The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-01-22
GEN. ROBERT E. LEE.
The Birthday Anniversary of an Exem-
I plary Soldier and Citizen.

The name and fame of Robert E. Lee
can never be tarnished. He is beyond
the polluing touch of envy, malice on
hatred. He was All exemplary soldier
and citizen. His noble deeds in war and
in peace will ever be enshrined in the
hearts of his countrynfen. His life is a
model which may be emulated by all
boys ami young men who would be hon
ored for manly worth. General Lee was
the embodiment Of Southern chivalry
and patriotism, the highest type of an
American citizen.
From the Bossier. Banner of January
10 we reproduce the editorial by its ed
itor and proprietor, W. H. Scanland, a
tried and true veteran of the Confed-
eracy, on the birthday Of Robert E. Lee:
Today the Southern people, whether
in the South or scattered throughout
the other States of the Union, will OBJ
serve the birthday of General Robert E.
Lee And in so doing they will be hon
oring the memory of the greatest SOL
dier that this country ever produced and
one of the greatest and best Americans.
General Lee was born in Westmoreland
County Virginia, on the 10th of JAM
uarys 1907, just o8 years ago today. He
diedSat the age of 63 years, in Lexing-
ton, Va, October IL, 1870.
The observance of this day should in
crease more and more, because it sets
before the country an example for the
American people-an example of pure
and unselhsh patriot, of sincere Chris
tian, 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 aggran-
dizement, was not easily provoked,
thought no evil, bore all things and en-
dured all things-a knight who went to
his rest after the battle was over with
his arI1lor untarnished.
Even during the period of war when.
bitterness 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 men
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 sconnnander-in-chief Of the
United States army he would in all
likelihood have brought the war to
close far sooner than it did close, and
he, and not Grant, would, in the natural
course 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 Virginia-his relatives, his friends
and his neighbors. 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. 1t would have
been Just as impossible as it would have
been for Washington to have made war
upon Virginia when the people of the
colony "rebelled" against constituted
authority in 1776. ,-~H ~
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. He was laying down
his. sword, ami, as he wrote TO General
Scott, save in the defense of his own
State, he never desired to draw it again. |
AS to General Lees rank as a great |
commander, that was established before
he civil war began. If it had not been,
President Lincoln would not have of
cred him the chief command. His
:areer in the Mexican war had been
and after that war was over,
General Scott pronounced him the
,reatest living soldier, and prophesied
hat if he should get the opportunity he
would prove himself the greatest cap
ain of history Lord Wolseley, lately1
of the British army,
competent military critic who had
cen with Lee, places him ahead of the
Duke of Wellington, and declares he|
vas the greatest English-speaking gem
raj since the Duke of Marlborough.
President Roosevelt puts him ahead of
hat great captain.
In retirement at Lexington the great
ess of Lee shone with increased luster. /,
1e was as great in repose as he was I'M
ction. He fought for his home and /
mother and the mother Of
is people-until the last hope was gone
nd then he determined that the war
hould cease and that the Southern peo-
le should accept its results and renew
l sincerity their allegiance to the Unit
d States.
In his History of the American Peo-
le," Woodrow Wilson says of Lee:
He showed little of the dasf1ing SOL .
lei in his person and bearing. He .
1owed rather the n1odesty and unaf-
L !. II