The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-20
HONORS TO TRAITORS.

From, the Toledo Blade.
We have reports from the South that Gov
ernor Walker, of Virginia, and Collector
Robb, of Savannah, Georgia, have taken op-
posite views of their personal and official
duty in regard to paying formal and official
honors to the memory of General Lee. The
former sent a highly eulogistic message to
the Virginia Legislature, such as might ap-
propriately have been written on the occasion
of the death of a patriotic chieftain like Gene
raj George III. Thomas, or Admiral Farragut,
and in such terms as only eminent patriots
are entitled to call forth. Not the slightest
allusion, SO far as the telegraph reports Gov
ernor Walkers message, is made TO Lees
treason. nor the slightest implication that he
had ever been guilty of the greatest crime a
soldier could commit against the Govern
ment which he had swornvto support
The message says:-''He died as he lived,
a noble example of sublime principles and
teachings of the Christian religion" Such
language concerning one guilty of drawing
the sword on the Government which for
thirty years had first educated him, and then
honored him with the most exalted trusts, is
bitter libel both on true patriotism and
true christianity. If perjured traitor such
as he made himself be "a noble example of
sublime principle aud teachings of the Chris
tian religion, then the heroes, patriots, and
Christians who fought in the field and suf-
fered Imprisonment, wounds, and death to
sustain the Government have suffered and
died in vain. Ii Robert e. Lee be an exam
pie Of sublime principle" and Christianity
then those who fought for the national cause
deserve not such honor. If their constancy
and devotion to the old flag be worthy of
praise, then General Lees character and
cause deserve execration and reprobation
rather than such unqualified and unlimited
eulogy.
Private citizens, as such, in the South and
elsewhere, should be free to express their
views as to the course and character of Gen.
Lee and other Rebel leaders, living or dead,
in such terms as may best express their indi-
vidual views and feelings in regard to them.
That men who believed as General Lee did,
and who acted with and fought under him,
should pay him honor, is to be expected. 1t
would not be manly or creditable in them
if they did not. Nor would we interfere
with their liberty SO to do. But we protest
against any such formal and official honors
and demonstrations being rendered to Rebel
chieftains in the name and by the authority
of State acknowledging allegiance to the
Federal Government. Governor Walker, as
an officer sworn to support the Constitution
of the United States, has violated the spirit
of his obligation-gone aside of the line of
his duty in a most sycophantic and servile
manner, to pay Difference to the strong,
defiant, and still dangerous Rebel sentiment
of the State he essays to govern. A more
sickening display of servility and sycophancy
to the Rebel sentiment of the South has not
been made before by any official laying the
slightest claim to loyalty to the Union.
General Lee was under greater obligations
to be true to the United States than almost
any other officer of our army. His whole life
had been spent in its service. He had no
personal grievance to complain of, for of the
Government he had always received pay and
honors equal to or greater than his services
merited Nor had the State on whose behalf
he committed perjury and treason suffered
any wrong at the hands of the Government
The Rebel revolt never represented the views
and feelings of a majority of the people of
Virginia, nor perhaps of any other of the
States in revolt. 1t was a revolt, not of the
people, but of a class, who by prescription
and violence suppressed the real voice and
convictions of the majority. General Lee
we'll understood this. His plea was that Vir-
einia had gone out of the Union, and he was
bound by allegiance to her to go along, but
by no fair vote of her people did she ever
rebel against the Union.
General Lee was a stakeholder, and drew
the sword to establish a government which
should sustain and perpetuate the yilest sys-
| tenn of slavery, the most infamous damna-
BILE, and cruel code of oppression, that was
ever organized or perpetrated on earth.
Thus he not only had no grievance to COM
plain of or to redress, but his cause had no
merit whatever. 1t was q bad, cruel, and in
famous cause. 1t was cause not only un-
christian, but anti-christian and inhuman.
He gained his distinction by fighting to di-
vide the republic and to ESTABLISH stavoEy on
firmer foundations, and for his devotion to
this criminal cause alone will he be conspicu