Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-04
ON INVITING NORTHERN TROOPS.
The Character of tho Unwilling Ccrem"-
MES Here on the Goth Instant.

To he Editor Of he Dispatch;
That an invitation 10 attend the unveil-
Inc of the equestrian statue OF Senerai
Lee should have been extended TO the
Seventh New York or TO any other respecta-
BILE northern military organization, so lar
from be NJ mistake, was 10 my NINA
very proper thing to do. For # any Amer-
can citizen ever lived wnO wa worthy OF
the unouaiified admiration of every good
man and woman. not only IN the United
States. but in the whole world, that man
was the peerless soldier, tie antl-mOn-
archical Democrat. the matchless citizen,
and the model Christian gentleman, no
bert +. Lee. sans p mr. ei sans ffprQcte.
When he returned from the surrender at
Apnoma.tox and entered the captured city
of Richmond northern soldlery as good as
the gallant seventh or any other military
organization raised their hats at the APP
pearance in their midst OF tins undauntcd
leader Of f0emen worthy of Their steel. IL
man ever lived whose life and character
and whose likeness IN bronze OF marble
might be fitly held az 10 point the way 70
the young men of al nations, II was that
man whose grandeur Of character was only
thrown into holder relief by the shadows
Of defeat. What defeated chie!taln OF "a
lost cause IN all the records Of the past has
so persistcntly held his place at the zenith
OF human greatness! ANY man from any
where would but honor hilnselfin uncover
Ing his head at the memorial OF such a
man.
But while IL is doubtless the proper
thing 70 do to invite tine northern soldier
his declining the invitation should giYc no
offence or engender one trace OF bitterness
towards him. for IT cannot be denied that
he would be treading on very delicate
ground in becoming part Of an attempt TO
extol mortal 20 the skies whom whilom
he lad attempted TO shoot down as rebel
and a traitor. And then again suppose
some irrepressiblo bl0therskite" twho
somehow lnaua1cs 10 work IL the discDfd
for an occasion like tha!) should forget the
rights % hospitality and common doceuCy
and "uproag tie universal peace" such
visitors would learn too late that they had
made an unfortunate mistake IN giving eS-
preston by their presence 10 their admiral
tlon OF the exalted character OF this man OF
high eeced thoughts seated ~ heart GfcotD'-
fesy."
And, too, what on earth does any Con-
fedcrate soldier or any body OF Confederate
soldiers want 10 fannt IN the face OF tie
United States the old tatteTed symbols that
foatcd once over the brave soldiers OF Lee
ana Jackson while attempting to sever the
InOn ~ twain-a contamination devoutly
wished for, fought for, and died for then,
but standing az tine milestone of 1890 what
man or woman or child outside OF lunatic
asylum would have II to-day an accom-
plished factY
General Lee was masterpiece in soul
and body may no tainted de.ormity be-
smirch i by contrast on the 2gth of Nav.
be lard down the Gag OF secession at APP
pcmattOx once Tor all; may no iridescent
Hotspur insult the sincerity OF his action
then IN attempting TO take il up and unfurl
u nor. Every word be uttered after the
conflict had ended was contribution 20
the divine harmony of brotherly love. and
may no good old soldier or soldiers son
utter aught when the veil shall have been
lifted from bis equestrian statue that shall |
not be In strict conformity TO that last un- |
written but no less real . general order" Of |
our beau-ideal OF a soldier aud "A man.
II were best perhaps that the gallant |
Seventh should not DO present, that It be |
hglorious old family affair. bat We hope |
ftat they will wish they had been present |
when they hear how /. al comp0rtod with |
the character and conduct OF Robert X. |
lee. One VINO FOLLOWED ARMITEAD
AND PIcKErr THROUGH IL ALL.