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Show TAFT UPHOLDS ATTORNEYJQENERAL BEVERLY, 'mss.. .1 lily 31 Presl driit Tail has approved without comment, com-ment, an opinion Py Attorney General Wickersham lo the effect that there is no provision of law by which the slatue of General Lee in Coniererate uniform can be removed from Statuary Statu-ary hall In the copltol at Washington. J In addition to deciding the question on a purely legal bas.s, Mr. Wickersham Wicker-sham argues the matter from an ethical ethi-cal point ot view; declaring that Lee has come to be regarded as typifying all that was best In the cause to which he gave his services and tho most loyal and unmurmuring acceptance accep-tance cf the complete overthrow of that c a use . That the state of Virginia should designate hiiu ror that place in statuary hall as one Illustrious for distinguished son ice. the attorney general declares, is only natural and warranted under the reading of the law. New York G. A. R. Protest. Mr, Wickei sham's opinion was called call-ed forth by protests lc the president from the depai tiv.ent of New York. G. A R. in his opintor., addresses to and approved by the piesident. Attorney At-torney General Wickersham sas: "I have road the resolutions adopted adopt-ed by the department of New York, Grand At my cf the Republic at Syracuse Syra-cuse on June 2'1 and tho communication communi-cation of ' Honjas Tanner with i specl to them The act of July 2. 1SC.4 loi'errcd to provides for the creation of suitable structures and -adings in the old haTl of the house of representatives for the reception and protection of statuary and the state department authorized the president pres-ident to invite each and all. the slates to provide and fiirnlbh statutes In marble or bronze, not exceeding two in number for each state, of deceased persons who have been citizens thereof there-of and illustrious for their historic renown or frent distinguished civic or military services, such as each state shall deem io be worthy of this national commemoration No Objection to Statue. "H i now l years since (he fix i 1 w ar was cIokciI Robei t IS. I.ee has come to be generaliy retarded as typifying not only ali that was best in the cause to which, at the be?l of his native state, he gave his services, ser-vices, but also the most loval and unmurmuring acceptance of ihe complete com-plete overthrow of thai cause. That the state of Virginia should deslgna'e him as one illustrious tor distinguished distinguish-ed military service is therefore natural: nat-ural: th.it his statue should be clothed cloth-ed iu the confederate uniform thus eloquently testifying to the fact that a inacnanlmoiK country has complti-ly complti-ly forgLen, of a complete surrender and a renewed loyally, should surely provoke no opposition "Therefore, under the existing law, I am of the opinion that no objection ! can be lawfully made to placing in I statuary hall a statue of Robert E. Lee. clothed In the confederate unl- I form." |