The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-01-28
4 TRIUMPH EOR TRUTH.

Il
formed public service for which tic
whole country should be grateful. The
first OF these addresses was delivered In
INC city of Chicago. tho second In tho
city Of Charleston, $. G., and the third
in the city of New York on Monday even
ing at the thirteenth annual banquet Of
the Confederate Veterans Camp OF that
city,
Wo shy that Mr.. Adams has donc a
great public service. because MS an Alnerl-
can citizen ho llns had tho courage to
stand up before audiences In the North
and In the West and in the South and
proclaim the truth. IT is difficult some
times for frall humanity to put aside
prejudice and partisan bias and training
and SEQ and recognize the truth rs II 10.
We nrc npt TO shut our oyes against
painful truth, or n disagreenbe truth, or
a truth that does not suit US or our con-
dltlon. We are all disposed to hide the
skeletons in our closets, to hide them
not only from the world but even from
ourselves and to mako believe that they
are not j requires, we say, great dis
cernmcnt sometimes to recognize tho
truth, the exact truth; 1t requires great
moral courage to confess and proclaim
the truth that IS not to our liking.
d3u. we believe that there are moro
honest and courageous men and women
in tho world to-day than ever before,
who are seeking after the exact truth,
whateror tho truth may be md whatever
the question involved, men md women
who desire to know the truth and who
have tho bravery to own and declare It.
Ono of these men Is Mr.. Charles~Francls
Adams. OF Massachusetts. He was
ORR and reared III New England; he WAS
n soldier IN the war between tho States,
he fought for the flag OF tho Union, and
he did what no could to crush tho arms
OF tho Southern Confederacy and whip
the South back into tho Union. He was
born with prejudice against the South
and was reared In All atmosphere Of
abolition and intolerance. Yet In these
days he has put aside his prejudice, he
has tnlien off the bccloUdcd glasses he
has searched the pages OF history for
the truth; and having found It he has
stood UP In all sections of the land and
told 1t plainly and bravely.
First OF all he published the truth that
tho original States Went into the Union
5reservlng to themselves their sovereignty
and their right to withdraw; and again,
that up to 1875 the great majority of the
people of the individual States were
agreed that n mans first duty was to
his State; and TINT even Zip to 1861 II
was n question which every man had to
decide for himself whether 1t was his
duty to cast his lot with the Union or
with his native stnte. and whichever
way he decided" added Mr.. Adams, he
was right"
Then he stood UP before mn audience In
tho State OF New York and paid n tribute
to General Robert r. Leo and the men
who followed him, snying that as
Massachusetts, man he saw In Lee OK
enpllfed those lofty elements of per-
sonal character which. typfying vir-
Ginia, made Washington possible. We
appreciate this noble tribute, not merely
as tribute to tho South's great repre-
tentative but, as we had said, Us the
statement Of n great truth, General Lee
was man of principle. man of con-
science, q man of deep-seatcd convictions,
and while he proved himself to DO
leader Of men he could not lead himself
ali aud .t.,ttA at
rected. II was not with him a mere
matter of choice as to whether he would
cast his lot with tho North or with Nir-
g!nia. Such II man had no choice. There
was no question In his mind as to where
his duty lay and whittier duty called
him thithcr he was compelled to 80. Had
he done otherwise, had ho drawn his
sword In defense OF the Union ana
against his kith and kin in Virginia he
had not been Robert L. Lee Of honor ana
fame. lilo would have boon q traitor
the worst sort OF u traitor, n traitor not
only to his State but TO himself.
But he was made Of nobler stun. and
Mr.. Adams has been noble and brave
enough to say that OF the same stuff was
made George Washington and all other
patriotic Virginians. 1t was tho natural
product OF Southern principle. We knew
that tho South would DO indicated by
and BY. but there was n limo when wo
did, not think tho vindlcation would como
IN our day. But 1t has come. The
truth is out at last and it is recognized
Charles Francis Adams, one OF tho fore
most men of New England, has declared
that secession was constitutional. that
the men OF the South decided right when
they decided to cast their lot with their
own States. that they are honored all the
more because they chose this course mid
that Robert Il. Lee stands forth In the
Estimation OF tho country and OF tho
world as the peer Of George Washington.
This - indeed n grand triumph for
truth, ard 1t is the most notable triumph
Of the new century.
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a DI5pENSARY IN VIRGINIA.