The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-30
oNF HT7NDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF
up ANTS BIRTHDAY IS OBSERVED

of war. But Grant told him that he was
free to go wherever he chose without
let or hindrance. to help build up the
shattered states OF the south, to be-
come again part of the union of
states.
This magnanimity of Grant reechoed
in the heart of Lee for when he few
days later assembled his Confederate
officers in final adieu and farewell,
Lee was so choked with emotion that
he could say nothing but: Boys, let's
go home and be good citizens"
Although southern born, President
Johnson, who succeeded to the presi-
dency after the assassination of Lin
coin failed to measure up to the mag
nanimity OF Lincoln and Grant. He
seemed to think that the south should
be punished.
One day after dinner. Grant, the
highest general in command of the
army. sat in the lobby of thaA old Will
lard hotel, in the city of Washington
It stood on the same site on which
now stands the new WilI;>~d hotel. An
aide de-camp rushed in ar Z going to
Grant whispered something into his
ear. Grant seemed to get excited, and
rushing out OF the hotel he rode
straight and swiftly direct to the
white house. Unceremontously he
rushed into the presidents room. He,
the stole, who was said to be an icicle,
quivered with mingled rage and emo
ton. With clinched fists. alternately
pale as death and livid with rage, he
said forcibly with subduel voice:
"Mr. President, I just heard that you
are going to cause the arrest OF Gen.
Robert E. Lee on the charge OF trea-
son. President Lincoln commissioned
me to stipulate the terms of peace with
Lee at Aappamattox. promised Lee
to go where he pleased, and to help us
rebuild our shattered nation. Our
whole army stands for the enforcement
and fulfillment of those terms. If you,
Mr.. President, cause the arrest of Rob
ert E. Lee, will put you in chains and
shackles"
That was the last of President John
sons attempt to modest Lee.
But magnanimity was not confined
in those days. Grady, the youthful ed
itor of the Atlanta Constitution, gave
up all the energies of his sainted,
youthful life welding the north and the
south together again. The trite say
ings OF his paper We're household
words In every village and hamlet of
the north.
And General J. B. Gordon, in ad-
dressing the Confederate veterans in
New Orleans, at their annual conven-
ton in 1871, said:
THE old flag has been furled for
ever. The cause of separate national
, existence has ceased to exist and now
we are all American citizens" He
voiced the exact sentiments of the
south
! Nowhere in the history of the world
have a separted people come together
again and become really one people as
we are.
! But, the south needs no eulogium.
The bones of her brave sons lie sleep
ing on every battlefield OF this repub
lie. When we look into the faces of
| our Spanish American war and our
World war veterans. some Of them the
sons Of the boys In blue and some Of
them the SONS Of the boys in gray, we
then know that we all have followed
the example OF Grant and Lee.
Let US again on this day dedicate
ourselves anew. solemnly, to carry on
the work Of our fathers, that this
country may be the shining beacon
light on the sea OF time, leading all
nations to civic and national right
eousness.