The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-27
WASHINGTON. LEE AND GRANT.

WARRINGTON. LEE AND GRANT.
There is a publication in Philadelphia
called City and State. and its motto is
Commonwealth above Party" II the
issue OF April 18th is an article on I'M
pressions of a Southern College by
contributor who recently visited Washing
ton and Lee University at Lexington. In
speaking of the origin of this institution,
he says:
In recognition of Wasl,inston's services
in the Revolution the Assembly of Viz
GINA, in l1S., presented to him shares IN
two canal coTnpanies-the Potomac Com
pany and the James River Company
This gift Washington refused TO accept
for his own use, explaining, in letter
which is still treasured at Washington and
Lee. that when he was called to the sta
ton with which he was honored in the
late conflict for our liberty" he thought
i. his duty TO resolve to shut his hand
against every pecuniary Terompense- TO
this resolution he had invariably adhered,
and from it he did not feel at liberty to
depart. But while he could not accept the
gift for himself. he felt al liberty to ask
permission that it might be devoted TO
some good object OF "a public nature. This
request was granted. The fund thus
formed, and which first nourished Liberty
Hail, still yields an annual income of
5000 to Washington and Lee University.
This institution to-day. under the leader
ship Of stmaster-General Wilson,
supported by an able and devoted corps
of professors, is doing a noble work for
the young men Of the South.
That was a noble example which Wash
ington set and ii was followed and set
again by ti.at other and no less noble son
Of Virginia, who was also in his day
president OF Washington ami Lee Univer-
stty. Robert L. Lee.
General Lee also refused to receive any
thing having The appearance of a ''pecu-
South, nor would he lend mis- name and
fame to any business concern for profit.
Herein is the distinction between the
heroes OF the, South and the heroes OF the
North. Cur Southern men fought fer
great principle. fought for Southern
rights. and never did men fight more gal
lantly, and never did men make greater
sacrifices for any cause which they had
espoused. They fought as long as General
Lee said that there was a chance Of vic
tory. but when overDowered by superior
numbers and 10y the inexhaustible 1e-
sources of rich government, they laid
down their arms and went home and took
up the struggle for existence. But such
q thing as reward for their services never
entered their hearts. They were content
to have the appovaa of their conscience
and to have the good will of their fellow
citizens. They had not been bounty
jll.npers in WI and they were not pension
seekers in peace
We have no disposition to say unkind
things OF General Grant, for he treated
Lee Ike a soldier and a gentleman, and
after the war wa eyer he did what he
could, until he became President, TO pro
mote peace between the sections. We are
perfectly willing to eoncede 10 him all the
soldiery and states1nanlike qualities that
he deserves Nor are we disposed to dis
parage the soldiers Of the Union army
who fought under the Stars and stripes.
But we say that Lee and Grant were not
made o. the same stuff, and however
much The Northern soldiers may boast of
their devotion to the Union, they never
had that reverence for their flag, that
devotion to duty, that love Of principle.
that loyalty to a cause which charac-
teri1ed the Confederate soldiers.
After the war General Grant lent his
name to a Wall Street broker and per-
mit1ed ii to be used in transactions Of
such character as caused many innocent
people to suffer. Nobody believes that
Grant was knowingly a party TO the
fraud. but it is unquestionably true that
he traded on his name and cashed in his
reputation.
AS for the soldiers VINO fought under
him, every one of them who could scare
up pretexs put in claim for pen
sion, and our pension system has almost
from tie beginning been a national scan
dial.
In days rast the rabid Republicans of
the North took great pleasure in referring
10 the soldiers Of the Confederacy as
rebels and traitors. but in gallantry. in
patriotism, in al the best qualities of
soldier and citizen the South is ready
every day in the year to compare notes
with the North.