The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-11-08
IN ENGLISH ESTIMATE OF LEE.
a Noble Tribute.
From the London Standard i

Few indeed are there in Europe or in America
| so mean Of nature or so violent IN partsanship
as to hear without regret that the Illness cf Gene.
| raj Lee has terminated fatally. The world has
lost one Of Its greatest men, bis profession one OF
its nobest ornaments, his unhappy country her
foremost citizen. IL Is imposS BILE to think Df the
departed hero without regreful feelings, not only
| for the loss which Virginia and the South have
sustained, not only for the removal OF one whose
example is as purgand as noble as any that history
records but Iur the circumstances under which
such man has closed life 80 fllustrious and
30 unfortunate Most Of General Lees comrades
and intimate associates wee happy In the time
and In the occasion Of their deaths-happy In dy-
ing soldiers death, while yet there was hope for
their cause, and In escaping the bitter fate which
awaited The best and greatest Of them all. Sidney
Johnston, the commander or the Wes; ern armies,
fell In the moment Of victory So died Stouewal;
Jackson; struck down b. accident or error, when
the great success OF Charlottesville was ready
assured. and living to know how complete that
success had been. Stuart The brilliant chief OF the
Confederate cavalry, like Turner Ashby, his prede.
Cessor In the Vrginian army, was killed In battle.
Myrpssh. tue posE sEllf0l and daring OF guerilla
leaders; PolE,- the gallant anu Sniissinn
soldier, who gave ups blshopric 10 draw
his sword In his country's defencei and
numberless others whom we need not name
here, but whose names the Sonth Will never for
get, also fell fighting before they had learned to
their chief to see them all fall around linn; to pass
unscathed through 50 many sanguinary battles, TO
maintain for months a:;er hope was gone de-
fence against overwhelming numbers and bound
less resources against famine and despair no less
than against the enemy 's arms; and finally, after
having done all that soldier, general, states.
man could do for his cause to witness its fall and
put the seal on Its ruin to surrender his army and
survive his country. Since that sad day General
Lee had remained in as much Obscurlty as was
possible to one so loved and trusted; TO one
from whom his countrginen were ever seeking
guidance and counsel He descended from wealth
yop1at tnf n q
savagery which had devastated, the Illegal Ven-
geance which had con1scated his property; he,
tie commander-in.c Of. one Of the great
armies Of the world. was content to become the
champion or The Confederate cause. male eit' his
constant effort TO reconcile his soldiers aud coun-
trymen to the Federal yoke; to quiet them unuer
insult and wrong; 10 restrain, not only open out.
breaks OF impatence, but private expressions OF
regret and lodgings for an irretrievabe past. lie,
WHO might have been received with honor and ad-
mIratlon from end 10 end Of Europe-who might
have made for himself a. W career IA ioreign sa
debarred frcm almost every sphere OF pubic use
funess. In peace, as In war, duty was tile one
rule OF his llfe-a stead1ast devotion 10 the Work
which his Master sd appointed aim mt the inspiring hs
sword against the Union, not from inconstde.
rate passion or personal ambition. or party
spirit but only In obedience to the Sovereign State
TO which he owed allegiance, even stopped
to sue for the pa, don 0f the conqueror, Lot be.
cause he feared anything that Northern VEN
geauce-coud infiict, or hope to save ytnlng
from the wreck OF his fortunes, but because Con-
press had made itimpossible forany Snutherner
to set to work 10 retrieve his own or his countrys
position till he had obtained pardon. General
Lee felt that 1t was necessary that his countrymen
should submit to the hu illaon imposed upon
them, cnd, with characteristic simnllcty and un.
sel0shness, In lieu Of exh0rtatlon and advice, ne
paye them his example. Both North and Soutn
are deeply indebted o,him; for there can be little
doubt hat on the one hand hn could, nad ne
yielded to passion, have postponed lnden-
nifey the peaceful accomplishment OF poll
tical reunion; and that, on the other,
without his efforts and his example the
flower Of the Southern people would never nave
submitted to their fate, but would either nave
quilted their country altogether or remained az
home In sullen abstentIon, waiting chance Of
restoration or Of retribution. Great as was MS
part In the war, there Is deeper, truer. rarer
greatness In the part he has borne 10 peace. Tnat
such man should die thus early, thus unfortu.
nate is SAL and ainful thing. But ne died as
he had lived. O fearless gentleman, sincere, ae.
won't, aud hopeful Christian. :. He ieayes 10 nus
children name as noble as the world can show;
to his country q memory which will be cherished
while tha Sonth retains one spark Of that chival-
ric spirit and patriotic devotion which have oeen
her Characteristic virtues, and an example Wlllrn
uIpht suffice to teach q meaner people the les
sons OF chlrary, OF patriotism, aud OIL Chrlstian-
lty.