The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-06-05

his address as follows;
AS the people saw him fulfilling
these modest but noble functions; as
they saw him with antique simplicity
putting aside every temptation to use
his great fame for vulgar gain; as
they saw him, In selt-respecting con-
tentment with the frugal earnings OF
his personal labor, refusing every offer
OF pecuniary assistance as they real
lied his unsellish devotion OF all that
remained of strength and life to the
nurture OF the Southern youth in
knowledge and morals, new convic-
ton OF his wisdom and virtue gath
cred force and volume and spread
abroad into all lands.
The failure OF the righteous cause
for which he fought denied him that
eminence OF civil station in which hi S
great qualities, in their happy mix
ture, might well have afforded n par
allel to the strength and the modera-
tion OF Washington. But what fail
ure could obscure that moral perfec-
ction which places him as easily by
the side OF the best men that have ev-
or lived, that his heroic actions make
him the peer Of the greatest?
There are men whose influence on
mankind neither worldly success
nor worldly failure can aEect. The
greatest gift the hero leaves his race
is to have been hero.
This moral perfection, breathing the
very spirit Of his Christian faith, is no
illusivs legend of succeeding genera
ton, exaggerating the worth Of the
past.
Our belief is that, upon unanimous
testimony Of the men who lived and
acted with him, among whom moth
ing is more common than the declOra-
tion, Lee was the purest ana best man
OF action whose career history has re-
corded. In his whole life laid bare to
the world, the least friendly criticism
has never discovered one single devia-
ton from the narrow path OF rectitude
and honor. What was strained eulo-
gy when Montesquieu said on another
great soldier, Turenne, that "his life
was hymn in praise of humanity"
is, if applied to Lee, the lang uage of
sober truth. Noman can consider his
life without feeling OF renewed hope
and trust in mankind.
There is about his exhibitions Of
moral excellence the same quality OF
power in reserve that marks him as a
soldier. He never failed to come up
to:the requirements OF any situation
his conduct communicated the inn
preston that nothing could arise to
which he would be found unequal.
His every action went straight to the
mark without affectation or display.
1t cost him no visible effort to be
good or great. He was not conscious
that he was exceptional in either way
and he died IN the belief that as he
had been sometimes unjustly blamed
go he had so often been too highly
praised. Such is the holy simplicity
of the noblest minds. Such was the
pure and lofty men in whom we see
the perfect union of Christian virtue
ana old Roman manhood.
His goodness makes us love his
greatness. And the sacination which
this matchless combine exerts is itself
symptom and source of use in
moral health. As long as our people
truly love and venerate him there will
remain in them principle Of good.
For all the Stupenduous wealth and
power which in the last thirty years
have lifted these States to the fore
most rank among the nations OF the
earth are less a subject for pride than
this one heroic man, this human pro
product VI our country and constitu
tion.
Let this monument, then, teach tc
generations yet unborn these lessons
OF his life. Let it stand, net as a rec
ord OF civil strife, but as perpetua
protest against whatever is low and
sordid in our private and public oh
iects. Let it stand as a memorial o
personal honor that never brooked {
stain, OF knigntly valor without {
thought of self, Of facing military &c
MUS unsoilsd by ambition Of heroic
constancy, from which no cloud o
misfortune could ever hide the patti
of duty. Let it stand for reproof an(
censure if our people should ever sinl
below the standards of their fathers
Let it stand for patriotic hope anC
cheer il day OF national gloom anC
disaster shall ever dawn upon ou
country. Let it stand as the embodi
ment OF brave and virtuous people
ideal leader. Let it stand as a grea
public act OF thanksgiving and praise
for that it pleased almighty God t,
bestow upon the Southern States
man SO formed to reflect his attribute
OF power, majesty and goodness,
tthe conclusion OF Col. Anderson
address, Gen. Joseph F. Johnston
pulled the cord which held the cover
ing OF the statue, and the veil dropped
exposing the beautiful bronze work Q
art to view, when mighty shout wen
up from the multitude, and around 9
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