Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-01-31

! ~ interriex on The anuiversary

Of General Robert E. Lees blrth. hon.
John Sharp Williams. Democratic
leader in the House Of Representa-
tives, spoke of the Confederate chief
tan as gentleman.
at think, said Mr.. Williams. "thas
history will. bear williag witness to
the fact that Robert E. Lee was the
greatest allround neral that the En-
slish-speaking race has furnished
greater than Marlborough. even. In
nv estimate, Lee was not as great q
military genius, born thundsrboltof
war, as S,onewall Jackson. His gen.
sralship was more a matter OF training
aud calculation, and less a matter OF
intuition. He was man of immense
reserve power. Napoleon Bonaparts
had no reserve; he was volcano.
In the entire Civil War there was but
one place that Lee got at all excited
and seemed for a moment to lose his
eouipoise, and that was when our line
was weak at the Wilderness, when he
charged to the front and his men stop.
ped bis horse, telling him that they
would not bulge an inch forward un'
less be went to the rear. The whole
army shouted "Lee to the rear Lee
TO the rear |" Lee knew that II the
line broke at that point the whole
front Of the army would be swept
away.
Great as a citizen and as soldier,
Lee was greater vet as a gentleman.
In the House Of Representatives had
occasion, in delivering an eulogy on
Hon. E. @, Walthall, Senator from
Mississippi at the time OF his death,
to define that much. abused term. a
Southern gentleman Itspplies close
6ttiugly to the character Of General
Lee
1.-The ideal Of the Southernsr. be.
fore the war absolutely and now pre-
dominstingly. is that character which
we express by the word "gentleman.'
The injunction Of the father TO the son
was BE gentleman. The prayer
Of the mother was that her boy might,
first Of all, be a gentleman. II she
held up in former times George WASH
lngton, in the latter tlmes Robert +.
Lee, As the first Of Americans and .
1T pattern for the holding Of all
Americans, and therefore Of her own
children, it was primarily because
each in his day was the the frst gen.
tleman Of his day"
THE word must be understood. not
in the English sense, as a man Of
gentle blood, but in the Southern
sense as mau of lion-liks manliness
in deed. Of woman-Iike gentlenes 10
manner, OF charitable consideration
for all. and Of IiberaIity 10 al. things.
The gentleman combined perfect
aud uniailing courtesy toward AL
women aud all worthy men with per.
feet and unfailiug courage, Whistler in
private quarrel or in puoIic snifs.
He may be rich Dr. he might be
poor-Southsrners neither cared nor
asked. Happier for himself II the
former we're his condition, bat "a
gentleman still. as the phrase vent.
whatever his financial condition.
aud therefore entitled to the unques-
sioning respect. confidence and con.
sideIation Of all men and TO the love
aud devotion Of any good woman.
BE might be well born or born Of OBJ
scurs parents. That question. unlike
the other, might be asked, but the
answer made no difference IL only
the father were honest and no! COW
ard and the mother were pure.
The ideal gentleman was always
honest spoke The truth faced his
enemy !. fought him. il necessary I;
never qusrfeled with him nor talked
about him; rode veil shot veil !;
used chaste aud correct EagIish in-
suited no nan--bors no insnls from
any vas studiously kind to his in
feriors. especially 70 his slaves; cor
daily bospitabIs 70 hissequsIs cour.
teous to bis superiors, IL he acknowl-
edged any be scornsd demagogus,
bat loved bis people, and hsldii mean
10 prefer any class or individual in
terest, most Of all biz own. 10 that Of
shs masses Of bis countrymeu.
die INST be ready at any time.
when Deedful. 70 lay bis life down. not
only for bis Own honor's sake. bat
more promptly yet for bis country's,
his St4tes, or biz connaoity' . sake
add that. too. regardless Of the die.
tates Of his Own private judgment .,
10 the wisdom or unvisdom Of the
quarrel I, w1 biz duty 70 try 70
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