The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-10-24
General Lee and History.

GREELEY excuses himseu Ior JustnyLus
MT. Boutwell, and his Savannah under
strapper in refusing to allow the United
States flag to fly at halfmast upon occa-
sion of. the death of General LEE by plead
Ing that that flag represents "the whole
country !" that General LEE won his fame
In attempting to humble it; and that he
(GREELEY) cannot t'consent that false
estimate of General LEES errors IS shall
mass into history" Thus spoke and wrote
the great DR.. SAMUEL j JOHNSON, OF w ashing-
ton, and the other .ssrebels" who fought the
war of American independence. Thus
smoke and wrote the British loyalsts Of
the seventeenth century concerning John
HAMPER, ALGERNoN SIDNEY, and OLIVER
CRoAwELL. But history to-day speaks the
praises of all these men. A CARLYLE cham
pions CROMWELL, "a MAcAULAY eXtols
HAMPDEN and SIDNEY, and every historian,
British and American, lauds the "CHNCIN-
NATUs of the West" So shall it be, oh,
mole-eyed GREELEY, with the = sasnes ID
RoBRar II. LEE. 1t viii grow brighter and
brighter as the coming centuries fall into
line with the years s'beyond the food"
The voice of contemporaneous historians
residing in England is some indication OF
what the verdict of those separated from
us by time instead of distance will $be.
Even "a we write we come across the fol-
lowing discriminating article, copied, from
the London Standard. Read 1t, all We
puny tricksters who set up your little para.
soils between the sun and the earth, and
understand how much light you will bs
able to shut out from the future historian
how easy you will find the task of prevent
ing the truth from passing into history"
seThe announcement that General RE
Lee has been struck down by paralysis,
and not expected to recover, will be re:
ceiyed, even at this crisis, with universe.
interest, and viii everywhere excite sym.
pathy and regret which testify TO the deep
impression made on the world at large by
his character and achievements. Few are
the generals who have earned, since history
began, greater military reputation ]; still
fewer are the men Of similar eminence, civil
or military, whose personal qualities would
bear comparison with his. The rbitterest
enemies Of his country hardly dared to
whisper q word against the. char.
aeter of her most distinguished general,
while neutrals regarded him with an adj
miration for his deeds and % respect for his
Lofty and unseifsh nature whtch almost
grew into 'yeneration, and his own Scoun'
Erymen learned to look up to him with as
much confidence and esteem rs they ever
feE for Washington, and with an affection
which the cold demeanor and atstere tenn.
perof Washington could neyerinspire. The
death OF sneh man, even at moment SO
exciting as the present, when all thoughts
are absorbed by a nearer and psesent con
fiIct, would be felt as q misfortune by all
who still retain anY arscol election of the in
tereet with which they followed the Vir-
Qiriaus campaigns, and by thousands who
lave almost forgotten the names of Ffede-
rieksburg and Ghanc llorsv vile, the wilder
ness aud spotsylvania. Truef greatness, q
Ioftiar nature, spirit more unselfsh, q
character purer, more chiyalr oHss the world
has rarely, H ever, known OF stainless
lie and deep religious feeling yet
free from all faint of cent and fanati-
Cavalier Stuart as the Puritan SsaneWall
Jackson; unambitious, but ready to sacri3
ice an at Che call of. duty !; devoted TO his
cause, ret never moved by his feelings be-:
You'd the iine prescribed BY his ,fdgmshs;i
meter provoked by Just resentment 10 PM
fsh wanton cruelty by repfisals would
have given q character Of needless saYaeerYS
90 the war--both North and South owe al
deep debt &c gratitude 70 him, and the time
viii come when both wiIl be equally proud
OF hsns. And well they may for his charac-
ter and his life afford a complete answer to
tbE yepYcaohsS eosnuseDIy cass on money
grabbing s, lnech taicaI AIneiica. A country
SEhieA has given birth 10 mem IiKe him, and
thaGa Whe follower him, may lock the
:elsisasry 0f Europe In The sfaes Without
shame for the fsthssl lind III Sidneysand OF
IBaysyd never produced 10 Agssaer sol lier,
gensie naan, and chrssttSa shan General
kehest I. I, ~ s 81,
fa 81 ff,s.r nd hess ~ s,.a