Saint Mary's beacon., 1871-01-05

UESERAL LEE.-N nile the Senators IN
Congress are wrangling over the estate of
General Lee. it may not be inappropriate
to publish this beautiful and comprehen-
sivc tribute which forms part Of the in-
troductory chapter of a biography Of the
great commander, now in the press OF the
Appletons, and soon to be issued. Colo
mel John E.ten Cooke, the author, writes
as follows:-
"THE NAME OF LEE Is BELOVED AND
RESPECTED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. Men
of all parties and opinions unite in this
sentiment. not only those who thought
an fought with him, but those most vio-
lently opposed to his political views and
career 1t is natural that his own people
should love and honor him as their great
leader and defender in a struggle of in
tense bitterncss-that his old enemies
should share this profound regard aud ad-
miration is due solely to the character of
the individual. His military genius will
always be conceded. and his figure remain
a conspicuous Landmark in history: but
this does not account for the fact that his
very enemies love the man. His private
character is the origin of this sentiment.
The people of the North, no less than the
people of the South. feel that Lee was
truly great; and the harshest critic has
been able to find nothing to detract from
this view of him. The soldier was great,
but the man was greater. No one was
ever simpler, trucr, or more honest
Those who knew him best loved him most
Reserved and silent, with bearing of al
most austere dignity, he impressed many
persons as Geld and unsympathetic, and
his true character was long in revealing
itself to the world. To day all men know
what his friends knew during his life
that under the grave exterior Of the SOL
dier, oppressed with care and anxiety.
beat a warm aud kindly heart, full of an
even extraordinary geutleness and sweet
ness; that the man himself was not cold,
or stiff, or harsh, but patient, forbearing,
charitable under many Of his equanimity,
and magnanimous without effort. from the
native impulse of his heart. Friend and
foe thus to-day regard him with much the
same sentiment. as genuinely honest
man. incapable of duplicity in thought or
deed, wholly true and sincere, inspired
always under all temptations by that prisca
fdes which purifics and ennobles. and res
olutely bent in the dark hour, as in the
bright, on the full performance of his
duty. Duty is the sublizest word in
l. h.
if we add that other august maxim, .Hu-
man virtue should be equal to human Ca
lamity.' we shall have in a few words a
summary of the principles which inspired
Lee.
THE c-owning grace Of this man, who
was thus not only great but good, was the
humility and trust in God. which lay at
the foundation Of his character. Upon
this point we shall quote the words Of q
gentleman of commanding intellect, bit
ter opponent of the South in the war:
"'Lee is worthy of all praise. As a
man. he was fearless among men. As a
soldier, he had no superior and no equal.
In the course of Nature my career on
earth may soon terminate. God grant
that, when the day Of my death shall
come. may look up to Heaven with that
confidence and faith which the life and
character of Robert E. Lee gave him.
He died trusting in God as a good man.
with good life, and pure conscience
"He had lived, rs he died. with this
supreme trus, in an overruling and mer-
ciful Providence; and this sentiment per-
vading his whole being, was the origin of
that august calmness with which he greet
ed the most crushing disasters of his mil
itary career. His faith and humble trust
sustained him after the wal. when the woes of
the South well nigh broke his great spir-
it; and he calmly expired, as a weary
child falls asleep. knowing that its father
is near"