The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-19
SATURDAY. JANUARY 10, 1907.
Every action Is measured by the
depth of the sentiment from which Ii
proceeds.-Emersor.
Robert Edward Lee.

In estimating the character of Rober
the soldier he was indeed soldier.
great military leader; but not as Alex
ander, Caesar. or Napoleon Of France
He was not warrior for conquest, TO
military fame or glory; for any persona
profit He was a soldier for duty's sake
He was great and noble soldier not
merely because he had certain military
genius and training. but because he was
first OF all, great and noble man. II
is trse that the war developed him in
some respects, and sacrifice and hard
ship refined him; but Robert Edward Lee
would have been great and noble man
had there been no war. Probably the
world had not known him so we'll; prob
ably he should never have known him
self so well: for the ship must be buffeted
by the waves before she finds herself.
But the greatness of Robert f. Lee was
inherent. and it would have unfolded and
expressed itself, no matter what his situa-
ton in life might have been. He is
great says Emerson, who is what he
is from nature" Circumstance may have
much to do with directing the current
of mans life. Environment may form
his taste and education may develop his
mental and moral forces. But greatness
is from nature 1t is the gift OF God.
Robert Edward Lee was created with
the elements OF greatness in him. He
was born great. But, unlike some other
meu OF great natural endowments, he
recognized his native gifts as divine
trust and cultivated and employed them
to ne best advantage. 1t was no idle
saving of General Lees that duty was
the subl!mest word in the English IAN
cHaGe II was his rule of conduct. He
felt that it was his duty to cultivate
i.s tsieats. TO develop his character. and
to ft himself for his work in life. There
fore, wien the call came, he was not
only rcldy, but prepared. He was pre-
pared for Confederate leadership in heart
as well as in mind and training He was
prepared for the sacrifice which he was
called upon to make and God only knows
what that sacrifice meant to man who
held a commission in the United States
Army. and who did not believe either in
the principle or expediency of secession |
1t was q sacrifice which few great men
have been called upon to make. But
there was no hating. "If the govern |
ment is disrupted" said he, Il shall re.
turn to my native State and share the
miseries Of my people" And no martyr
ever went to the staEe. with, more thor
ongh conservation tg the cause for which |
he sacrificed himself.
But once in the fray, no word of Doubt |
or complaint e'cr fell from the Inns of
Lee He was true. loyal. hopeful ana
determined. Surely he fought a good
fight; fought when men of stouter hearts
might have yielded; fought until tho last
ray OF hope went down behind tho hills
OF Appomattox. Then the world saw
another phase of Lees greatness. When
his good Judgment convinced him that
further fighting was useless, with that
same dignity and self-poise that had char
acterized and distinguished him on the
Held OF battle, no began negotiations for
surrender, unwilling that drop OF blood
on either side should be needlessly spilled
as there had been no hating at the be-
ginning. SO there was none at the and.
for duty was ever his rule Of conduot--dutv
TO God, to country, to humanity.
10y and by the world will recognize, if
1t does not already recognize, that Rober,
Z, Lee was greatest at Appomattox.
Nor did his career end at the surrcn-
der. He might have had posts Of honor
and emoiument He declined all such
offers. taking pains to lot it be known
that he would make no traffic OF his
reputation. He gave tho last days of his
life 10 the education of Southern vou,h
teaching them BY his own illustrious
example that nothing Is moro sinnle
than greatness and that there is no s,,ror
marx of greatness than tho power 10
endure calmly. Other warriors have
shown the world how to be great in
yletory II was for Robert u. Lee 10 show
u how to be even greater in defeat
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