The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-09
MEMORIAL UNVEILED
(CoOtipued Erou, Etrst p,va

the men Of the South did the same.
1t was a battle between rival concep-
tons of sovereignty rather than one
between a sovereign and Its acknowl
edged citizens
Issues Forever Settled.
The issues involved were submit
tod TO the sword, and by this bloody
1rbitrament the questions at issue
we're forever settled. Destiny decreed
that one unbroken republic under one
Gag should reach from Canada to the
Rio Grande. and from the Atlantic
20 the Pacific. For many reasons we
would not blot out OF American his
tory one page of the epic which re-
counts the rise and fall of the Con
federacy. for. though dim with tears
and tragic In its grief. il IL none the
less fruitful in its lessons Out of the
memories of this heroic struggle. out
OF he fiery ordeal which tested 80 the
etrermost the mettle OF the men North
end South---aye. even out OF the blood
that was shed on this and many other
fields. has come our life and strength
as nation; our unity IN heart and
purpose. our supreme devotion 10 the
flag OF a reunited country, which to-
day floats al hove us.
Treasure Valor On Both Sides.
we treasure the va lot @titu ms
tory records on both sides-the splen-
Did magnanimity OF Ulysses : Grant.
who. without objection. aCceded To
the honorable terms of surrender at
Appnmattox. which provided that.
The officers are TO retain their side
arms, private horses and baggage,
and Each oti-er and man - to he al
lowed 10 return to his home, and Not
80 ne disturbed by United States All
thorty as long as they observe their
Parole and tho laws IN force where
f7rv Texrrte
We treasure the words spoken here
hy Abraham Lincoln when the smoke
se. fingered ob he battlefield words
81 - tf1ttteirri VII
infinite kindness when he said
We mast moi i've enemies. Though
passion may have strained. X must not
break he bonds Of our affection The
.'ys ie chords Of memory stretching
tfoU3 rvery tuttle fold and patriot
grave Ia every TWINS heart ana hearth
sso0e AL Owes This jend viii yet swell
ihe saoHrs OF tbs union when again
touched. as surely they will he. by
tire better angels Of our nature
Nc treasure tho heroic deeds and
,us,1rine sample OF ALI the brave
soldiers living ard dead who gave TO
as and 10 The world a new standard OF
.Al'tt flE3h t09NANRB
"tlut ~ all this yve have lea med the
double lesson NJ the generosity Of
thivalrous foe In tho hour % victory
ana IN" fuIflment Of the noble utter
ance Of Guar own great leader. that
Human torjtude *nould he equal 10
human adv crsitN
Pays Tribute 10 Stc,ers
With the fine perception and real
genius Of the true artis, the sculptor
chosen by the commonwealth to ex-
press visihiy and permanently the
thought of the people has placed
bout the base of this memorial the
express <presentments or the type OF
men who followed Lee Here We see
represented ali arms OF the service.
and all the differing classes essential
~ typical Of Southern life and man
hood which combined To make the
Army OF Northern Virginia for so
long time inxincible. The life. he
deals 1.-The pEiac! piles Of tifest4-aaf~Ft-
AZ they stand cannot be exalted by
human tongue or human hand and
Vet We surmount this noble group by
the inspiring figure of the one man
who. by the ma iesty of his char
scter. the perfection of his manhood,
and the glory of his genius. represents
and embodies all that Virginia and
her sister Southern states can or need
youchsafe TO the country and to the
world as the supreme example OF
their convictions and principles. He
was the scion paramount of a long
tire OF soldiers and statesmen, the
consummate flower OF unique civil
ization which had gradually developed
amid the stern experiences and vexed
problems OF a new land--the heir di-
rect of the principles OF English bib !
erty conseCrated by centuries OF /
heroic struggle and ennobled by un-
swerving devotion TO the lofty ideals I
that had their germ at Runnymede.
Lees Traits Described.
The commonwealth OF Virginia
gave Lee his birth. his training aad
the traditions and impulses that con- (.
trolled his course; Lee gave 10 the /,
commonwealth and to the South his ,
noble ambitions. his fortdres and all /
his strength. the commonwealth gave
-te- Humanity the noble stnrY-of- life
lived to its ending on the very high :
est plane, and in the rarest and most /
exalted atm osphere of thought and
motive to which humanity may at
tain. He marches across the distant I
and sombre scene panoplied in light. I
A soul serene in victory. sublime In T
defeat. In every relation of life his
character is revealed In hawless
y.
palsied in the futile effort to detract .
from his greatness or impugn his mo- /
lives Obedient TO his conviction OF /
the paramount right of his native
state. he expressed that conviction in
these noble words;
II the Union Is dissolved and the
is disrupted ] shall re- /,
furn TO my native state and share
The miseries of my people. and, save +
In defense, will draw my sword on
none
at is fitting that we erect here this
noble effigy Of our great captain. sur
rounded by the memorials of men
who fought and fell ffty-four years
ago The imperishable' bronze shall /,
8utiive our own and other genera
lions. We who stand here today shall
pass into the beyond. leaving what i
egacies we may OF duty done or ideals
sustained: moon and stars shall shine
upon this face of incompara BILE
ma iesty; the dawn shall gild IL with
the splendor of sunrise; the evening
shadows shall enfold it in their gentle
embrace: and until the eternal morn
ing of the final reunion of quick and
fesri,- theft of Robert Edward bee-