The weekly standard. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-30
rFrOm the London Fortnightly Re-


fFrom the London Fortnightly Re-
view. gls sss6so sas ,zlal sdquo
It is said by Coleridge that no man
thrown to the surface of human affairs
aver succeeded in simultaneously gain
mo distinction and affection, unless he
nOssessed something Of an epicene ma
tpre.-that is to say, mixture of fem
mine and masculine qualities. With
ont claiming for Gen Lee in the high
est sense of the title "great," it is i'm
possible to deny that his memory will
be cherished, by those who in the crisis
Of his three years of trial, stood and
suffered by his side, as an exceptional
ly dear and precious possession. Few
soldiers, if asked whether they would
rather have starved under Lee on the
one hand or under Cromwell, Frede-
rick the Great, Marlborough or Napole-
on on the other, would hesitate topre-
fer the four famous Generals to the
disconnected Confederacy Yet it is
doubtful whether any of the four, after
they had passed away, and had ceased
to communicate the electric shock Of
their presence and contact-of eye,
voice, character and infuence-to 9TH
ers, possessed such hold on the affec-
tons and esteem as were inspired by
Robt E. Lee.1a5 7ssignazaI q
The truth seems to be that the
greatest men are necessarily and in
tensely selfish. All great men are
monsters says German proverb; and
itmay. I think, be conceded, that when
a man is playing conspicuous role
in life, and is generally loved, he is
not, in the worlds highestsense, great.
He sprobably something better. He
has the thoughtfulness about others,
the unobtrusiyeness and remuneration
Of sell, the truthfulness, which cannot
long be unnOtieed by those around
him, and which lays firm hold upon
their hearts But to be great, to fill a
very large space in the worlds eye du-
ring O. mans few brief years upon
earth, he must throw modesty and un-
obtrusiveness overheard; he must be
grasping, aggressive, discreetly greedy
Of praise, covetous of large share O
honor judiciously enyious. must know
how to undermine troublesome rivals
withoutb being foundsopf, and to hell
useful friends without being supplan
ted. Heartily agreeing with Coieridgt
that where distinction and affection
have been won coincidently, there mus
be the epicene element in their winner
ISenture todoubt whether mans af
fiction is ever won by the greatest, OF
sc.in other words, whether in the great
rlrest any of the woman is to be found
The men who are brave from tender
ness and braver than the men who ar
brave from prides But the men who
to encourage or spare others, gratuit
ously brave, are not selfish enough t
be great, The calm Judgment of pos
terity, especially if assisted by the pc
80 4 - -
Of Mr, Carlyle (who is said to hold tina
Washington stands too high; and who
if am rightly informed, contemplate
lowering his PEDESTAL, viii, I thinl
reverse, the verdict. of Mr., Everett
well known lecture, and will pronounc
that Washington was not greater tha
Peter, or Frederick, orsMalborough, o
Mr.. Everett contends, but was simpl
more estimable. - .g
The exceeding loyeableness OF LIE
became more patent as your conciou'
ness, that as q politician he lacke
vigor and self assertion became MOI
irresistible. This loyeableness wa
based on never firing usefulness,
contagious endurance of hardship an
danger, shrinking modesty, an
abounding tenderness. The child al an
the young girl, who had never see
him before, ran to him instinctiyely :
afriend. His look spoke OF honest,
directness, kindliness, courage. IL
smile was ifresistably winning. B'
the stuff which made Cromwell, Nap
leon, William the Silent, greater as po
lticians than as soldiers, was lacking
Lee. All that there was of true an
brave in the people whom he 50 near
made into nation, called on him /
signs that he who ran might read,
put Congress aside, to, control the pre-
to be Dictator indeed; and yet !
would nott Nevertheless, in the bell
that there is no more powerful stin1
lant to a nobler ambition than Il
study of such character OF Lees,
desire to throw my stone upon Il
chain by gathering together e
nal - -