The Portland daily press., 1870-10-15
TIT IT PR ESS,
SATURDAY. Morning, October. Is, 1870


TIE southern Lament for Gen. Lee.
John Brown. whom Virginia hanged, will
make mole conspicuous and far more c,ed-
liable figure in history than Gen. Lee, whom
II has canonized. The latter was actively, but |
not Extensively or Indignantly prominent in |
hunting tie former to his death. The victim |
will have otier place in the Valhalla OF
heroes than the love and admiration of Vir- |
ginia can by any possibility give to her favor
lite son. For it is mankind that will give John |
Brown his appropriate station, while only the |
rapidly decaying devotees of caste will feel Tor
Gen. Lee anything more than cold respect and
admiration. John Brown failed in cause
which has already triumpheG; Gen. Lee fail
ed in cause that is lost forever. Even IN
the South the deep generation for Gen. Lee,
not unmixed with personal affection, that has
been suddenly disclosed by this sudden death.
must be an ephemeral emotion, born of pas
sions excited by the war and not yet quite
burnt out, which with the next generation
will give place to generous but just estimate
of his character, such is now generally formed
at the North.
1t is an ungracious office to criticise the
methods by which the Southern people haze
seen fit to exhibit their respect for the dead
soldier, yet there are too many graves of pa
triots, and too many patriots widows and
children in the land to permit us to overlook
The extravaganza and the appropriateness
of their demonstrations. 1t seems unchival-
ious and mean-spirited to object to the honors
paid to brave, generous, but unsuccessful
soldier. Gen. Lee, unlike JEFF. Davis, Toombs
Floyd, and hundred others, probably took
no part in the plots and conspraces that led
to the attempted dissolution of the Union.
After rebellion was fait accompli, after the
prominent act of overt treason was committed
by the bombardment of Fort Sumter, then,
ind not Till then, Gen. Lee, moved 10y a false,
unpatriotic but probably sincere conviction of
the paramount claims of his native State to
his allirnce, resigned the commission he had
held tor quarter of century in the army OF
the United States. During the progress OF
the struggle, though his skill and energy con-
tributed more than those OF any other single
man to delay the suppression of the wicked
revolt, yet he conducted himself with more
m liberation than most of his military associ-
es. Since the close of the rebellion, too
his conduct has been more modest, and he
has had better comprehension of the pro.
prietes Of the situation than many less dis
tin uished Ccnfederates.
What then ?-because he was aman of good
moral character and gentleman, shall we let
ho hat - &c
tack as 10 defend the flag of our country
Shall we, by failing to protsct against the un-
due respect paid to his memory, concede thai
skill employed to destroy the government is as
deserving Of praise as if employed to saveit.
Shall it be acknowledged that man may fill
the land with mourning and sorrow by his ef-
forts in bad cause, and yet have the bright
ness OF his laurels untarnished? 1t seems to
us that the magnanimity of the nation was
sufficiently displayed in ALLOW ing Gen. Lee to
retain his life and liberty, which he had for
feited, TO dwell peacefully among his friends
through all his days, and finally to be buried
honoraby and with no penalty exacted for
his great offense. But in addition 10 this il
seems that in some parts of the South the
people were so unreasonable as to require
that the flag of the Union should be placed a
half on government buildings! In othe
words they thought it not inappropriate tina
the flag for the humiliation of which the bes
efforts of Gen. Lees life was given should BIZ
made to do him honor-that the country
whose authority he defed and whose children
he slaughtered by thousands should join in
solemnizing his obsequies! This demand is
too much even for American generosity. Gen
Lee was guilty Of treason and it does not ap.
pear from anything he said or did since the
close OF the war that he ever repented of his
error. 1t is not fitting that we should lose
sight OF all moral distinctions by any national
yJ7Duy7Jjy,o foy sf,c1, = syy,ay,