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VOLUME. FIVE
NUMVE-R LWLNHSIX
Ellett’s Eloquence—Robt. E. Lee in "Hall of Tame”
‘Brilliant Mississippian, the Prentiss of Blue Mountain, Tells Why the Statue of Virginia 9 s Peerless Chief tian Should Stand
Under the Dome of the National Capitol.
S
ARGENT S. PRENTISS is not dead.
Above the marble shaft that marks his
last resting place the spirit of eloquence
yet hovers, and amid the classic shades
of beautiful Blue Mountain that spirit
has found a Voice. He is Professor A.
H. Ellett, who is a member of the fac
ulty of that famous institution for wom
en and who, as teacher, historian, poet
and platform orator, stands on a pedestal of light and
love. Verily, it may be said of this gifted Mississip
pian—
“ None know him but to love him,
None name him but to praise.”
And his brilliant attainments are only matched by
his royal kindness of heart. The editor of The
Golden Age knows about it —knows all about it.
Having promised to secure a “speech” for a certain
young American —(a red-haired nephew, to be ex
act) —for use in a certain oratorical contest, it was
“up to” the aforesaid editor-uncle to write it or have
it written. No other theme would present itself but
“Robert E. Lee in the Hall of Fame.”
Since the outbursts of puny and puerile passion
from certain quarters of the “G. A. R.” and the fiery
senator from Idaho against allowing the statue of
Lee to stand by that of Washington under the dome
of the capitol, it seemed that somebody ought to
voice the heart and thought of the South on this
question and let schoolboys speak it everywhere.
But the mental state produced by a broken leg inter
posed a double-barreled limitation. One brilliant
Georgia friend was sick, and another had “married
a new book” and “could not come.” So, lying there
on bed in dear old Winona, a brilliant idea flashed
over our mental sky: “Ellett, Ellett —he is the man!”
And he was. Crowded with class room and other
literary work he made the time which he did not
have and sent the speech, written at one hurried sit
ting. He requested that it be “touched up” here and
there, and, shades of Prentiss and Ellett, forgive the
effort! This broken-legged editor tried to do it, but
only “here and there.”
And now since President Taft and Attorney-Gen
eral Wickersham have shown their good sense and
patriotism by agreeing to Virginia’s claim for her
peerless son it seems an opportune time to give
Ellett’s eloquence to the South and the world.
Buttressed by history, builded with logic and glow
ing with magnetic Southern fervor this ringing an
swer to the foolish question, “Shall the statue of
Lee stand in the Hall of Fame?” ought to be spoken
by “Young America” from every school rostrum in
the South, if not the nation, yes, and find an hon
ored place in every scrap-book in America:
Should the Statue of Lee Stand in the Hall of Fame?
“Then the Pharisees sent unto him their disciples
with the Herodians, saying: ‘Master, tell us, what
thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cae
sar, or not?’ And Jesus said: ‘Show me the tribute
ATLANTA, GA., AUGUST 18, 1910.
money.’ And they brought unto Him a penny. And
He saith unto them: ‘Whose is this image and su
perscription?’ They say unto Him, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then
saith He unto them, ‘Render, therefore, unto Caesar
the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the
things that are God’s.’ ”
Under the dome of our great capitol at Washing
ton stand the marble images of the mighty dead.
Ranged around the circle, there they stand in silent
eloquence, sounding forth forever the doctrines and
the deeds of their mortal lives.
Yesterday there came another to his place in that
majestic circle. He came from the old Dominion,
the best born of her blood. He came from the pres-
Maybe there is some prenatal stain upon his name
William D Upshalv.
Lee, O, Lee! Virginia’s son—
While years shall flee and ages run,
Thy name, a synonym of Truth,
Shall bless our men—inspire our youth! |
i' 1 ' ’ i
Lee, O, Lee! Our Southern knight— '
With Faith that gilded gloom wita light,
Thy helmet-crown —chivalrous tread, ;
Are regnant ’mong the hero dead! '
Lee, O, Lee! The Nation’s pride,
Thy voice is calling o’er the tide—
( Our country forth its tribute brings
< More radiant than the crown of kings!
( Lee, O, Lee! All sons of earth
Bless now the day that gave thee birth;
( And DUTY—treasured word of thine —
(( Glows everywhere with face divine!
* ,
ence of tne - patriots with the crown of
her blessing upon his id. Old Virginia said: “This
is my son; he is worthy to stand on the side of
Washington, who also is my son. He is worthy to
stand erect in the ranks of the world’s immortal
ones.”
But, hear! There is a challenge at the doorway.
Some Baalam’s beast has set himself across the path
and is uttering an assinine dissent. Across the hills
and the valleys of a re united country comes this
rancous bray from beyond the Rockies, seeking to
save the holy of holies from the contamination of
the statue of Robert E. Lee.
Well, maybe there is reason for this ass’ wild dis
order. Let us look and see: Maybe the statue of
Robert E. Lee should not stand in company with the
illustrious dead.
that would bar him from the holy place. What of
his ancestry? The fact that Light Horse Harry Lee
of the Revolution was his father, the fact that Rich
ard Lee was his ancestor, that Richard Henry Lee,
and Francis Light Foot Lee, and Arthur Lee, and
Thomas Lee, and Fitzhugh Lee and Stephen D. Lee
are of his family; the fact that every period of
American history has been glorified by the deeds of
some scion of his blood, the fact that upon the fair
escutcheon of his illustrious house has never rested
any stain. Maybe these facts of his prenatal history
should exclude him from the hall of fame.
But if not, then what of the record of his early
boyhood? The fact that at eleven years of age his
father died and that he stepped into his place and
was his mother’s chief reliance; the fact that he
went through his school life at Hallowell’s Academy
without reproach, and that during his four years’
stay at West Point no mark of demerit was ever
made against him and on graduation day he stood
second in his class. Os course these things were
long ago. Do you think they should debar his statue
now and forever from the Hall of Fame?
This man whom some would exclude from Amer
ica’s Hall of Fame. What sin hath he committed? And
when did he commit it? As United States engineer,
commanding the old Mississippi back to its bed
at St. Louis? This engineer, re-surveying the boun
dary between Ohio and Michigan? This captain of
engineers in charge of the defenses of New York
harbor in 1841? This chief of engineers on the staff
of Winfield Scott on the mountain peaks of the Mon
tezumas? The real victor at Cerro Gordo, the real
hero of Chepultepec; is he the guilty man? And
in which one of these high stations did he commit
the sin? In none of these you say. Then, further,
do we follow his record. Was it as superintendent
of West Point Military Academy in 1852? Was it
as commander of the Department of Texas against
the hostile Indians in 1855?
You find no record of a deadly sin against him at
any one of these important posts?
I know that with his marines he captured John
Brown and his murderous band at Harper’s Ferry,
and restored the arsenal to his government, but he
was sent to do just that. Surely he is not debarred
a place in his nation’s capital because he did his
nation’s bidding; because at the emminent risk of his
life he obeyed to the utmost word.
Then why should he not stand in the circle of the
immortals?
Ah! There came another day, a day of suprem
est test; there came an hour of choice. And what
was the fateful alternative? He must choose to fight
under the flag of invaders against his native state,
or to fight against the invaders in behalf of thje
home that gave him birth. We know the choice he
made. Like a Spartan, like a Virginian, like a South
erner, like an American, he rode to the front, in de
fense of his fireside.
“Midst flame and smoke and shout and groan and
(Continued on Page 5.1
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