Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-04


an address.
ally turned over the monument to Mrs
Stevens. His grandson, Paul Micou,
eleven years old, pulled the silken cord
monument; there was a national salute
of twenty-one guns, and Mrs. Stevens, in
turn, transferred the statue to the Presi-
dent, as a Gift to the nation.
Confederate Veterans Arrive.
Robert E. Lee Camp. No. /, Confed-
crate Veterans. arrived shortly before
noon and marched up Pennsylvania ave-
nue. in drizzling rain. bearing the Stars
and Bars and the Stars and Stripes side
BY side. The veterans took electric trains
for Arlington.
Gen. Young's Address.
Tho spirit of the south-of those van
pushed in war while fighting for what
they believed to be right; still loyal to
their ideals. with nothing to withdraw
from history, but big enough and gen.
erous enough to put behind them all the
bitterness and injustice Of the past and
unite with their former foes for the
common good Of the nation-was ex-
pressed by Gen. Young. He said. in part:
Providence furled the Confederate BAN
ner. and with it shrouded a young ma
tons life and hopes; but sacred memo
ries abide in the southern heart The
young nation persisted. but poetry and
pathos. honor and heroism. inspiration
and lesson linger in the golden urn that
holds its cherished ashes.
To-day we have come togetherblue
and gray-to dedicate monument and
empty a goblet upon that Federal soil
hi oh, cIa a vyYoh If
federate dead"
There have been so many surprises in
the life and career Of our republic that
thoughtful men are ever looking out for
the extraordinary and unusual Nothing
more strange and unwonted has ever
happened in national life than the exer-
cises of this afternoon. Its happening
marks another step in the complete
elimination of sectional passions. suspi-
cions or prejudice. This monument Is q
history, pledge and a prophecy: As a
history 1t memorializes the devotion of a
people to a cause that was lost; as
pledge 1t gives assurance that north
and south have clasped hands across a
fratricidal grave; as a prophecy 1T prom
Uses a blessed future, in which sectional
hate shall be fully transmitted into fra
ternity and good will.
We are here to dedicate on the ma
tons ground. on the space reserved for
its most renowned and illustrious dead.
a Confederate monument In its incep
ton. its construction, its location. and in
its mession. this structure stands in a
class by itself.
"a republic alone could foster or permit
those who lost in a great. prolonged
struggle to erect in such a place as this
a tribute to the dead, who for four years
battled against the nag that floats above
q place Of sculpture like this.
Neither Regrets Nor Apologies.
AT this hour represent the survivors
oR the southern army. Though this Con-
federate monument is erected on federal
ground. yet the man from whom 1 hold
commission would only have me come
without apologies or regrets for the past
Those for whom I speak gave the best
they had to their land and country. They
spared no sacrifice and no prtvation to
win for tho southland national independ-
ence.
IT am sure shall not offend the pro-
priet1es of either the hour or the occa-
sion when I say that we still glory in
the records of our beloved and immortal
dead. The dead. for whom this monu-
rnent stands sponsor. died for what they
believed to be right. Their surviving
comrades and their children still believe
that that for which they suffered and laid
down their lives was just; that their
premises in the civil war were according
to our Constitution. The men of the Con-
federacy submit. but they have no words
10 recall nor history 10 ChanSe. Inc
south gave 20oooO lives, the best and
most precious offering 1t had. as an as
surance of honesty of conviction, unfal-
tering faith and integrity of purpose
THE sword said the south was wrong
but the sword is not necessarily guided
by conscience and reason. The power Of
numbers and the longest guns cannot de-
stroy principle nor obliterate truth
Right lives forever. 1t survives battles
failures. conflicts and death. There is no
human power. however mighty, that can
in the end annihilate truth.
Evidence of Manhood.
ITO accept a situation the sword Great
ed. and bow gracefully and promptly to
the inevitable DEGREES of force. is one of
the highest evidences of great manhood
and superb valor.
mo man can stand on this hill and
look southwark without feeling his heart
glow with wonder and admiration and
pride, as he reviews what the soldiers
pf the Army OF the Potomac and the
Army of Northern Virginia wrought
out in heroism and valor between Airing
ton and Richmond.
THE most heroic men in the Confed-
crate Army were the men who carried
the guns
We are in sight of the spot
where Gen. Lee witnessed the most won
derful evidence of devotion and loyalty
that ever came into the life of a COM
mander At Spotsylvania Court House
three times the Confederate chieftain
started 10 the front. in apparent crises.