The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-29

v. 4
sum-" 4 sense Of WEAKNESS came over
him before the meeting ended, and al it
close he retired with wan, flushed face
Returning home. he found the family cir
Gle gathered for tea. and took his plac,
al the board. standing 10 saw grace. Tn,
lips failed 90 voice the blessing prompted
hy the heart. and, without a word, he tool
his seat with an expression OF Sublim,
resignation on his face. for well he knew
that the Masters call had come, and he Wa,
ready 10 answer.
He was borne 10 his chamber. and skill
cd physicians and loving hands did al
that man could do. For nearly fortnight
~'TwiNf night and morn upOn The horizons verge
Between Two worlds life lowered liso star;
and then. on the morning Of October llth
the star Of the mortal sank i'm the sunrise
Of immortality, and Robert Lee passed
hence 10 "whcrc beyond these voice,
there is peace"
"Tell 4. Z. Hill 10 prepare for action -
were amongst the las, words Of StoucWall
Jackson. "Tcl liill he must come up
were the last words OF Lee. Their brave
lieutenant. who rests under the green turf
81 Hollywood. seems 10 have been latest
in the minds o. his great commanders,
while their spirits. vet in martial fancy.
roamed again the fields Of conflict, and ere
they passed TO where the soldier dreams Of
bat,lc-folds no more.
The LESSONS ~ HISL LIFE.
And did he live in vain, this brave and
gentle Lcey And have his works persisted
with himy / would blush 10 ask the ques-
ton save 70 give the answer.
4 leader Of armies. he closed his career
in complete disaster.
But the military scientist studies his
campaigns. and finds in them designs aS
bold and brilliant. and actions as intense
and energetic. aS ever illustrated the art Of
war The gallant captain beholdS in his
bearing courage n rare y ever faced a deS-
pcrato field. OF restored lost one. The
private soldier looks up AZ an image n be-
nignaut and commanding rs ever thrilled
The heart with highest impulse OF deyo-
ton.
The men who wrc,icd victory from his
little band stood woudeT-Stricken and
ahaShcd when they saw how few were
those who dared oppose them, and gene
rous admiration burst into spontaneous
tTibute 20 the splendid leader who bore de-
feat with the quiet resignation Of hero.
The men who fought under him never re-
vored or loved him more than on the day
De shcathcd hi, sword. Had De- bat said
the word they would have died for honor.
IL was because he said the word that they
resolved 10 live for duty.
Plato congratulated himself-frSt. that
he was horn a man: second. that he had
the happiness OF being Greek; and third.
that he was ihe cotemp0rary OF SOphoclc>.
And in this vast throng to-day. and here
and there the wide world over. is many an
one who wore the gray who roiOices that
he wa, born a man 10 domains part for his
country: that hc had the glory Of being
Confederate and who feels just. proud.
and glowing CONSCIOUSNESS in his bosom
when he SAYS unto himself, Il was fol-
lower Of Robert Lee; | was soldier OF
the Army II Northern Virginia.
Didhe irield patronage and pOlccP
No. He could not have appointed
friend 10 the smallest Office. He could be-
stow no emolument upon any Of his fol-
lowers. But an intimatjon OF his wish
amongst bis own people carried IN lnlu-
ence which the command Of the autocrat
can never possess; and his approval Of
conduct or chaTactcrwaS deemed an honor,
and was an honor which Outyed the stars
and crosse, and titles conferred by kings.
Did lee gain lreGHt
No. He neither sought nor despiSed IL.
II All III lA~tl4 IT iill 4lll4l Ntt- ti htt az
from him. He refused it, companion>hip
because his people could not have IL COM
pauv. lie gave what he had 10 weak
cause. and 10 those whose necessities were
greater than his OVID. And home itself ne
sacrificed on the altar OF his country. But
he refuted the shallow wOrldling's maxim,
that every man has his price" and proved
that true manhood has none, however
great.
The plundercr Of India defends himself
bv exclaimIng that when he considered
bis opportunities De was ast0nishcd at his
own moderation Mark Antony appeased
tue anger Of the Roman pOpulace against
the fallen tyrant by reading C&sar's Will
wherein ne left them his rich and fair pos
se>>iOn,-to them and their heirs forever.
The captive Of It. Helena. aggrandiZed
with the tears and blood Of Europe, drew
his own long viii dispensing millions 10 MS
fayOrites. Lee had opportunities a. great
a, any conqueror and took nothing, not
even that which Others pushed upon him.
But he has left q great. imperishable leg
acy % Us and our heir, forever. The near
OF man i his perpetual kingdom. There
be reigns tTanScendent. and we eNc!aim
"Oh, king, live forever.
DID he possess rQHkf
citizen. The country which cayethe right
Of suffrage 10 the alien ere be- could speak
It, language. and 10 the African freedman
ere he could read or understand iis aw,,
denied 10 him the privilege OF a ballOf. lie
had asked amnesty. lie had been refused.
lie had not been tried. But he had been
convicted. lie fOrgaye. But be was un-
forgiven. He died q par0lcd prisoner OF
war, In the calm Of peace, five years after
war had embedded the foremost and no.
ble,i man in a republic which proclaims
itself ..the land Of the free and the home Of
the brave" himself and bis communicating
chief constituting the most conspicuous OF
its political slaves.
But a. the oak stripped OF its To-
liage by the winter blast then, ana
then only. stands forth in solemn ana
mighty majesty against the Wintry SKY
50 Robert Lee. stripped OF every rank that
man could give him, lowered above the
earth and those around him, in the pure
sublimity and strength Of that character
which we can only htly contemplate when
we lift our eyes from earth ana see IL
limned against the Heavens
Did he SAGE his country from conquest :
No. He saw his every fOrebOdlng ol eNil
verified. He came 10 share the miserie. OF
his people. lie shared them, drinking
every drop OF Sorrows cup. His cause
WAS lost. and the land for which he fought
lives not amongst the nations. But the
voice Of history echoes the poets song
All. realm Of tombs.. But let II bear
This blaz0n 20 the last Of times;
NOnafiOn rose 20 white ana iair'
or fen ~ pure Of crimes
And he. il. type, lived and died, teaching
liie's greatest lessons, "to suffer and be
strong" and that "misiortune nobly borne
l. good fortune"