The Tucson citizen., 1902-06-28

deed. he declares that this will be
done. The bronze efflgy of Robert Y.
Lee" said Mr. Charles Francis Adams
in his Chicago speech, mounted on
his charger and with the insignia Of his
Confederate rank. viii. from its pedes-
tai in the nations capital, look across
the Potomac at his old home at Ar
lington. When that time comes
Lees monument will be educational
it will typify the historical apprecia-
tion of all that goes TO make up the
loftiest type of haracter-military and
civic-exempifiel in an opponent once
dreaded but ever respected
These are remarkable words coming
from a Massachusetts man, and they
were uttered in a northern city. 1t al
SO shows the current OF events and the
recovery of reason. that the New York
lican newspaper, commenting on Mr.,
Adams speech says:
AS to the purity of General Lees
motives. the nobility Of his character
and HIS commanding abilities. contem-
porary opinion was seldom at fault and
posterity entegtains no doubt what
soever In making the foundations Of
that sympathetic judgment still more
firm, and inviting his countrymen 10
put an even higher estimate on his
moral qualities. Mr.. Adams has per
formed generous and useful service
Mr. Adams says that technically an
according TO the definition of the con
stituton, Lee was a traitor. He lev
led war against the United States, and
gave its enemies aid and comfort Ac
cording to the same definition, Mr..
Adams candidly adds. Washington was
also traitor. Except for the outcome
the eases of Washington and Lee were
precisely alike. Mr. Adams says:
A Virginan. like Lee, he was also
British subject: he had fought under
the British flag. as Lee had fought un-
der that of the United States; when
in 1873, Virginia seeded from tho
British empire. he went with his
State" just as Lee went with II eighty
five years later; subsequently WASH
ington commanded armies In the field
designated by those opposed to them
as rebels" and whose descendants now
glorify them as the rebels of 70"
much as Lee later commanded, and at
last surrendered. much larger armies
also designated rebels" by those they
confronted
Lee was devotedly attached to the
Union. but when Virginia withdrew he
chief of the army OF the United States
and surrendered his commission. His
reason for so doing appeals to every pa
trOtic heart: II had to meet the
question" he said, whether | sho1'd
take part against my native State.
With all my devotion to the Union. and
the feeling of loyalty and duty of an
American citizen. ! have not been able
to make up my mind 10 raise my hand
against my relatives. my children, my
home"
Mr.. Adams asked himself how he
seeded, and replied that he would
have gone with the Union He says
Massachusetts, however. is estoppei
from censuring Lee for his decision,
because Massachusetts, drove John
Quincy Adams from Office because he
stded with the Union against his own
State at time when his own State
was siding with a foreign foe and
against the Union. 1t may be regard
ed as doubtful whether Mr. Charles
Francis Adams would have gone
against his State. whether he would
have held commission in the Union
army to invade Massachusetts, and Kill
and burn. 1t is one thing to take sides
for the Union against your own state
upon political questions 1t is quite
another to imbrue your hands in the
blood of your own people and burn
their homes.
The fame Of Lee is established The |
purity of his patriotism and his mo
tives are no longer assailed except by
the ignorant and the vindictiye. Moth !
ing that Mr.. Charles Francis Adams or
that anyone else can now say will df-
feet the place that Lee occupies in his
tory, any more than the place of
Washington can be rearranged Both
are fixed. Nevertheless the speech
OF Mr. Adams will have wholesome
effect on the country and We can not
help contrasting it with the rabid
TRADE delivered by the President of
the United States at Arlington on
Memorial Day,
Mark Smith is a States rights Dem