The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-22
WILMINGTON, n. c., JANUARY %, 1907
WHOLE SOUTH JOINS IN HONOR|NG
MEMORY Of HER GREATEST SON

who, at its close, simply and quietly
undertook his duty as plain, every :
day citizen, bent only upon helping
mis- people in the paths Of peace and
tranquility, should turn his attention
tcward educational work. toward
bringing up in fit fasnlC1 the younger
generations, the conS = L sc 3hO had
proved their faith 5y tltir enicavor
Z: the h4Goic DAYS.
There is no need to dwell on General
Lees record as a soldier The son Of
Light Horse Harry Lee, of the RevOiu-
tom, he came naturally by his apt tude
for arms and command. His campaigns
put him in the foremost rank Of the
captains of all time. But his signal
yalOr and address in war are no more
remarkable than the spirit in which
he turned to the work OF peace once
the war was over The circumstances
were such that most men, even Of
high character. felt bitter and vindiC-
tive or deprest and spiritleSs, but Sen
eral Lees heroic temper was not warp
ed nor his great soul cast down He
stood that hardest Of all strains, the
strain Of bearing himself we'll thru the
gray evening of failure; and therefore
out of what seemed failure he helped
to build the wonderful and mighty
triumph of our national life, in which
all his countrymen, north and south
share Immediately after the close
of hostilities he announced with a
clear-sightedness. which at that time
few indeed of any section pOssest, that
the interests of the southern states
were the same as those of the United
States; that the prosperity of the south
would rise or fall with the welfare OF
the whole country; and that the duty
Of the citizens appeared too plain to
admit of doubt. He urged that all
should unite in honest effort to obln-
crate the effects of war and restore
the blessings of peace; that they should
remain in the country, strive Tor mar
mony and good feeling, and devote
their abilities to the interests Of their
people and the healing of dissensions.
To every one who applied to him this
was the advice he gave Altho absol-
utelv without means. he refused all Of
fers Of pecuniary aid, and all positions
Of emolument, althO many such. at a
high salary. were offered him. He de-
clined to go abroad, saying that ne
sought only "a place to earn honest
work" This statement brought hlm
the offer of the presidency Of Washing
ton college,, a little institution in Lex
ington, Virginia, which had grown out
of a modest foundation known as Lib
ertv Hall academy. Washington had
endowed this academy with one hun
dred shares of stock that had been
given him by the state of Virginia,
loI 0f1lv
tion that he might with them endoW
some educational institution. 10 the
institution which Washington helped
TO found in such a spirit, Lee, in the
same fine spirit gave his services. He
accepted the position of president at a
salary of S1,500 a year, in order, as ne
stated. that he might do some goo6 10
the youth of the south. He applied
himself to the new work with the same
sineleness of mind which he had shown
in leading the army OF northern VIZ
einia. All the time by word and deed
he was striving for the restoration OIL
! real peace, of real harmony, never
! ,1ttering q word of bitterness nor al
! lowing word of bitterness uttered IN
| his presence to go unchecked. run
| the close of the war to the time OF MS
deatn all MS great po"0lo WIZ -.
ed to two objects; To the reconclila-
! ton of all his countrymen with one
| another, and to fitting the youth OF
| the south for the duties of lofty a0d
! brOad-minded citizenship.
Such is the career that you gather
To honor: and 1 hope that you will
| take advantage of the one hunureu1h
! anniversary Of General Lees Dlrth pA
| appealing to all our people, III ever
section of this country, TO commemo
rate his life and deeds by the estaplls'i-
ment at some great representative ea
ucational institution of the south Oh
permanent memorial, that VIII serF'
the youth Of the coming years aS ~
in the closing years of his life served
+boco who So s0rely needed what ne st
| freely gave.