The Brunswick news., 1917-01-21
GREAT ADDRESS
BY JUDGE SPEER
HIS GRAFTON PRINCIPAL FEAT.
URE AT A GENERAL LEE
CELEBRATION.

y
Speer, who has been in Albany for the
past two weeks holding a term of the
United States court for the Southern
District of Georgia, was the orator of
the day at Americus yesterday in The
celebration of the anniversary of the
birth of General Robert f. Lee. and
his brief visit to Americus aul his ad-
dress in the afternoon are thus report
ed by the South Georgia Progress:
Hon. Emory Speer. judge Of the
United States District Court. deliv-
cred a mastery address ye ,terday
afternoon at the High School audi
torium, his Grafton forming the prin-
cipal feature of the exercises com
memorating the 10th anniversary of
the birth of General Robert E. Lee.
The noted jurist was never heard
to better advantage than on this oc-
casion, when, in discourse filled
with brilliant thoughts and stirring
"reminiscences, he paid the highest
tribute to the genius and sterling
character of the Hero of the Con-
federacy"
"a large audience, in which not
only the citizens of Americus. but
those of many surrounding commun-
tiles were numbered, witnessed the
exercises, which were under the aus
bices of the Americus Chapter of
United Daughters of the Confederacy
The members of Camp Sumter U. C. "
attended in body, occupying seats of
honor. The Americus Chapter, U. D.
c., was also in attendance, as were
representatives from the Americus
Bar Association. The High School
for the speaker of the day and for the
veterans who graced the occasion with
their presence.
Judge Speer, in opening his ad-
dress, took occasion to, recount some
incidents of his early life. In 1861
and '62, said the jurist he was a resi-
dent of Americus. his father, a Metho-
dist minister, being in charge of the
church in this city. AS student for
two years of the old Rylander Military
Academy which stood near the site
of the present High school, he recall
ed the departure of the Sumter Light
Guards, the Muckalee Guards and
Cults Artillery. the three organiza-
tions from Sumter county which per-
formed such brilliant achievements in
the War Between the States"
"The fact that General Lees bust
occupies a prominent niche in the
Hall of Fame in the national capitol
was emphasized by Judge Speer as
evidence of the universal acceptance
of the Southern leader as one of
the most conspicuous figures in the
history of this country.
The speaker pointed out several
facts connected with General Lees
life history, recalling the fact that
he was the son of the Light Horse
Harry" Lee of Revolutionary fame
and that he was related by blood to
Thomas Jefferson, the father of the
Declaration of independence. and to
John Marshall, the famous chief JUS
tice of the United States Supreme
court
Judge Speer then described the va
rious campaigns of Lee and Jackson
in Virginia, reviewing his military
career throughout the sos down to
the end of it all at Appomattox. In
closing he appealed in stirring man.
ner to the present generation Of
Southerners to emulate the charac-
teristics of the "Hero of the Conled-
eracv."
"The speaker held the closest at
tention Of his audience during his
entire address and -outbursts Of ap-
plause greeted tho many brill Arr pc.
riods throughout tic discourse
Hon. j. f. Mathis. is a particular.
ly neat and ant Introductory pre-
sented Judge Speer referring to him
as one of the most able jurists on
the Federal bench today
Judge Speer left for Albany late
Yesterday afternoon, to continue HI
court