The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-29
ROBERT EDWARD LEE.
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF iHs
SOUTHERN CHlEFTAlN.

Point of ResembIanc Between HIS 'hHr-
acter and That Of wa-hiDgton-A Care
fuI E-timatc-uis Tioquence In speak
ing and Writing.
written for the Times
Ueurv Lee. fhe father Of the subject Of
this sketch. known in history as Light
horse Harry" was a dashing soldier, a
nleosine writer and famous orator Of the
revolution Of i77G. he was educated al
Princeton COLLEGE. and was preparing nm
self for the bar, when bostilities broke out
with England. Being only nineteen years
NJ age he at once abandoned bis plans,
raised q troop Of cavalry and joined ASH
ington. He rapidly rose 70 the rank Of Col.
orel. and was given an independent COM
mand. composed Of horse and iooi'
known as Lees Legion" lie was a man
of uuquestionablc ability. As member
Of Congress from Virginia be immorialized
himself by a part Of one sentence ga hi7 III
neral Grafton on the death Of General Wash
ington. whom he described, in language
which has been accepted as the Judgment
of mankind. as "Frst in WAL first in peace
and first in the hearts OF his countrymcn;
ne was second to none in the humble and
endearing scenes Of private iile."
WITHOUT FEAR OR REPROACH.
Robert Edward Lee. his youngest son,
was born at ~'rat0rd. on the Potomac,
" estm0reland county. Va. on ihe i3ih DAY
of Janunry. 1897. he has the Sngul ar -9od
fortune 90 0ccnpy place IN the temple ol
fame 80 conspicuous as to Doe frequently
compared 10 the great man of whom bis id-
Their had spoken the nctor-to-bc forgotten
words. There were some points OBJ re,fil-
blaucr I'm their characters ana ln'ii
lives. Both lived and died without
without fear and without reproaeh' ie
CIVILIZED world has never yct produceA "
man equal to Washington, aud ihc memory
OF Lee will last as long us the tn-lish IAN
guage H. spoken. The life of the one cio-. Oh
i'm the bright rays Oi rising sum- ol li,
other in the darkness of defeat, after d. hao
set ou the stars and bars forever. y ir2inid
is Justly proud Of these, her u0ple7l soh-'
and all the world welcomes tlem ln the
pantheon OF history.
BOTH FOUGHT FOR lNDErENDhNcE.
They both fought for the independence OF
the people. The race problem, which yet
casts its shadow over the bright skies OF
the south WAS known and recognized in l1e
eighteenth century. The debates on ihe
.,'l0,'tio, rf -. Federal Constitution m
i,,cb'nl,.1 II, is, f,liv attest tlI- ftrf. The
statesmen at the great Commonwealth off
virginia saw the trouble in tine iuiiir.
Mason and otAei- spoke 'iii''l 'h Ii'
words Of what was I'd Hilie" "nn ~" ,,.
18th " June, HISS, y li-lhia "o'Nl'd d. ''',
by vote % eighty u soy .ii. mn .'
the same time proposing biA oi h-h'7
and twenty amendments. The negro was
recognized ~ chattcl ny mat constitutions
lie Was thought OF IN no olhtr way ",'t
the adoption oi the fouil,cnih ana DE
teenth amendments. ihr eAli'-7i'H-
'manh0od suffrage was lu.n unknown.
But the disturbing element Was there.
slavery was prosperous 1nl pHiuiIi iN i.'
South for climatic reasons alone ine warm
blood Of the African c"hid never el..''
the chilling atmosphere ana -i'in-
soil of New England. THE Puritan
could not use Them in iueF climate anl ,h'
cavaliers could in the south. Save liuNf
aud free labor produced aI.cnrl. Mll
fanatics and alleged phii>uthrop'7t- 40 the
North took hnld of fle question and dr.
baicd 10 I'm the most heated fashion and
finally urged the abolition oi tle ln-niu-
tom. With that peculiar zeal which D, tDe
offspring Of sentiment here uo pecunnfl
interest is at stake. ln.y cof.d ana n'
warrant in ihe constitution for .l.h q pro-
fe". my s' '".t l''
FhhLlN" t'" ''-N' '7'
Tine mon of tie South. who were r0rk MI ID
slu,t-r0chel cradles had iIn niul'-t ieel-
ings 0rfhoir slaves. alJ every desire to d1
all that they could fer tnem. but they soon
saw that the} would DOT Dec allowed io or
with this problem. lneu came ihe tiDuNi'i' /
doctrine Oi secession. lh.} ashld I'D 'l /
allowed tO gO in peace from /
ULlon which WAS. about t1 DESTROY F,
the autonomy of their state, ana "hch /
seemed ready o. strike "a o.ail-ploW t |
their civilization. Ihet i'alt l'trd iie |
ui0n; but were they % lihrlt -inmil '' |
Che diet tuNn al nll.lii. VINO ""t %.
llSht under me ''H7li'.i"." I'D ."i'
ie ll.,'''','' .' W. I ,l,,,i man, isl.s, ,ist
~ -Dl" ,''' nm s,,. Don, o., ,.
H' -'"ith M""'" ''o 49, ..'.. ti'.'ii'..
I'D pe',t' n' "-''',''' N'i'.lt ,t'. ,ii'.,..f
7lon' }" in' j.! f.-..., ,I.. !
wton-7 "i tut 7.',' ~. '' i.,l .,.,
i. ,,i;..i, sl,,,lI H.. r..+.e,teI On HI. /
l-n'' "",Nn d.. il.. NJ, ,,I.
i'lh Oh 'c.y'.l' '., y'.,'' IL. .'. |,..
was a., com ,''1 ,'ii'.,' 49,.
!. 80 anu 49,, l-.,,. .i,tes r.a,i H.
49, ,',' ','.,,,''.l ~, ri. .,.i
,.a. ~ ~ S;r',i,'i@
W '' 80 .....
TIE join h''" \ NNl"'
Colonel Robert T.. Lee happened in Doe
present IN Washington and WAS 40 once /
ordered by the secretary 70 War; o. take
elhlilau" Oh D',i'ii"l '' "l'
',i ,',.r,'ss ,l i,.,'rr.etion which haa.i
''',. '', f,-,,,.,, ,,'s i,,,,. IT,
,, a 9io,i'' a,tr.ctld ths INST f,xoraii.
80 IN, t6. SI1>ie9m war whore he ma.
t.. ,i,,,o l','ttol c,,. ia Li-fin-,ii-hoJ
si.,.i.,. ~ b,. co',,,f,,- The s.Knn cotton |
49,. e,.,,i.1 H., r.brnor, f-.l oali.d /