The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-07-30
A Broad Patriotism the Test of Civil
. Virtue.

Baltimore Sun.
Some time ago Mr. Charles Francis
Adams predicted that the time would
come when bronze statue OF Robert
H. Lee will occupy "a commanding
site in the city Of Washington. Fol
lowing speedily upon this prediction
is a movement in England to erect a
statue of George Washingtonin Lon
don, and a site for that statue in st.
Paul's Cathedral has been offered.
1t has taken just about n century
from the death Of the great American
for this movement to come; but it
has come at last, and it looks like
confirmation of Mr.. Adams predic-
ton concerning Lee. Gen. Lee has
been dead Just one-thir1 OF Il century
but it is likely the statue will be made
and the last vestige OF opposition will
disappear long before the century is
completed The people of England
knew Washington almost entirely as
an enemy to their country. Up to
the beginning of the war of the Revo-
luton it is not likely that the great
mass of them had ever heard OF him.
After he had assumed command OF
the Continental Army they knew him
us general, and all his subsequent
career established his fame as great
soldier and patriot. Englishmen
everywhere knew that he had drawn
his sword against them in defense of
principles they all held dear-the
principles of freedom which have been
for centuries the birthright of the
English people. In his great struggle
Washington had the sympathy OF
| many of his kindred III the mother
country. After the independence OF
| the United States was established
| and acknowledged and the Federal
Government had been organized, it
was the policy OF Washington to
establish trade and commerce and
friendly relations with England. He
| opposed steadily the policy OF many
OF the leading Americans with regard
to France, which might have made
the United States a sort OF depend
cncy of that country. Washington,
in fact, belonged to the AnglO-SaNon
race on both sides Of the ocean, Just
as Shakespeare belonged to the same
race on both sides Of the ocean. The
! Anglo-SaxOn in America and in Aus
tralia has the same pride in the great
poet rs the AnglO-SaXOn who dwells
in London, and the same right to
claim him. And now the English
people are claiming the right to
honor Washington. d man of their
own blood, by erecting monument
to him in their grandest cathedral.
The remarkable similarity of Lee
and Washington has often been
pointed out. Both enlisted against
the flag under which they had pre-
yiously fought; both were Virginans
and both dearly loved their native
State. The Sun on Thursday pub
lished Il letter from Field Marshal
Lord zWolseley, the former Com
munder-in-Chief of the British army,
to Mrs Hugh H. Lee, of this city, in
which that great General said: Il
have always felt as sure as | could of
anything that can never be tested
that, had General Washington been
alive in 1S61-2-3, he, like the great
Lee. would have thrown himself heart
and soul into the cause of Southern
independence" OF this we believe
there can be no doubt. General Lee
said he could not draw his sword
against his own people of Virginia.
Those who have studied the charac-
ter OF Washington and know how in
tensely he was a Virginian can never
believe that he could have brought
himself under any conceivable cOndi-
tons to make war upon the Old Do
minion and her people, who were his
neighbors and his kinsfolk. The
American people glory in Washing
ton for going along with Virginia,
and doing just as Lee did II he had
done otherwise the people OF the
United States would not celebrate
the 22nd day of February.