The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-30

adversary's mind and character. Upol
this varied and pronounced knowledg,
Will depend the success OF those larg,
plans embracing the whole theatre Q
war which soldiers call strategy.
OTHER ATTRIBUTES.
And over and above all there mus
preside some Godlike power, which, ii
tho crisis OF strategy, or the storm o
battle not only preserves to the CON
mander all these high faculties but act
ually intenBiiies and expands them. Ir
those irrevocable moments, when the
decision Of an instant may determine
the destiny OF States, mere talent mus,
spring into genius, and mind and out.
ward eye send flashes OF intuition
through the smoke OF battle and the
dark curtain on which tho enemy'u
moy;ements are 10 be read only In iitful
shadows. In that hour OF doom, ANA.
lions tate, peoples ransom may be
staked on one mans greatness OF soul.
1t Is the recognition in Ice Of the
principal elements Of this high ideal
courage, will, energy, insight, authori.
ty; the organizing..tninj, with its eagle
glance and the Temperament based upon
lorsisude, hopefalnessFjoy in battle, all
exalted by heroic purpose and kindled
with tho glow OF m nncon4uerable soul.
1t ia above and beside ull the unique
combination in him OF moral strength
with moral beauty, Of all that Is great in
hearoic action, with all that is good in
common life, that will make OF this pile
OF stone n sacred shrine throughout the
coming ages-not TO soldiers only, but to
all helpers and friends OF man.
kind" The orator then went into an
elaborate biographical review of the life
and character OF General Lee. lie
sprang from race OF men who had Just
shown in world famous struggle ali of
the virtues and few OF the faults of Il
class entitled to rule, because iittest 10
rule. His father had won brilliant
fame rs a cavalry leader and the signal
honor OF the warm friendship OF Wash
ington.
Alter giving an extensive review OF
Gen. Lees career throughout the war,
the orator concluded:
GENEROSITY OF THE NORTH.
"Fhe surrender OF the fragments Of the
army OF Northern Virginia closed the
lmpcrishable record OF his military life,
What catastrophe, moving and pa
thetlc contrast. On the one side com.
plete and dazzling triumph, after long
succession OF lumiliating disasters; on
the other absolute ruin and dcfeat-a
crown Of thorns for that peerless army,
which hitherto had known only the VIC
tors laurel. But the magnanimity Of
The conqueior, no less than the iorti.
tude oil the vanquished shone out OF the
solemn scene, and softened it's tragic |
outlines OF fate and doom. The modera.
ion and good sense OF the Northern
people, breathing the large and gener.
3us air OF our western world, quickly re. |
'ponded to Grants example, and though
he North was alterward betrayed into
|anaiical and bancful excess on more
han one great subject, all the tiercer !
passions Of bloody civil war were
rapidly extinguished.
There was to be no Poland, no Ire |
land in America. When the pyramid
was raising over the confederate dead. |
soon after the close OF the contest, some |
one suggested for the inscription classic
verse which may be rendered:
They died for their country-.heir
country perished with them"
This would have spoken the voice Of
despair.
Alter a briefre reference to the remand.
er OF his days passed in charge of his
duties as President OF Washington COL
lege, the orator ended his address as fol-
lows: AS the people saw him fulfilling
those modest but noble functions; as
they saw him with antique simplicity
putting aside every temptation to use bis
great fame for vulgar gain; as they saw
him in self respecting contentment with
the frugal earnings Of his personal la
Dor, refusing every ofler OF pecuniary
assistance; as they realized his unseltsh
devotion OF all thatremaincd OF strength
aud life to the nurture OF the Southern
youth in knowledge and morals, a new
conviction OF his wisdom and virtue
gathered force and volume and spread
abroad into all lands. The failure oft
righteous cause for which he fought de-
nlcd him that eminence OF civil station
in which his great qualities in their hap.
py mixture might we'll have afforded a
parallel to the strength and the modera.
tion OF Washington.
LEES MORAL PERFECTION.
But what failure could obscure that
moral perfection which places him as
easily by the side OF the best men that
have ever lived as his heroic actions
make him the peer OF the greatest.
There are men whose influence on
mankind neither worldly success or
worldly failure can affect.
The greatest gift the hero leaves his
race is to have been hero. This moral
perfection breathed in the very spirit OF
his Christian faith is no Elusive legend
OF a succeeding generation exaggeratirg
the worth OF the past.
Let this monument then teach to
generations yet unborn these lessons OF
his life. Let it stand, not as record of
civil strife, but as a perpetual protest
against whatever is low and sordid in
our private and public objects. Let it
stand as 4 memorial Of personal honor
that never brooked n stain Of knishtly
yalor without thought OF SELF OF far
reaching military genius unsoiled by
ambition OF heroic constancy from
which no cloud OF misfortune could ever
hide the path OF duty.
Let it stand for reproof and censure II
our people shall ever sink below the
standard OF their fathers. Let it stand
for patriotic hope and cheer if day OF
national gloom and disaster shall ever
dawn upon our country. Let it stand as
the embodiment OF brave and yirtuous
peoples ideal leader. Let it stand as q
great public act Of Thanksgiving and
praise for that it pleased Almighty God
to bestow upon these Southern States a
man 80 formed to reflect his attributes Of
power Of majesty and goodness.
Every point in Colonel Anderson's
address was greeted with warm applause,
aud several times he was Obliged to sus.
pend his remarks, while the crowd
cheered again and again. AT the con.
clusion Of his address, wave OF ap.
plouoa uu.opk ovar t|,o ,-awj ,,J .:.ii1