Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-19
THE RICHMOND DIspATCH-TUEsDAY. JANUARY 70: 1897

!
might say, every thought of his pure
life-refutes the odious calumny and VIII
confound It's authors. The charge assume
the very question that was submitted "
the sword. and cannot, will not, s'anu.
Time Will not permit IRE 10 recount ~.
the splendors of his military fame. III.
best opinion abroad, as well as North anu
South awards him now the honots Jug
the greatest military genius, al III an
that America has produced.
From the time he took command, at.er
Seven Pines until he sheathed his knight
Iy sword at Appomattox. his story -
story OF magnificent victory. and his army
bore the war upon IFS bright bayone,s.
The speaker recountcd General Lee
deeds of valor from the time when III ms
first campaign before Richmond ne seiHeu
Mcclellan i'm Titan's grip until at Appo-
mattox he yielded to overwhelming FORCES
and hardshlps and surrendered ralner
than sacrifice the few remaining heioeo
OF his once powerful army. Just trlpule
was paid the men who fought the battles
under the great leader. and vivid de-
scription was given of Picketts immor'a'
charge at Gettysburg. which was hkeheu
to the charge of the 400 at BalakiaVa-
PRE-EMINENT AS a MAN.
Passing onward through his address
soldier only that Robert Lee stands out
pre-eminent 1t is also as the man. III
he was matchess as a warrior, so he was
sublime as n man. OF his Christian 1alth
| dare not speak. lie walked with Co..
His deep humility surpassed the COM
mon mind, and his purity of heart was as
that of a virgin undeflled. Truthful
modest. temperate. free from all the vices
great or SMALL brave. vigorous, manly,
i'm every fibre of his being. The leader OF
men, yet the humblest of citizens; the
warrior OF his country, yet the most SUD
missive of it's subjects, his character
must always command the deep Venera-
tion of all good men,
at was reserved for our leader 10 taste
the sweets of most glorious victory, ana
TO drain, with peaceful spirit, the dregs
of most bitter woe. Behold him! cam,
collected accomplishing in the quiet
walks Of peaceful life. not distempered
by defeat though he had led his armed
hosts along the most splendid. paths OF
victory. No schemes TO levy war anew
disturbed his peaceful spirit, no bitter re-
pining disturbed his great SOUL no com
plants, no murmurs, escaped his unde-
filed lips. He had done his best, and with
his grand gray head reverently bowed TO
his Fathers WILL he sank to rest without
stain upon his great career, worthy OF
himself. an example for all time of
truly great and sublime life.
1.-THE peace of our country Is due to
him. Had he been a Napoleon or
Hannibal we should still have suffered
from wars and rumors Of war. His great
example was followed by his great people,
and the starry cross became holy
memory. AS a man 1t Is not difficult to
estimate his standing. By common con-
sent he must be placed among the purest
characters of the world. Let Washing
toms great fame stand beside his noble
purity Reversntly, but fearlessly, dare
the comparison we stand on holy
ground, my friends. Let US uncover the
head and bare the feet But let us De
just Facing the blazing splendor OF
Washington's great name, reyering his
superb character, let US yet bravery place
our Lee beside him
MAN OF MANY VIRTUES.
'Name me a great virtue that belonged
to washington that did not also belong
to Lee. Is it purity Of life, uprlghtness
of heart? Let history strike the balance.
Is Il truth, courage humility genius, in
tegrity of soul? From every point or
view. | say, the comparison Is worthy.
The Lord, God Almighty made man
IN Lee that will command the veneratlon
of the world. AS a warrior, his standing
will. of course remain for a time as
puted. No one can with safety foretel
the awards Of history. But when the
difficulties under which he labored are
fully considered, the great and adverse
odds in material and In men, the dreadful
need OF all the munitions and the stores
of war. IL seems not doubtful that ne
must be ranked at least with those I'M
mediately below Hannibal and Napoleon.
Colonel Anderson spoke or General
Lees great ability as soldier and as
serted that II he had been made dlc-
tator the South must have succeeded.
He then concluded. IS follows:
WITHOUT GUILE.
"As man. ne was without guile or
blemish. AS a warrior, l know not what
better TO say than TO use the words or
his old commander. Winfield Scott, who
told General Preston that Lee was the
greatest living soldier In America and
added. with emphasis: 4 tell you, that
if I were on my death-bed tomorrow, and
the President of the United states should
tell me that a great battle was 10 be
fought for the liberty or slavery or the
country and he asked my judgment as
TO the ability Of a commander, / would
say with my dying breath, let it be Ro-
bert u. Lee
"As a pure and lofty shaft reaches to
Heaven from the capital of our country,
a loving tribute TO the virtues OF our
washington, 50 In the hearts Of men
there grows day by day, and will grow
more and more wonder and a love
and a veneration for the virtues of Robert
Lee that will demand another pure and
lofty shaft. which will forever fix his
PEOPLES cause, and which viii claim his
glory for America"
MUSIC AND REGULATIONS.
Af,or tho address was concluded
most entertaining programme of music
and recitations was given by the Tony
Miller Qulntette and Miss Evans. The
various numbers were all received with
great applause, and both the quintette
and Miss Evans were forced TO respond