Saint Mary's beacon., 1874-01-08

SKY. LEE-Tle death OF the distin
ruisicd leader Of the Southern forces 10
she late war between the States has been
'he suijeet Of much elOquen, memorial,
kas wc rceo!lect 10 have met with no tri-
tuie to The mrmory Of the Grea, Car ain
which has meue profoundly impressed u,
shan that Which was offered by Col. Hen
~ I. Peyton. (whilom Of Gen Lees mil.
,,sry family ea .hc occasion of the .rca,
GasOnic Temple raee;ins in Bal,Lzorc in
October. 1879.
Mr. CIairmnn.-Whi!e within the
broad limits of civili.atioo men every where
arc turning aside from the everyday pur-
suits Of ife 10 pay vo,un,ar: tribute 10
departed Trac'ness. il = peculiarly ft.
ting that those wle eore the rel aten to
the lAmCL:-3 dead which exists between
q i"-esi commander and devoted troops.
should in simple yet uamistakablc form
give expression TO the feelings which op-
press their hearts The resolutions which
have been read are no, only expressive
of the sentiments nf those assembled, bu,
arc The echoes Of that veneratiou ard grief
waIsa have impressed an entire peep,
and are fniinc ut;craucc on every hand
in language cf siseere mourning aad un-
affected cu!c-y.
The wo.ld Is honoring Itself in thus
hoporin; the memory of one Who has won
snoro Of lis admiration than any great
historic name since Washington. Bat
While il follows in the funeral procession
70 admirers Of the il'ustrous warr;or-we
have tic proud privilege TO stand around
his Tier as friends and mourrers-as
s.rotlcrs In armS-Eay, almost rs the
children Of his heart.
kuoxing all the sp.cpdiG elements Of
his character ss VI. did, the toriitude IN
adyr.sitv: the courage in disaster; the
.ilcnec under imrutation; tie sense OF
iu.,ice. which knew neither friendship
nov Kindred; the tenderness which was
Ike wcman's: the grand pcise Of feeling
which suffered no weak ela,icn in the
hour cf victory. We turn. like children
srrallcd. FROM The tomb which is closing
upon our hero forever: we feel as men
Who have los; the ligl., Of a great exam
PIC. ard been deprived Of guide and
counsellor upon whom We have learned to
lean with cou6diug and enduring
I ust.
Mr.. Chsirman. il would no. be arrro.
pirate for me to indulge in the language
Of extended cu!osy. A character which
needs pLilcsorhic analysis. 60 place the
different elements ,ha, constitute great
ness. and strength. and excellence in their
proper aud harmonious relations. aF,rds
too prolific theme for an occasion Ike
this. or abilities Ike mine. This is more
appropriately the work Of the critic and
sbe historian. We come to mourn. moi
60 praise We arc here to weep. no. to
review. Der u;trrasecs are the lcaping
words that come unt;dden from break
ing hearts. not the polished periods tha,
hcw frcm tie lips Of orators. We need
not sir. and have not invoked the acccs-
sories Of elcquence; the occasion itself j.
eloquent; the influences and the surround
ires cf the hour are an inspiration, aud
may the day never ccme when tie silver
tongue az The orator will be necessary ,c
brsns seOurners to The grave Of Robert Z.
Lee.
Well may we leave 20 history. Wills,
niagliag cur tears wi,h the grief of on,
people. the daty Of rorirsy;og to fa,ure
generations the man who has in our d.y
strengthened eur faith in eur own race,
ty the lcay hsigh. to which his own
greet na;ure 50 easily bore him.
As another aed mcse suitable time. " |
sasy ,reneh upon that province Of sh
hissorsaa which speak. Of battles an
cvsr,ssiss aod disasters; of the mach, ID
6ivoaac and the camp: Of the personl
gsna tssissins incidents that ceae crowd
ing ia uTon the mind in THE grca; militt
" prrsuee. Tcasrsiag as are ,hek
martial themes. and vivid as they mict
he wrought. let us follow the example
cur grca, chief. and tarn from these
peacsfal ,heughss. Lc, Us to-nigL, leal
Lee the solder. aud eon,emp,a,e Lee ,tw
ci,isen. Let us draw lessons from hte'
tory the nobless. the grandest, the nd
!, iaspisinS the xeEi3 has ever krowat
I.e: as study shss weadsrfni assrtati
ola rurcly military character to the calJ
inpericrs dates Of exac,ing rcsee. lk
ss rsc.il THAI rcerkss forsissas aud mc
than royal dignity which gave TO the das J
hoar Of iaal surrender mere Of i,ianlr,
than ef defeat. La rs Pc. to hear, a.
impress On those who are 20 ecme aiter
that spirit Of self abncga,ion which. il
sbe miiss cf poverty. refused every bcne.
fsesicn. and with pashos and rowel
aheve al earthly elcqacnec. spoke from
lhc lrr,ts Q. his rrcat sagl 10 \ stirnd