The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-26

HIGH PURPOSE
OF CONFEDERACY
"A Mightier Force" Has
Conquered Differences
Executive Says
HONORS MEMORY
OF GENERAL CARR
Must Not Forget Past
But Profit By 1t
He Concludes

WASHINGTON, May 2J.-Unstint-
ed tribute to the Confederate dead was
paid today by Calvin Coolidge, the first
New Englander to become President
since the Civil war.
Speaking at the Confederate Memorial
Day exercises at Arlington, Mr.. Cool
idge looked across the green slopes
where the Confederate and Union dead
sleep almost Size by side and declared ::
"a mightier force than ever followed
Grant and Lee has leveled both their
hosts, raised DIP a united nation and
made us all partakers of new glory
The chief executive previously had
turned to the few remaining veterans
in. gray, seated just before him and to
their sons and daughters and, with re-
minder that thine has softened, dis
erection has changed" the bitterness of
conflict between north and south, said /:
A Mutual Aspect
Your country respects you for cher
ishing the memory of those who wore
the gray. You respect others who cher
ish the memory of those who wore the
blue. In that mutual aspect may there
be tirmer friendship and a stronger
and more glorious union"
Addressing those met to honor the
Confederate dead as my fellow country
men," the President spoke as follows:
"If / am correctly informed by his
tory it is fitting that the Sabbath
should be your Memorial Day. This
follows from the belief that except for
the force of Oil Ter Cromwell, no army
was ever more thoroughly religious than
Al, 1aI hxy Naoaro
Lee. Moreover, these ceremonies neces-
sarily are expressive of a hope and a
belief that rise above the things of this
life. 1t was Lincoln who points out
that beth sides prayed to he same God.
When that is the case, it Is only mat
ter of time when each will seek COM
mon end. We can now see clearly what
that end is. 1t is the maintenance of
our American form of government, of
our American institutions and of our
American ideals, beneath a common flag,
under the blessings of Almighty God.
A Common Experience
1T was for this purpose that this ma
ton was brought forth. Our whole
course of history has been proceeding
in that direction. Out of a common ex-
perience, made more enduring by COM
mon sacrifice, we have reached COM
mon conclusion. On this day we pause
in memory of those who made their
sacrifice in one way. In few days we
shall pause again in memory of those
who made their sacrifice in another
way. They were all Americans, all
contending for what they believed were
their rights. On many battlefield
they sleep side by side. Here, in a
place which is set aside for the rest
ing place of those who have performed
military duty, both make their final
bivouac. But their country lives.
1.-The bitterness of conflict is pass
ed Time has softened, discretion has
changed it. Your country respects you
for cherishing the memory of those who
wore the gray. You respect others who
cherish the memory of those who wore
the blue. In thrt mutual respect may
there be a frmer friendship and a
stronger and more glorious union.
EuIOgiZes General Carr
"When / delivered the address dedi-
eating the great monument to General
Grant in the city of Washington, Gen
eral Carr was present with others of
his comrades and responded for the
Confederacy with a most appropriate
tribute. He has lately passed away,
one of the last of talented and gallant
corps of officers. To the memory of
him whom l had seen and heard and
knew, as the representative of that now
silent throng, whom l did not know, l
now offer my tribute. We know that
it is Providence that would have it so.
We see and we obey. A mightier force
than ever followed Grant or Lee has
levelled both their hosts, raised up a
united nation and made us all partak-
ers of a new glory.
sit is not for us to forget the past
but to remember it, that we may profit
by it. But it is gone, we cannot change
it. We must put our emphasis on the
present and put into effect the lessons
the past has taught us. All about us
sleep those of many different beliefs
and many divergent actions, but Amer
lea claims them all. Her flag floats
over them. Her government protects
them. They all rest in the same di-
vine peace"
Organizations participating in the me-
mortal exercises included the Confed-
crate Southern Memorial association,
the United Confederate Veterans, Unit
ed Daughters of the COnfederacy, Sons
of Confederate Veterans and Southern
Relief society. Representative Wilson
of Mississippi also delivered an address,
and after the exercises flowers were
placed on the graves of the Confeder-
ate dead,