The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-28
co>orrRoR THouGn vANouIsHEp

The celebration that will give a perma-
nont distinction to the 29ih of May, 1870 ID
The annals Of the Southern states, VIII DE
memorable for many reasons, but Tor II"
reason will it be more memorable thah 'n''
il will be an occasion Of pre-emineni I'M
portance devoted exclusively TO the eNal'a-
ton of a man. the last chapter OF whose NE
was a chapter of defeat. Judged by pure
~ worldly test. the life Of General Lee
closed in irretrievablc failure and calamity.
The last great scene was scene OF dis's-
ter. and AppomaitoX, unlike Waterloo
will not find its rclributiOn in subsequent
revival. And yet, if the career Of orr Illus
tr;ous soldier had reached its consumma-
ton in overwhelming victory, the impulse
to honor his memory which inspires the
multitudos now assembled in this city
couff not be stronger or more Lively.
This is the ace in which success is Wor-
Skinned. even if secured by questionable
methods and TO be employed for question:
able purposes. Men have little time ana
small inclination to pause in the course of
their ayocations. and offer up tributes a.
causes that came to nothing, and TO men
who were crushed lay defeat Ii IS selfish
age. the age Of gross uiilitarianism. Would
this be inferred. however, from the present
influx Of Southern people into Richmond
10 give expression, If in no other
way. by their mere presence, to ihe
profound love, respect, enthusiasm. ana
yeneration which animate them IN their
consideration of the life and character OF
| Lee: Are the Southern people less worldly
less moved by the ordinary motives of men
than the people Of other soils, or are the,
more generous, more patriotic and more az
preciatiye Of what is most entitled tohonor
whether hallowod by success or not: | D.
questionably, they are a people who arc
more generous and more patriotic than
is usual. Equally unquestionably. they
are people who are les luhu-
enced by the purely utlitsran mo-
tiyes that govern larger and more
complex communities. The oNplana-
ton of the prevailing determination topaz
the very highest tribute of respect TO thc
memory of Lee is to be found in part in all
these things, but perhaps it is chiefly to he
looked for in the feeling Of the Southern
people that in the character Of Robert J..
| Lee the Southern civilization had attained
| to its most consummate expression. ON cN-
preston which all men, however hostile o.
the south. could not fail to recognize in its
full significance. His career was sublime
in the greatness of the qualities which il
illustrated, although it ended in hopeless
disaster.
d. Calhoun proudly said Of Washington
on great occasion in the Senate, ole was
one Of us"-that is, he was a SOuthener;
and so il is with the crowds that viii gather
| about the monument tomorrow. lie was
one of US" will be the thought that vii!
penetrate and uplift ten thousand minds as
the sea Of faces shall he directed towards
the noble figure Of the immortal commander.
1t is this representative character that gives
the memory Of Lee such a tena-
cious hold upon the Southern people.
| He is not merely the exponent
of cause that has persisted.
He is personal type IN
whose lofty traits, whole people take
pride rs the highest expression of their own
aggregate greatness. Defeat, disaster, ca
lamity may have closed his career, but
what are they beside the shining victory Of
his character: The defeat Of such man j.
mere historic event that viii influence
the course Of nations annals for cehtu-
ry more or less, but the character of the
hero will endure a. long as time shall last.
will inspire the .remotost generations, and
will be a beacon Of liberly for Nd aeos.