Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-01
the buried past, We are to-day one hriniy
united country.
pARTraAs cRrr1cIsM.
,pttt.Aataht. pvnaa RaDuhl lean.

the bur1eo past, We arc to-u@y 49,
united country.
ApARTrsAs cRrr1crsM.
philadelphia Press, Republican,
A quarter Of century has passed slhoe
Robert y. Lee surrendered ms arlni ="
Appomattoy, and tho interval has Iai 80
the worlds estimate of him rs man an"
reduced his relative rank ~ soldier; -
He remains one OF the great captains OF
the war, General Scott used no exsgs. III ~
ton when in 1891 he wrote OF him ~ ~ !,
very best soldier ! ever saw IN the nsiu'
and under General Scott there iouRnt ~
active service every great solder III tno
war but one. in attack perhaps the Hi M
est of them all, Phil. Sheridan. me
war closed with General Lees Ipiii,AIy
reputation standing higher abroad thhh
any American commander on either SUI ~
He was ecllpsed in popular estimate NJ the
North-as was naturally one or Two OF
its own leaders, but even at the NORTH Vio
soberer critics Of the war ranked MIN as
the first soldier of the great struggle. 49,.
Years have perceptibly moderated TINS
high estimate. The perspective OF gene-
ration and its manifold rcvealments nave
taught the world the advantages OF ms
position. the value of en- interior Inc, Ihe
aid he derived from O defensive campaign;
and the enormous superiority ne enjoyed
from early becoming the unquestlOned
commander OF the Confederacy strong
est armed force. It's only iully-or-
ganiZed army. lie had over every
commander opposed TO him the aq-
vantage which Wellington rated IN ms
own experience at fair fraction OF ms
force. Napoleon. Wellington once urged
would take advantage Of every oPpoItu-
nifty, careless of consequences; ne was
forced TO decline all openings but those
l. III .. 81. rtnf
had 10 bear in mind not only the denies OK
Spain but the division loDbies OF ~;
Stcohen's. 1t was possible for denerai
Lee to Disregard oil but the issues Oh each
battle: IT was Indispensable for tle gene
rails opposed TO him TO be mindful at every
turn Of the politics and the parties OF the
North.
The Just allowances of a generation, no
less than the ultimate verdict OF history,
rate General Lee IN tho first rank among
those commanders who have shown q GO,
mus for defensive warfare and unequaled
skill IN retreat. Until he had sheridan
hanging upon his tanks Lee was always
able TO retreat ~ safety with nlS
guns and his train, if not always with
his wounded. The success with whlch
he twice crossed the Potomac nfter defeat;
and the fashion in which no slowly yieloeu
ground to the blows of Grant, destructive
no itsS 10 NIf SDlfl4t1 hIhDOh VIZ M
commander welded than 10 the enemy NO
attacked. will remain as long as war -
studied models for retreat before a su-
perIor force. Only once, in the brilliant
dispositions by which he protected hlch-
mond IN 1882 separating the force before
him by a feint on Fredericksburg, ana
driving Mcclellan TO the river by risklng
all or his attack upon the greater part OF
his divided foe, did the southern com
mander riso 20 the highest level IN OMEN
sive warfare. Elsewhere. as at Gettysburg
he threw away the fortunes Of the field by
daring too much, or. at Fredericksburg ana
Charlottesville, lost the twin opportuni-
ties Of bis career by daring too Little.
Doubtless the sober poise of character
which lie inherited from ms ancestors ana
drew from the life about him united him
for those desperate casts when natures
more rugged or more fiery pass on 10 VIC
tory. Beyond any American OF ms DAY
General Lee had the re crve. the e}eY0tion,
and the serenity which the world has come.
rightly or wrongly. 10 associate wlih an
honorable lineage, large means, and the cd1
vantages OF position. But he also had-ana
this is the solitary blemish which history
will record with regret and posterity VIII
prefer 70 fOrget-the fatal hesitation
of many noble nature in meeting the
tides of popular passion aud rebuking
acts they little approve. 10 the last posi-.
bic moment he deprecated the secession Ok
his State. and if he and men like him, IN
stead of deprecating. bad denounced, Eir-
gina would never have seeded, the rebel
lion never risen above the lowlands OF the
cotton States A word from General Lee
would have saved the starving thousands
of Belle Isle and the horrors OF Anderson
vile, and here again he failed IN that hlgh
and lofty duty which REQUIRES OF virtue
something more than pTOt.st. Nor IS u
pleasant to remember that he delayed so
long his resignation from the army whose
uniform he had worn from youth as 10
make explanation necessary ana criticism
inevitable.
But these things are gladly forgotten IN
memory of the lofty soul with which he
faced defeat and endured disaster. We
rejoice that in the Just and inevitable fan
ure which attended all his efforts the
Americans whom he Communications
valor our common heritage and their hero
ism our common glory and only their cause
their own-bad of their head n man pure,
noble, and OF unapproachable dignity, VINO,
alike in war and peace. so bore hinself
that he won the respect of all who OPP
posed him and rendered the monument
Yesterday dedicated the lasting reminder
that even in an Ill cause bis countrymen
and ours were led by nan worthy OF his
ancestry.