Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-10-25
THE DEATH OF GENERAL LEE.
Comments of the Northern Press.
From the New York Herald, Oct. ID.


so faithfully, the spirit of Robert Edmund
Lee left the clay which it had SO much en-
nobled and travelled out of this world into the
great and mysterious land. Yesterday the ex-
pressions Of regret which sprang from the few
who surrounded the bedside of the dying sol
dier and Christian will be swelled to-day into
one mighty voice of sorrow, resembling
throughout our country and extending over
all parts of the world where his great genius
and his many virtues are known. For not 20
the Southern people alone shall be Limited tue
tribute of tear over the dead vlrglnlan.-
Here in the North, forgetting that the time
was when the sword of Robert Edmund Lee
was drawn against us-forgetting and forgiv-
inc all the years of blood-shed and agony
we have long since ceased to look upon him
as the Confederate leader, but have claimed
him as one of ourselves; have cherished and
felt proud of his military genius as belonging
to us: have recounted and recorded his tri-
umphs as our own; have extolled his virtue
as rejecting honor upon us-for Robert Ed
mund Lee was an American, and the great
nation which gave him birth would be to-day
unworthy of such son if she regarded him
lightly.
Never had mother a nobler son. In him
the military genius of America was developed
to a greater extent than ever before. In him
all that was pure and lofty in mind and pur-
pose found Judgment. Dignifed without pre-
sumption, affable without familiarity, he united
all those charms of manners which made him
the idol of his friends and of his soldiers, and
won for him the respect and admiration of the
world. Even as, in the days of his triumph,
glory did not intoxicate, so when the dark
clouds swept over him adversely did not de-
press. From the hour that he surrendered
his sword at Appomattox to the fatal autumn
morning, he passed among men noble in his
quiet, simple dignity, displaying neither bitter
ness nor regret over the irrevocable past. He
conquered US in misfortune by the grand man.
ner in which he sustained himself, even as he
dazzled us by his genius when the tramp of
his soldiers resounded through the valleys Of
Virginia.
And for such a man we are all tears and
SORROW to-day. Standing beside his grave
men of the South and men of the North can
mourn with all the bitterness of four years of
warfare erased by this common bereavement.
May this unity of grief-this unselfsh man
Hesitation over the loss of the Bayard of Amer
ica-in the season of dead leaves and withered
branches which this death ushers in, bloom
and blossom like the distant coming spring
into the flowers of heartier accord
x In person, General Lee was nota>
bly, handsome man. He was tall of stature
and admirably proportioned his features were
regular and most amiable in appearance, and
in his manners he was courteous and dignifed.
In social life he was much admired. AS
STAKEHOLDER, he was beloved by his slaves for
his kindness and consideration towards them.
General Lee was also noted for his piety. He
was an Episcopalian, and was a regular atten-
dant at church. Having perfect command
over his temper, he was never seen angry, and
his most intimate friends never heard him
utter an oath. Indeed, it is doubtful if there
are many men of the present generation who
unite SO many virtues and so few vices in each
of themselves as did General Lee. He came
nearer the ideal of the soldier and Christian
general than any man we can think of, for he
was greater soldier than Havelock, and equal
" as devout Christian. In his death our
country has lost son in whom she might well
be proud, and for whose services she might
have stood in need had he lived few years
longer, for we are certain that had occasion
required it, General Lee would have given to
the United States the benefit of all his great
talents.
From the New York Tribune.
The death of General Lee will give occa-
sion at the South for marked display of
public grief It will be without significance,
and may not, perhaps, be thought wholly APP
propriate nevertheless it will be demonstra-
ton in many respects remarkable. 1t is much
to be doubted if any other Government than
that of the United States would permit, or any
other people than our own would countenance,
the open expressions of regret which will be
made over the loss of man who had become
prominent in great conspiracy to destroy the
Governmet and divide the people. But not
only will the public meetings the official res
olutions, the public parades in which the
Southern people will express their sorrow be
officially ignored, but loyal people will respect
their grief The best loved leader of the
South, Lee was not absolutely without honor
and even affection in the North; while hot
tears flow for him there, a sympathy, not I'M
allied to pity, will be left for him here.
Time has suffced to give both North and
South better idea of the personal character
of this man. It was difficult for us, in the
heart of the war fever, to understand how it
was possible that man could be a traitor to
his country and yet strictly honest toward his
fellow men. 1t is still something of a mystery,
but none will refuse to admit that socially
General Lee was above reproach. Though
guilty of weak and wicked acts, it cannot be
shown that he ever did a mean thing; and it
was his misfortune that he was less firm of
purpose than by nature generous and yielding
His popularity was based on these attributes;
and uniform successes in his defensive opera
tions during the first years of the war won him
such confidence of his troops as his repeated
blunders and failures in his offensive COM
paigns could not shake. This confidence re-
NAMED so strongly with him to the end ofthe
war that with his fall at Appomattox the Cause
he had defended fell forever.
Now that he is gone, let us endeavor to
l. nd 10
boring only that he was not wholly bad
False political principles rather than false
morals perverted his mind and wrought his
min az thew wrouoht that of his party. To