The Washington herald., 1910-01-16

position TO be ridiculed and condemned
Will blush when their action is recalled
Conduct Of that character by Northern
soldiers belittles them in the eyes Of most
Of the public
Isn't the war over? Isn't the Con
federacy dead? Isn't Lees Uniform
harmless? Is II more than memory
Isn't the Confederate flag dead flag?
Is II mOre than memory? Is II a men
ace? Are they things 10 alarm brave
men or patriotic Americans? Need any
Northern soldier or other citizen be
scared because the brave old fellows
who wore a gray uniform and followed
that flag still have a kindly feeling for
both. and now and then enjoy taking
them out, looking at them, and recalling
the days when they gave their best in
fight in which they thought they were
night?
There are reasons why we ought to be
very generous and kindly in our thoughts
and actions toward the South. and par
tlcularly toward the Southern soldiers
They lost all IN the contest: they met
bitter defeat Our side won ALA vic
tory that meant everything for our ma
ton and very much for hundreds Of
millions in other nations. not for the
present. but for ali time 70 come.
II the war had ended only a few years
ago, there might be some excuse for the
action Of the few Michigan and Chicago
men. but in view Of the fact that the
var was over nearly half a century ago
I see no excuse for it, and condemn II
How quickly some Of US forget A few
years ago our country had to engage in
another war. From every Southern State
thousands Of young men, many the sons
and grandsOns OF Confederate soldiers
clasped hands with other thousands Of
young men from the North, many of
whom were the sons and grandsons of
Union soldiers. and offered their services
10 the government in that righteous war
Old Confederate commanders responded.
Three Of Gen. Robert E. Lees close rel
atives were among those who served
in the Spanish American war. How
fondly we all thought. as we looked unon
the inspiring, uplifting, patriotic picture
that now the civil war is over" But
some people have forgotten. A few IN
Michigan and few in Chicago appear
TO have forgotten. Seemingly they would
keep up the strife.
We should not forget that this coun-
try is as much the South's as II is the
NoTth's; that she has the same rights
that the North has; that our flag fs
! their fiagi that they were as ready IN
1898 to assist in fighting the country
battles as the North was, and that no
portion Of the country would respond
more promptly should other dangers de-
mand great armies.
Has there been President since the
war, had another war come and Robert
E. Lee srill alive and in condition 10
command, who would not have selected
him as the commander Of an armv9
Grant, Mckinley, Hayes. Garfield Ar
thur, Cleveland, Harrison, Roosevelt, and
| Taft would have counted themselves
lucky TO secure his service. What Amer
lean would have responded more prompt
ly or with q stronger desire to serve his
country than Robert E. Lee? This Is
only a supposition. but It is a perfectly
+ safe supposition.
If alive, would Lincoln, Grant. Sher-
man, Sheridan, Thomas, Warren. Smith.
Sedgwick. Howard. Logan, Rosecrans.
Meade, or any Of the great leaders of the
| Union army approve of the clamor
/ against the Lee statue for the Hall of
| Fame?