The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-07
The Lee Monument.

| A movement to erect bronze statue to
Fitz Greene Halleck, one OF the minor
American poets, was begun in New York a
few weeks ago. Already more than one.half
ofthe amount needed for the statue has been
subscribed. A movement to erect monu-
ment to General Robert E. Lee, one OF the
greatest men of the South, was begun in
Richmond many months ago. Nobody
knows what amount has been subscribed.
At the time of General Lees death, he
would have been bold man who would have
aftronted Lees countrymen-his country was
the South-by venturing to doubt that a
million OF dollars could easily and quickly
be collected for any purpose, the object OF
which was to do honor to his memory. In
the first outburst OF grief, when hearts were
soft, a tenth part of this sum might, perhaps,
have been raised, if the collections could
have been made in the instant.
But grief cools rapidly. Large sums are
not to be gathered in day. Calm neads re-
miembered that Virginia had allowed the
home and grave Of Washington to become
the property of aliens. Rejecting men could
not etrace the picture OF that national dis
grace, the unfinished monument of Wash
ington in the city named after him. There
it stands deformity and o Inockery, as if to
point mordl. Millions upon millions have
been squandered to preserve union at the ex-
pense Of liberty, to fill the pockets Of thieves
and to debauch the national sense OF probi-
ty, but not one dollar to complete the menu
ment to the man whose wisdom and courage
achieved both liberty and union. And there
it is likely to stand, while untold millions
more are squandered. Nay, as this truncate
spectre has looked down upon the prostrate
form OF Liberty, it may yet look down upon
shattered Union. Before completion, it
may share the fate Of the column Of Ven
dome. :, ..,..s
There seems to have been unnecessary and
excessively unpleasing dispute as to who
should be the medium OF Southern contribu-
tions to the Lee monument. Washington
College, now the Washington and Lee Uni
versity, put in it's claim not only to the
ashes of the great chieftain, but to his mon
ument as well. The Ladies. Memorial Asso-
citation OF Richmond made q. modest but
prompt movement in the monument direc-
tion. Lastly the Association Of Confederate
Soldiers and Sailors, withi General Early at
its head, claimed, and not without some
show ofjustice, the right to collect the funds
required and to build monument worthy
of General Lees fame. OF the three, Wash
ington College alone has made progress.
We hear oi;a sarcopbagus,, not costly, to be
erected in the College Chapel at Lexington!
From the Ladies' Monument. Association, we
hear nothing whatever. From General Ear
ly We have obtained, within the past fort
night, some pointed correspondence with a
brother officer. The Southern people would
be better pleased could they see a more ami
cable bit Of writing say q report OF what
has been. done by the Association OF which
he is the head. The Southern people are be.
ginning to be afraid that in Early's hands
the Lee Monument will not make progress,
and may fail to be completed within the cur
rent year. -