The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-06-05
ROBERT f. LEE.

w nile d 1SH III TIC oPNio
were bitter in their denunCiatlon OF
the occasion and those who took part
in the ceremonies incident to the I'M
yelling Of the Lee statue in Richmond
last Thursday, the more decent and
fair minded ones had nothing but
words of truth and soberness, breathing
the spirit of friendship, and peace, and
love. Notable among this latter
class, for the others do not deserve to
dignified by having their names men
toned in connection with respectable
journals, are the New York W0rlH,
HevaM, Tribune, Times, Star and
| Sun, the Washington Post and others.
In the last named paper of last Thurs
day the following editorial article APP
peared. 1t is manly and magnani
nous sentiment and we reproduce it
in full
The colossal equestrian statue of
General Robert E. Lee will be unveiled
at Richmond to-day. 1t is an occa-
sion of great interest to the people of
the whole South, who hold the memory
of Lee IN leverent and afeCtionate ad
miration, and representatives from
every State in the South-frOm one of
them in large numbers will be present
and participate in the late ceremonies
to do honor to the commander in
chief of the Confederate armies.
1t is but a just and natural impulse,
and the magnanimous North will SO
recognize it.
Lee was a soldier and gentleman
in the highest sense OF both terms,
despite the fact that he took up arms
against the Government, under mis-
taken sense of superior duty to his
State. He possessed in a remarkable
degree those qualities of character
which command respect and win es-
TEEN. He was a citizen upon whose
private life rests no reproach and the
South is not alone in her opinion of
his greatness and goodness. The
standard by which true manhood Is
| measured is a universal, not a merely
local or sectional standard.
The Post is not of those who hold
that because Of the South's hostility
to the Federal Union she is thereby
declared from paying memorial tribute
to her fallen leaders; or that because
the issues of the war on which she
fought and lost are dead, the brave men
who fought and lost with her should
therefore be buried in neglected graves
and out of remembrance.
1t is not in human nature that they
should be- 1t casts no imputatlon
upon the loyalty of the South to the
restored Union that they are not.
Pitiful indeed would be the spectacle
we're the South SO forgetful of her dis
tinguished soldiers as not to celebrate
their virtues and keep their memories
green. Then indeed were her honesty
to be questioned and her self confessed
humiliation to be dispised, and the
value of her citizenship to be discount
ed. The South is simply doing what
any other people of ordinary pride in
themselves would do under similar
circumstances.
The Southern people have accepted
the results of the war. The lost cause
is no more, nor ever more to be. 1t
is living cause for which they are now
contcnding, and in view of the won
derful progress they have made in the
last twenty-five years, of the sturdy,
self-reliant capacity they have devel-
oped, of the readiness with which they
bear whatever burden the Government
imposes upon them, of the unquestlon-
able alacrity with which they would
rally to the defense of that Government
were it once in peril, 1t will require
something more than their veneration
for Robt. f. Lee to convince us that they
are not sincere in their devotion to the
old flag, or that beneath professions of
loyalty they conceal a Unreasonable
purpose.
SO let the statue be unveiled in all
its majectic proportions, midst music,
oratory, and heroic ode. 1t will not
shame the sunlight. 1t will not en-
danger the liberties of the people. 1t
will cause nc patriot to draw bated
breath. 1t will shock no manly SEN
sibility. 1t will simply show that
the South retains a grateful appre-
citation of her noblest son, and COM
mends his name to the muse of history
as worthy of exalted perpetuation.
!, The man whom the South honors
to-day is one of the most impressive
characters the world has ever SEEM
He rose superior to defeat and supreme
over disaster and ruin. 1t does not
matter in contemplating such a man
as Lee what opinion is held of the
cause for which he fought. The leader
was, in the general view, greater than
the cause. If he had flourished in an
earlier and happier period he might
have to-day the homage of every
American as he has the homage of the
South.
| No town can be prosperous, pro-
gressive and thrifty unless the citizens
show their faith by taking an active
part in the business thereof and talking