The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-02-15

bis lineage far back into the mother
country, the best blocd Of Virginia
flowed In bis veins. Drawing from a
knightly race all their virtues, he had
nneritsd none of their vices. Honest
,incere, simple,> maRnanimous, for
bearing, refined, courteous yet digni
fed and proud never lacking self
command, he was in all respects a
true man. Graduating from West
Point his life had been exclusively
that Of a soldier, yet he had none OF
the soldiers bad habits. He used
neither liquor nor tobacco and 1ndul.
ged rarely in a social glass of wine,
and cared nothing for the pleasures OF
the table. He was a good engineer
and under Gen. Scott had won. dis
tirc5ion in Mexico. The work that
had fallen to his lot he had performed
In systematic manner and with cen
scientious care. Duty is the suoli-
NEST word In our language be wrote
to MS son. Sincerely religious, Pfovi
dence to him was a vertity, and may
be truly said he walked with God.
"A serious man, he anzlouslv
watched from his station tinS> Texa'
the progress Of events since Lincoln's
election.
r mixing slaysry as an institution
a neral and political evil having q
soldiers devotion TO his flag and a
warm attachment to Gen. Scott he
loved the Union and it was espec
Ially dear to him as the fruit Of the
mighty labors Of Washington. A.
though believing that the South had
Just grievances due to the aggression
of the north, he did not think these
evils great enough to resort to the
remedy Of revolution and to him sc.
cession was nothing less.
'Still.' he wrote in January 1861, q
union that can only be maintained by
swords and bayonets and In which
strife and civil war are to take the
place Of brotherly love and kindness
has no charm for me. If the Union
is dissolved and the government dis
rupted shall return to my native
State and share the miseries of my
people and gave in defence will draw
my sword on none Summoned to
Washington by his chief, Lee had
arrived there few days before the
inauguration Of Lincoln, and he had
to make the decision after the bonn
bardment of Sumter and the presi
dents call for troops whether he
should serve the national government
or Virginia. The active command of
the Federal army with the succession
to the chief place was virtually Offer
ed to him butt with his notion OF
State rights and bis allegiance to Vir.
ginia his decision, though it cost him
pain to make it, could have been no
other than it was. He could not lead
an army of invasion into his native
State and after the ordinance of se-
cession had been passed blythe Virgin.
Ia convention he resigned his commits
sion and accepted the command Of
the Virginia forces.
Northern men may regret that
Lee did not see his duty in The same
light as did two other Virginian,
Scott and Thomas, but censure's voice
upon the action of such q noble soul
Is hushed. A careful survey Of his
character and life must lead bte stu.
dent of men and Affairs to see that
the courae he took was from bis point
Of view and judged by his inexorshle
and pure cons cience the oath Of duty
to which high Sense Of honor called
him. Gould we share the thoughts
Of that high minded man as he paced
the broad pillare' veranda of his no
BILE, Arlington bis eyes glaac
ing acroas the ri"r o the fxg Of his
country, waving ov the dome Of the
capitol and then resting on the soil
Of his native Virginia we should be
willing now to recognize IN him one
of the finest products Of American
life. For surely az the years go on
we shall gee that such a Life can b.
judged by no partisan measure, and
come to look upon him as the Eaglish
Of our day regard Washington. whom
little more than century ago they
delighted to call rebel. Indeed in
sll essential characteristics Lee resem-
bled Washingtons and had the great
work of bis L fs been crowned with
success, or he had chosen the winning
side, the world would have acknoled.
ged that Virginia could In century
produce two man who were the EN-.
bodimsnt of public and private Vir.
tue."
THE avenging pan Of history" has
placed the name of Lee side by side
with Washington. So writes the
Historian of to-day and 30 will the
future historian prolong the noble
records. The fame OF Robert Lee Is
secure 10 that last appeal to:
Time the beautifier of the dead,
Time the corrector where our judg-
ment5 err
The test of TRUTH
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