The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-01-19
GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE.


To-day the Southern people, whether in the South
Or scattered throughout the other States of the
Union, will observe the birthday of Gen. Robert E.
Lee. And in doing they will be honoring the
memory of the greatest soldier that this country
ever produced and of the greatest and best
Americans. Gen. Lee was born in Westmoreland
county, Va, the 10Th Of January, 1907, just SO
years ago to-day. He died at the age of So years,
in Lexington, Va, October IL, 1870.
The observance of this day should increase more
and more, because it sets before the country an ex
ample for the American people-an example of
pure and unselish patriot, of sincere Christian,
of man of exalted character, of modest and
courteous gentleman, of man with stern sense
of duty and one who illustrated in his public and
private life the virtues of the best of men; of one
who sought not his own aggrandisement, not
easily provoked, thoughtno evil, bore all things and
endured all thngs-a knight who went to his rest
after the battle with his untarnished.
Even during the period of the when bitter
ness was in every heart, no bitter words dropped
from the lips of that good and great man. and those
against whom he was fighting, the brave of
the North, held him in honor.
The time has now passed when it is necessary to
defend Lee from even the Northern critic. If he
had accepted the place of Communicating Chief of
the United States Army he would in all likelihood
have brought the to close far sooner than it did
Close and he, and not Grant, would, in the natural
of events have been President of the United
States But in order to do this he would have had
to stain his hands with the blood of his own people
in Virgnia-his relatives, his friends and his neigh
bors. He would have been in the ranks of those
who invaded his own home with the sword and the
torch, and that he could not do. It would have
been just as impossible as it would have been for
Washington to have made upon Virginia when
the people of the colony ''rebelled'' against con-
stituted authority in 1776
When Lee resigned his commission in the United
States Army he felt that he was giving up great
career. If he had been selfish man or traitor,
he could not have done it. Hewas laying down his
sword, and, as he wrote to Gen. Scott, in the
defense of his native State, he never desired to
draw it again.
AS to Gen. Lees rank as great commander that
was established before the Civil War began. If it
had not been, President Lincoln would not have
offered him the chief command. His career in
the Mexican War had been brilliant, and after that
war was over Gen. Scott pronounced him the
greatest living soldier, and prophesied that if he
should get the opportunity he would prove himself
the greatest captain of history Lord Wolseley,
lately Commander in-Chief of the British Army, a
competent military critic who had been with Lee,
places him ahead of the Duke of Wellington, and
declares he the greatest English speaking gen.
eral since the Duke of Marlborough. President
Roosevelt puts him ahead of that great captain.
In retirement at Lexington the greatness of Lee
shone with increased luster. He was as great in
repose as he was in action He fought for his home
and Virgnia-his mother and the mother of his
peop!e-until the last hope was gone, and then he
determined that the war should cease and that the
Southern people should accept its results and
in sincerity their allegiance to the United States.
In his History of the American People, Wood
row Wilson says of Lee:
HE showed little of the dashing soldier in his
person and bearing. He showed rather the modesty
and unaffected gentle breeding of the old Southern
training; seemed never to stand for show, but al
ways for quiet principle, making those who dealt
with him feel that he was Christian, as we'll as
gentleman, and felt the compulsion of nothing so
much as the dictates of duty and honor. But for
all, he was SO simple and modest he handled men
under arms in such fashion as presently made him
the foremost soldier of his time.''
The people of the South to-day, in honoring the
memory of Robert E. Lee will be paying tribute to
those things that true, honest pure lovely and
Of good report among men.
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