The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-20
SATURDAY. OCTOBER 20, 1900.
NEW YORK sun OK GENERAL LEE,

NEW YORK sun On GENERAL LEE.
IL was undoubtedly matter Of con-
siderable surprise 10 Tie world Al large
when General r. z. Lees nar:c was given
d place amongst the men supposed 10 be
immortal whose nanes are 10 De inscribed
in the New York University Hall OF
Fame IL F:as surprise. because, how
eyer many votes might have been given
Tor 1t from The South. votes Of Northern
men at last had to place his name there.
The fact that il was done by the Votes OF
Northern men testified in stronger terms
to a reunited country than any and every
thing combined thai has happened since
the war. II was a most. suspicious incl
dent that carried joy and hope TO every
patriotic heart IL whatever quarter OF this
broad land that patriotic heart was found.
it was a just tribute 20 one of The great
est characters that the world has ever
known. If not in fact The very greatest
character that 1t has ever known, and the
= people of the South. touched by The gen.
crosby and magnan1miry of the act, re-
sponded To it with grateful hearts and
an Increasing feeling OF brotherly .nspi-
ration towards the people of the North.
il has remained for the New York sun
to raise its maievclent voice ir pro:e.:
against this worthy and generous acI,
and. in doing so. TO blow its foul breath
wide and at large over sacred memories
which ii can SANDER, but cannot in the
smallest degree tari1is..
SIM, js,-otas cpT1,,,,,, ..litr,-;aI IN
protest against General Lees name going
into the Hall of Fame for The reason, as
ii alleges. that he was a descrter from
the service of de United States and
a traitor To that Government.
This subject has been 50 often threshed
OUT that i; would ba u vain waste Of
time to recapituiatc the arguments that
prove that General Lee WAS IN TO sense
either a deserter frc,n or traitor To the
United States Government. But we would
like TO ask the Sun if. IN its opinion,
Oliver Cromwell was a deserter from
King Charles the F'irs,-s Government and
Il traitor in MS relations 20 England
Ne would like to ask il if il tli:.ii.s thar
the charge Of deserter and tr;,itor could
be maintained against George Washing
tom Leaving wholly ont of view the
question OF the right of secession. does
The Sun deny The right Of revolution ana
does ii regard all who takes part in
revolution. when they think an emer-
sency has arisen which demands reyo-
luton. as deserters from and traitors
to The old order OF things
We hardly feel justified in entering upon
serious discussion Of this tnreudpa~e srb-
iecs with The Sun. General Ices caaSe
has been tried Il; the bar of ,ae worlds
opinion and judgment has necn eni,rcd in
that cause. And wherever men with
broad. catholic minds. with high and gen.
erous impulses. With patriotic hearts and
with love for what is noble. pure and
true reside there il has been determined
ihat Robert Z. Lee was a man amongst
men. a man HAT i,oaors his species, and a
man whom all good men should del;sat
10 honor and 70 revere. This is what the
sccd and the great men OF earth. with
ono acclaim. say of Robert L. Lee. There
vet remain some OF the petty larvae who
dared not face Lee and his veterans upon
thc field OF battle. but who PLAYED their
part in the war by insulting and hnmiliat-
ing the people OF the South in the days
OF ii,eir misfortune and misery. whose
Nenomous natures lead them yet to en-
deavor 10 lnrow mud upon the marble of
General Lees character. Let them throw
Their mud. Il viii dry ard fail on. ieav-
ins the marhie as white and pure as i,
WAS before.