New-York tribune., 1902-06-21
SHALL LEE HA We A STATUE ?
CRITICISM OF MR.. ADAMS'S CHICAGO
ADDRESS.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir It is not necessary to deny to General Lee
the high qualities attributed TO him by Mr. Charles
Francis Adams in his late address nor to say that
II may never be desirable TO erect a monument TO
him in Washington, in order to see that there Is
another side to the picture and to believe lnat MS
ndiscriminate laudation is neither just nor saIu-
tarv Mr. Adams admits that General Lees only
c-ro,,nd Of action was a technical right. which
great constitutional lawyers dispute but which ne
fully believed in. and his attachment TO ana dehu-
fcation with his State. When washington
became a rebel il because he believed ne had
inro1erable grievances and good moral grounds So
far as have seen. General Lee not only never
asserted that he had such justification, but ulS-
tinctlv intmated that he had doubts on the SUBJECT
The condemnation of the South by the verdict OF
history must be that they brought on destructive
and bloody civil war intended TO perpetuate slaV-
ery without justification and without grievances
or moral grounds. even though the technical right
existed and General Lee must bear mis- share OF
- ,,o,,e In the Peace Commission that me. at
Washington before the war began substantially
every claim of the South was conceded, but nothing
could restrain them If General Lee is TO be held
wholly blamelcss for his action, what judgment Is
20 no nassed on George H. Thomas and David G..
Farragut both Virgnians Ike himself. but who
finding no grievance and no moral grounds for re-
bellion, took what believe history will consider
the higher and broader view. that, educated as
they had been and as Lee had been. having been
all their lives in the pay Of the nation and spe-
cally oathbound stand bv 1t in all emergencies.
to and controlling allegiance was due
Would il be wise and wholesome to teach boys
now at Annapolis and West Point that If the time
ever comes when they conclude they have a tech
nical right their swords against their coun-
try and their nclina lions lead them to do with
out solid justification, they be held in
high honor by the country those who remain
true TO it; and that if in the attempt destroy
it they attain eminence. a grateful people TO
erect statues TO them beside those Of its distin-
gushed defenders? After all, in such struggle
there right and a wrong side, or else
such distinctions exist; and II there be justice
different consequences and different estimation
will be dealt out to those who take one side or the
other
MI Adams expresses no opinion except by i'm
plication as Lees rank military leader. on
the defensive he undoubtedly of the first, but
history will that both of his aggressive
paignS with nearly equal forces both
sides and with no great general oppose him,
We're failures, and that his sacrifice of Pickett at
Gettysburg. contrary to LOngstreet's advice, was
capital
Many of US who. like Mr. Adams. were at Apo
would have been unlikely to encourage guerilla
warfare under any circumstances. believe that
what left of his army there completely
surrounded that it could never have been matter
of choice with them With Johnston in about the
same plight. IL the situation more than the
attitude any which closed the struggle.
With Mr. AdsmSs general expressions the
South, the Confederate soldier and reunited
country, and his high estimate of General Lees
personality. ] in hearty accord but that Lee
committed great error Of judgment and did wrong
in trying destroy the Union without justification.
and fasten manacles forever the mill
ions of blacks, ought not to be covered up If he
did right then Thomas and Farragut situated ex-
aCtlv s he was, did wrong IN taking exactly the
opposite course to his JUSTICE.
Washington, June 19, 1902