The Washington herald., 1907-11-18
Gen. Lee and Lincoln Post.
ditor The Washington Herald


Lincoln Post does not approve Of Rev.
Mr.. Van Schaick's reference to Gen. r.
f. Lee as an Ideal man to the youth Of
the land: and gives as a reason that as
Gen. Lee was educated at West Point.
and had been an officer in the United
States army. Lee had no right 70 sever
his connection with the United States
government.
1t has been enormously asserted that Gen.
Lee was educated at the expense Of the
United States government Such a state
ment is without fact As matter OF truth.
the cadets Of the United states Military
Academy are apportioned among the
States in proportion 20 the number OF
representatives they severally have in
Congress; that is. one for each Congress
slonal district. with ten additional for the
country at large The annual appropria-
tions for the support Of the army and
navy include the commissioned. warrant.
and noncOmmissioned officers. privates.
seamen, sc, The cadets and midshipmen
are warrant officers. and while at the
academy are receiving elementary in
struction for the public service.
At whose expense are they taught and
supported? Surely at that Of the people
Of the several States. VINO pay the taxes
and imports 10 supply the United States
Treasury with means 20 meet the appro-
priations Therefore. the cadets first OBJ
legation for his place and support is 70 his
native State. by virtue of whose dstribu-
tive share he received the appointment
of cadet, and whose contributions sup
piled the United States Treasury. through
the State as a member OF the Union. ale
glance was due TO H. And most usefully
and nobly did Lee respond 90 the debt he
owed his native State. Virginia.
No suggestion could be more absurd
than that Lee was prompted by selfish
ambition TO cast his fortunes with the
South, when It is well known that the
South was without navy, without p
merchant marine commensurate with her
wants preceding the war; without arsen-
ais. armories. manufactures, or stores TO
supply the needs Of war. The population
OF the North and West ia 1851 was two
thirds larger than that Of the South. and
the Federal government at Washington
was as we'll equipped at that period as
any government in the world. Therefore.
with a small part of Lees knowledge of
the relative amount OF war material pos
seSsad by the North and the South. any
Intelligent observer must have seen that
the chances Of war were against the
South to win independence; but If thrice
armed justice had enabled the South TO
win independence, as our forefathers had
done in 1916. notwithstanding the UNEQUAL
contest. what selfish ambition could il
bring Gen. r. r. Lee? Had he been am
bilious. he would have accepted the posi-
tion OF commander-in-chief Of the Federal
army, offered to him by President Lin
coin. Had he pursued that course. he
would have stained his hands with the
blood of his kinspeOple in Virginia. and
would have been in the ranks Of invaders
of his own home with the sword and
torch. That he could not do in honor and
justice TO himself
But Lees fame is secure as soldier and
Christian gentleman. Match him IL YOU
can. Yes. StonewaH Jackson was his
nearest counterpart-a noble pair of
brothers.
Washington was a real rebel. as he had
held a commission in the British army.
But he won victory, with the aid Of 10000
Frenchman, who came TO our country az
critical period of the Revolution Of I776.
These same Frenchmen also brought gold
with them to pay Northern troops who
refused TO go to Yorktown, Va. unless