.u