Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-17
Some Things You Want to Know
The Statue of Lee.

Next Wednesday being the anniversary
Of the birth OF General RObertnE r. Lee, II
was the original intention Of those inter
ested I'm placing the statue Of the great
commander in the ststuary hall OF the
United States capitol, to have the formal
presentation take place on that date. But
the adverse criticisms heard in some
places will result in a -postponement OF the
date Of formal presentation at least to
February %. the birthday OF Washington,
and perhaps indefinitely. 1t is said to be
the wish OF the family Of General Lee that
no formal presentation be extended 80 long
as there is serious objection to its recep-
ton from any quarter.
II, In Difference to these objections, the
presentation ceremonies shall be postponed
indeflnitsly, the effect will DC farther
reaching than the Lee controversy. for the
reason that the state Of Virginia is also
presenting a magnificent bronze OF Wash
ington. and the country will be treated to
tho spectacle Of a statue of the Father OF
His Country standing In the statuary hall
without formal reception. It would be an
unfortunate situation, but not a really
serious one. because the statue is there
by law. The formal presentation ceremon-
% u hhk Nv AAh9 NAhA
have nothing TO DO with making the pres
ence Of the statues legal. AS a Virginia
congressman Of long service and delib-
crate judgment has said: THE statues Of
Washington and Lee are there by law, the
letter OF which has been complied with,
and nothing but n specific act OF congress,
or an act OF vandalism can get them out
The law under which these gifts are pre-
scented was passed years ago, shortly after
the wings OF the capitol were built ana
the house vacated what is now Statuary
hall. In order TO create a national valhalla
congress set apart this room and provided
that each state should be entitled to send
thereto the statues OF the two deceased
persons whom II might select. 1t Will b.
observed that the choice rests with the
state itself, and that the only conditions
are that the effigles shall represent the
dead and those ~hc are deemed most
worthy Of the honor. There Is nothing set
forth concerning congressional approval,
or authorizing any tribunal TO question the
choice OF a SKATE. Joan Brown might be
even more Objectionable TO Virginia than
Lee is 10 Kansas, yet neither has the right
10 contest the choice Of the other.
When the statues are placed in position
that ends all tie necessary forEalitiss.
When the one Of Father Marquette, the
Jesuit explorer. ives presented by the state
Of Wisconsin. there was a strong protest
from anti-Catholic sources because OF the
presence Of the robes of the order and
trouble seemed imminent in the house. The
senate did it's part in formally accepting
the statue, but the acceptance by the
house was not asked. This cffigy OF Mar
quette stands there now on as sure a
footing ms II II had received a hundred
formal aecaptances, and no one thinks Of
objecting TO its presence.
When lee was first considered for a
place in Statuary hall there was some diff
ference OF opinion in Virginia as to the
ACCESSIBILITY Of his selection. Every one
agreed that he was. next to Washington,
the best beloved of Viryinia's heroes. But
soTnp thought that perhaps the time was
lnopportune. and that the matter had bet
ter he deferred. To every one 1t seemed
TO he a procedure warranted by right, hut
| to some 'ittwasr not considered expedient.
At this t~uncture Senator Martin gave OK
precision TO the view that every other state
had exercised it's right I'm the premises with
out let or hindrance, and thai IL Virginia
were to be denied that right the Virginia
which had figured SO conspicnously In this
lONglulnb OI ihN bON biniteHts AhSA ~ was
time for It's people to know It. 'rhii
seemed 10 voice the general sentiment and
the legislature forthwith ordered the cast
ing OF the statues.
The objections to the acceptance Of the
statue Of General Lee comes from the fac
r that he is clad in the confederate uniform
rather than from objections to the maj
himself, There are several other confed
: crate soldiers in the hall, notably McKeuni
I and Curry. from West Virginia and ala
. banla. respectively, but there was no Sc
rtous objection to them.
The presentation Of the statues OF Wash
= ington and Lee was timely, ut least so fsl
as that OF Washington is concerned. Il
/ recent years. since Illinois sent tho stntu,
Of Frances f. Willard. the ludicrousnes
? Of the location Of the statue Of washington
has brought TO the face of the visitor
$ smile of amusement rather than a look o
: veneration. In the first place. Washingtol
was represented by the smallest and mos