The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-26
The Greatest Americans.

= ~ NJ SuSS0S AAlA1Nl lSt1llSS
Who have been tile three greatest
!Americans?'
This question was recently put BY the
New York Times to thirteen professors
of history in leading colleges and univcr-
sites. All but one give first place to
Washington. Tho exception is Professor
Edward II. Hume, Of the University Of
Idaho, who puts Lincoln first as among
the mon Of action" His other favoritcs
are Emerson and Agassz. Lincoln fell
three votes short of Washington, while
for third place In the triumvrato Jeffer-
son receives one more vote than Frank
lin or Lee. The choice Of tho profess
sors is indicated in the following ballots:
Lincoln .......... Marshall
roffnrso,, Emerson ......... l
Lee t.............. . se6o1S'" '''.'.'''' =
Hamilton ........ Lonrfollow 1 d
Professor T. c. N1cCorvcy. Of the Unit
versity of Alabama names Washlngton,
Jefferson and Lee; Professor j. II. Il.
MCPHERSON, Of tic University OF Georgia,
names Washington, Lincoln and Lee;
Professor N. NJ. Trenholme. of the Uni
versty Of Missouri, chooses Washington,
Jefferson and Lincoln Professor Kemp
P. Battle, Of the University of North
Carolina, chooses Washington, Hamilton
and Marshall; Professor Lyon G. Tyler,
Of William and Mary College, thinks that
Washington, Jefferson and Madison con-
tributed most worthily to tho nations
good. but that Washington, Jefferson
and Lee twill be longest remembered
for their characters or their deetls.,'
The one Northern man who votes for
Lee Is Professor Arson d. Morse. OF
Amherst College, Massachusetts,.
That Lee should be named by a North.
ern professor Is not so remarkable, how
ever, as that he should be ignored by
two Southern professors. one Of them
North Carolinian.
But tho tributes to Leo by Professor
McCorvey. OF the University of Alabama,
and Professor MCPHERSON Of the Uni
versity of Georgia, are more beautiful
and enthusiastic than the tributes paid
by any other professor to any other
American. Professor McCorvey says that
NO othor character in American history
will command stronger admiration in
the ages toScome, not so much for what
he achieved rs for what no was-for
the world has ever done homage to true
greatness, whether crowned with victory
or palled by defeat. Lees figure will
loom grander and grander on the back
ground of our country's past the further
we get away from the fratricldal strife
| in which he bore tho greatest but the
| losing part S4Sf ii
Professor Mcpherson speaks in high
| est praise Of his military skill, his gen
| eralship, and his noble surrender, but
says that it is not upon his achievements
| or services that his title to greatness
rests so much as upon the sheer perfec-
ton of a moral character that stands
! unequaled among men, and adds:
| Ills strength, his dignity, his unsul-
lied purity his gentleness, his humility,
his courage and manliness his generos-
| ity and sympathy, his unselhshness, his
high sense of duty-all mark the outlines
| of a character in which it Is impossible
|
! greatness Of General Lee Is becoming
more appreciated with every day that
\ passes. It's ennobllng and inspiring In
nuencc upon the younger generations OF
\ the South, and indeed OF the whole coun-
try, is incalcuablc. For the mighty ma
ton that has arisen from the ashes OF
the great war is proud to claim him as
her own"
AS II confirming all that the South
crners have said. Professor Morse OF
! Amherst College. declares that the
! grandeur OF Lees character and the
greatness of his public services, we OF
the North are only beginning to discover
These three tributes to General Lee
are worthy to have place among the best
of his cncomiu,ns, and we reproduce
them in order to preserve the record r
the files of The Times Dispatch.
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