The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-01-27
ROBERT EDWARD LEE.

January 10 was the nincty-ninth
anniversary of the birth Of Americas
great soldier, educator, statesman,
Robert Edward Lee. In his youth at
West Point as cadet he took second
place among his fellows as student
and first place as companion. While
recognized even then as the very soul
of honor, his piety was not of the op-
pressive kind. He held to his O n
victions of right, yet, did not repel or
freighten from his side and COM
radeship any of his classmates. His
presence was always a, restraint to
those inclined toward evil, but the re-
Straint was not irksome. He caused
others to refrain from evil by Great
ing In them adesire to do right. His
goodness was a positive: active, crea-
tive quality rather than a negative,
dead kind. Right conduct was al
ways most expedient in his hands,
and hence right was the guide Of his
life. Standing first among his COM
radeS at school, he held the same high
place among his associates in after
life. He became superintendent at
the West Point Academy. In the
Mexican war his gallant service won
continual promotion, and he was con-
Stantly consulted by General Scott be-
fore all important encounters.
He Was a thorough believer in the
Union and was a constant servant and
loyal supporter Of the National gov
ernment until his state seeded. He
it was, who in the employ of his
country, suppressed the John Brown
revolt. Loyal to the Union, yet he
felt that he owed most to his state.
True to, and consistent with himself,
he responded readily to what he con-
sidered the call Of duty and went
with his state against his personal
opinions and interests. Mr.. Blair,
sent by President Lincoln, approach
ed Lee with the offer of the chief
command Of the army Of the United
States. After giving Mr.. Blair a
courteous hearing, Mr.. Lee replied, Il
cannot take up arms against my state,
my home and my children" In 1869,
discussing the step with General Wade
Hampton he said, Il could have ia
ken no other course without dishonor,
and if it were all to be gone over
again, | should act in precisely the
manner"
The offer of the great distinction of
the chief command Of the Union az
did not allure him from his sense
Of duty: failure in the enterprise he .
entered upon did not make him re-
gret his course. Duty to him was the
voice Of God. We all know what a
General he was. He won victory af- I
.er victory, against forces more THAI .
hose Of his own in numbers. After
he war he desired to retire to a very =
Iuiet life, but his great personality
would not permit his hiding away.
The cause of the great University =.
hoo - Gic non1a n1nnn with fhoft
ther immortal name, Washington, .
.ept him in public life. There is no :.
.eckOning the great work he did there 9
n shaping the characters Of the great +,
zen who went out from the sacred -
allS Of Washington and Lee Univer- =.
ity to guide our Ship of State out of :,
of threatening breakers.
His character was tested in late life
y the great Lottery's Offering him a
lrge amount merely for the use of
is name, but his name could not be >,
ought, and we hence had the LOuiSi- =
ma State Lottery instead Of the ~
e. Lee Lottery. His charac- =,
er was marked by modest simplicity -,
nd gentleness: by d spirit Of Self-de- =,
by want of bitterness toward the j.,
'Orth, but devotion to the interests =,
the South. by tirmness in carrying :.
1T his purpose, but above all by a >,
mple, sincere, active piety. %,
Virginia has recently selected Lee
one of the two sons whJSe statues
e to be placed in the rotunda of the is
lpitOl at Washington. III
The Greenwood Enterprise says Or