Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-15
THE STATUE AND THE FLA es.
A row More Words of Wisdom from tho
Northern Press.
"I.rr rs HAVE PTACE,
ryov York saturday Review. juno 7th.l

Nav York saturday Review. Juno 7th.l
Tho unwilling of the statue of General
Robert f. Lee az Richmond last week ms
been fruitful in an exhibition OF some OF
the best and many of the worst feeiings
that influence mankind. Even oeep
vencration for the memory OF GeneIai Leg
docs not so ill the southern heart that pa
triotism has no place there. IL mere meIe
nm outburst such as the country had not
seen Of the crandcst sentiments OF true
manhood in the old Confederate capital on
the 2gth of MAY: if there were among inc
tons ~ Thousands gathered there thrill
of love for the cause for which Lee had
fourht. there was still spirit OF Loyalty
and of generous forgiveness Tor those VINO
once overwhelmed the country WIN VIC.
torous troops and devastated Ine AAii0 GOV
lands of the South.
no the true American who attempts TO
contrast the worthy avowal of the southern
people on this occasion with the tone Oh
many speakers and writers IN the North
sorrowful picture IS presented. Inc quar-
ter of century that has passed since the
sword was returned TO its scaooard mas AT
least brought out the dignity OF the south
ern character. We wish we could say with
eoual truth thatit had destroyed the rancor
Of tho northern partisan. If it comes 70
mere matter of equity the North should be
nroud of what the South has done since the
war not only for itself but for tho honor
and fame of the republic. In 1865 II started
with nothing, pennies and without creult'
its people hurled from opulence To- oVerty,
Their homes wrecked, the Work OF years
of labor swept away. yet 1t STANDS now III
a short quarter OF century as pr95peIpTuus
as anv section of the civilized world. Inc
North. will all its advantages, with the
foundation of the past to stand upon, with
well-nigh unlimited help from foreign CAPT
fal. with hundreds of millions OF COLLARS
scattercd through it from the puDIlc lrea-
sury, has done no more.
In view Of all this it Is pitltul 10 see some
northern men so blind TO virtues that are
not theirs. so devoid of generosity, justice,
and the HIGHER attributes Of humanity, so
deficient in the real spirit of patriotism-ln
n word. so little as TO pour forth streams OF
venom nj a section of their own country
men who distinguish themselves by deNo-
ton 70 principle and fidelity 10 theLr
friends If these men have any REGARD Ior
the reputation of America they Will cease
| their malignant utterlngs. The world
knows there is no cause Tor them, ana the
| republic cannot afford TO have the odium
| of being DETAINED by SO large section Oh
its own citizens. They are no TRENDS 10
/ the Union who denOunce noble deeds ana
discredit great men because they belong 10
another part Of the land than their own.
| Patriotism defends sectional liberty IL
doe, not give inspiration to party jealousy
/ Boston cursing New Orleansfor celebrating
I Shrove Tuesday would he hardly more
puerile than Is the conduct OF northern
I Republicans in denouncing Richmond and
| the South for hOnorIng the memory OF the
noblest son of Virginia. These are the men
| who are drawing sectional limos and VINO
promote the solidity of the South whlch
they condemn. But their cayillngs SHOULD
cease. If their own common sense OF
| iustice and policy does not convince them
| That +he country has already borne long
| enough with them, the sound public opln-
ION Of the nation should be directed against
! them. There is no war now ano there must
| be peace.
| TIE RIGHT VIEW.
IRhode-Island Democrat
"ve,lio f,ifssinus Ibis" 1t seems to US
! that this matter Of the carrying of COnted-
! crate flags upon the occasion OF the unVeil-
| inc of the statue Of General Lee IS causing
altogether more excitement and comment
! than is necessary or seemly. The same
| thing was done upon the occasion of the
| funeral OF Jefferson DAVIS, and has
| been done hundreds of times before since
the close of the war without bad results,
and without creating any especial feeling
| of bitterness in the North. The Govern
ment of the United States did not see ut 10
! prosecute either General Lee or MIR. DAVIS
| during their lifetime, and although 1t dld
| hold the latter as a prisoner and keep MN
| in confinement for some time after the
! close of the war. il afterwards released
| him on bail aud never thereafter mOlested
him.
General Lee was unquestionably great
and skillul soldier, and humane ana III
! some respects great man. That he did as
hundreds of his fellow officers and hun
dreds of thousands of his fellow-cltlZens
did in the momentOus conflict OF 1851
ought not now to be treasured up against
| him. The country long ago fOrgaye the
"crring brethren" and took them bacl
into the fold, and they are to-day good.
loyal. and patriotic citizens OF the Union,
| acknowledging and revering the nag
| and ready to defend il If necessary with
their lives. Upon such men let no STAN
be cast. and against them let no voice he
lifted. The North is proud OF the valor
and pluck displayed 10y the Confederate
soldiers in the late war, and OF the skill
and bravery shown by their generals. 10
have been the victOrs in the end over so
rallant an army, so ably commanded, Is
glory enough III itself, and adds much to
the laurels won by the armies OF the Union.
| And. besides, the eX-COnfederates are
our fellow-Americans and brothers: When
honor IS done TO one OF them 1t Is honor
done TO an American all the same ana
should pass for such.
1t is now more than twenty-five years
since General Lee surrendered his sword
TO that illustrious soldier, General Grant
at AppomattoX, and by that act virtually
ended the war. Since then the whole
country. and especially the South, has
prospcred as it had never prospered before
and we can really and truly look upon the
war. for all the havoc 1t wrought aud the
grief and suffering il entalled, as having
been a blessing In disguise"
1t is only natural that the people OF the
South should entertain a sentimental feel
ing for the Lost Cause" or that they
should hold in sacred and a1ectlonate re.
membrance their departed leaders and
heroes.
Let them cherish these sacred memories
Let them erect statues and monuments tc
their dead leaders and observe with
solemn and appropriate ceremonies the daS
which they have set apart for decking the
graves of their dead with flowers. They
would be less than human if they did not
DO these things, and we would be churllsf
and unmanly indeed if we were to SCOT al
them OF lnterpose objection. The vete-
rams Of both sides in the late war have
taught the country a valuable lesson 10y
meeting together and fraternizing. II
thew can show so broad and catholic
spirit il is not for those who were not N
the service at all 70 keep alive and far
into a fame the embers of dlscOrd anc
hate. As President Grant remarked IN ms
first inaugural address, Let Us nave
peace"
UNDER LEES STATUE.