The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-01-10
Pertinent Questions
Suggested by the Robert E. Lee
Centenary.

anniversary, january ID, VIII De OD-
served with all the respect, admira-
ton and reverence due the memory
of the character towering amid
American nobility and gentility. The
story of the life of one of the greatest
OF Americans will be described with
varying emphasis, and the world will
again be given the chance to apply
the much-needed lessons OF his career.
1t is hoped that consideration OF the
life of Lee as a Christian soldier,
stronger in defeat than as the leader
Of battling hosts, may not Overshad-
Ow the life Of Lee as Il gentle man. 1t
would be well. indeed, for some
speaker, knowing Lee able to bal
ance eloquence with Judgment, to
make anniversary Il he occasion for
the plea to the country for n return
to the principles that dominated the
conduct of Robert E. Lee. The ora
tion might be developed from such
questions as these:
What would Robert f. Lee think
OF a civilization that Makes possible
the hawking and huckstering around
for any kind OF a handout of names
brought into the glowing light OF
glorious history by participation in
the cause which brought him fame,
but, unlike him, without the stamina
to withstand in comparative poverty
and Obscurity the temptation OF the
dollar?
What would Robert f. Lee think
of the professional ex-Confederate or
the professional SOutherner shining
for personal profit or prominence in
the light reflected from the grave of
the COnfcderacy?
What would Robert + lie think
of edu-hu>tling through II Southern
legislature, with an argument that
the statue would cost the State
nothing, of a bill setting aside one of
the two inches reserved for the State
in the National Hall of Fame of
Washington, which became all act
without the signature of the Cover
nor?
What would Robert f. Lee think
of educational craftsmanship. repre-
centel to the world As exponent OF
T he South, describing us 'parOchial'
ma as ''the middle age rlinging to
the assured past and doubtful of the
uncertain future" the civilization of
which Robert f. Lee was one of the
fairest typical blooms, and as center
rd for good or i'll upon it's probation
rs Il member of the modern world''
the present South, which, the arbi-
trament of arms accepted, Robert E.
Lee, in modesty equaled only by i'll
tcgritv and ability, devoted the last
Years OF his life to training upon right
lines?
What would Robert E. Lee think
of Il Governor in the South discuss
inc before negroes the possibility of
boys becoming President of the
United States and describing a negro
school as doing much to democrat
ize education in the South" or of an
educator in q white institution Ofthe
same state saving to the same ne
groes: "Friend, go up higher; trust
that the South is rising out ofSaxOn-
ism into humanity?'
What would Robert E. Lee think
of the country being informed that
"a notable victory for intellectual in
dependence" had been achieved in q
Southern colleges sustaining as pro-
lessor of history one so mistaken as
to suggest that mulatto was posi-
bly, the greatest man produced in the
South in a acentury with the exception
OF Lee, and that mot even a black
skin and fiat nose can justify caste
i'll this cOuntry?'
What would Robert E. Lee think
of Southern men and women well
coming as Il benefactOr and as an
uplft Of the South the representative
of the aims and the methods of a
$4,000, 900 educational trust, who
dared to bring to the South at his
own expense for introduction to
Southern ladies and gentlemen an
individual who signs his name to the
expectation that, "as the memories
of the slave period fade away, the
mere fetch of colorphobia will cease
to control our society and marriage
may come to be founded not on the
color OF the skim
What would Robert f. Lee think
OF this uplifter's describing the Move
ment begetting such manifestations
and setting colleges upon the path
OF beggary as "the best people North
and South, working in harmony for
the political and intellectual ad-
vancement of the negro in the South
ern States?"
What would Robert E. Lee think
of Southern men and women delight
ed to associate with men believing iii
and practicing social equality with
| negroes?
What would Robert E. Lee think
of a successor of his in education sug-
gesting that his spirit was looking
down in benediction" upon any part
of the Movement, and relegating to
"provincial narrowness, petty ami
mostly, selfish motive and ignoble
purpose" those people of the South
who oppose the Movement?
What would Robest E. Lee think
of countenance given by following,
respectable even in number, in the
South, to such a Movement for edu'
cation of the South-God save the
MARYLAND all under the spur OF the
Expectation of aims for education?
What would Robert E. Lee think
of Ogdenism that attempts to conjurs
by his name?
Robert E. Lee would feel that, un
less the self-reliance and self-respeci
of the South itself, the Cause in whicf
he was defeated at arms, but Will
his sword as stainless as his SOU, was
indeed fought in vain.
The heart that broke at AppOmat
toX would break again.
Dade's Little Liver Pills thoroughly cleal