The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-01-22

~knightIest champion. on this. ats
hundrsdth birthday
The nation or the people that FOR
gets its ilIustrious dead. n~gl"cts r.
own history soon Dis 20 the high
sentiments Of civic life While 81
caunot solve tho problems II Tia
present. nor dissipafe tn@ dangers 81
the future. b. recountiag the uo1lt
deeds n lofty achievements :
those who have preceded Us. vs. may
and Inspiration 10 the future by IRE
quent reference - what they accom-
plished. This occasion cannot 4
one ray Of glory II that which al
ready gilds the deathleSS tomb 2
General Lee. but il can and does prove
that we are not oblivious to his her
ism. nor lacking in appreciation FL
his lnselhyh life.
"Eeing 10Th in age and in expert
ence. the junior member OF the Sen
ate. and moi being one VINO had tn
honor 10 follow the great captain II
our cause, il has been, and is my
purpose to leave i discussion n hls
military career - those who know II
like the distinguished speaker Of ~
day, and others. because they i"li3%
"a where led. III fact l feel ttla
it would b presumption in one 'up94
whose garments there is not even ~,
smell Of fire to attempt a description
OF his wonderful skin. his Vaiian.
leadership. his hard-fought battle
and mis- bloody campaign These Nrt
Grams would laugh in my face. They
hava seen what have only read
they have felt what | have only heard
And it is for such as they To tel
how in the council tent ne was tn
wiseSt. how on the field Of hattl" tn
bravrst; how in the flush Of victor
he was modest: how ~ the gloom 2
defeat he was cheerful. / should only
| speak Of General Lee tand that viii
a word) as q man-a prince aTnoAf
the nobleSt specimens Of Gods cfra
| tive genius.
IN nv humble opinion. long afte
Lee. the General shall sleep in obliv
ion. his skill forgotten and his BRAY
ery remembered no more forever
| the memory Of Lee, the Man. Will still
brighten histOry's pages and sweet
IN traditions ong His heroism am
| his generalship. may sepulchred sleep
| but his unSelish manhood n Chris
tian character cannot die until divinity
| itself ceases TO exist. and the record
| Of Cod fail to bear testimony 10 til
| deeds Of the good and great.
1T is asserting much when ! de
clare tina he was as great as Napo
| lean, and as good as Washington, ge
history, impartial and truthful. VII.
! sometime, correctly. adjudge that u
possessed the pre-eminent character
| istics Of bOth-ereatness and goodness
Lee was a brave soldier, but a bette
man. an able General but a noble
christian.
"Sordid selfishness had neither part
nor lot in his character. Neither fame
sweet song nor fortunes siren strains
could lure him from the path Of rectl
tude However broad the road anc
wide the gate to the plentitude OF
place and power. Lee invariably choS.
the straight ana narrow path Of duty.
To his sense Of justice and right. he
sacrificed every aspiration Of ms
heart and Subvefted every ambition o1
his soul.
Having himself followed the stars
and Stripes through scenes of bloc
and battle; being the chosen, predes
tined commander-in-chief of III.
Unions great army, with the brightes'
| prospect of any man IL the nation
he severed theftieS of past affection
forgot his own welfare and
ly abdicated the virtual headShlp o
the Federal forces to accept a SUP
ordinate position in the Struggling
armies of the Confederacy, because
he thought it was right. Does human
history or mankind's tradition any
where record an act Of more distinct
i've unseltishness, purer patriotlslE.
He was one who never sold the truth
to serve the hour, Nor faltered with
eternal God for power
His integrity was absolutely incor-
ruptible. His errors were of the
head. not of the heart And 50, Whet
HEAVIER decreed that the southern
C~onfederacy must fail and fall. thai
its One brilliant star of promls'
should sink to rise no more; that IL
leaves should wither and its fruits be
blasted; that its hopes should fade ana
| lis prospects perish, thai death ahG
desolation Ike grim and gaunl spec.
, tiers, should invade the land OF
| life and plenty; when his armies hac
been destroyed, not defeated. his cause
! overthrow, not etfaced Whe1l ne WdS
| a fugitive in the land of his Dirtn, anQ
| an exile from the nation that he hac
| served: in the midnight hour of his
gloom and defeat. he was brave ano
hopeful, because he was soothcd ano
solaced by the consciousness of duty
well done-obligation fully discharged
He is no more, but his life is ours
Let his great example stand
Colossal seen of every land
To keep the soldier firm, the statesman
pure
Till through all lands and all human
story
The path of duty shall be the way
TO glory"
ct is appropriate that we celebrate
his birth, and if we could To garland
his tomb with flowers and bedeW i
with tears, 1t IS httlnS Una we Slouiu
rear nto his me OF
enduring bronze and marble; it is good
for us to recall his wonderful career,
and review his unspotted life, but at
the same time lei us not forget those
who followed Lee.
we would not know General Lee.
as he is known now. had it not been
for the private soldier. who ~forsakine
all followed his great commando
through blood n battle. danger anG
death, pestilence and prison to the ap-
pie tree at APPROPRIATION. III any age
Of the world Lee WOuld have been
great, but with his army he was peer
less.
Few of those heroic non have sur
Vived the shock of battle ana the
waste of years. But some still remain
venerable fathers who have CONT
down TO Us from q former generation.
Many of them are needy. They Stano
at the door Of Legislature ~benev0lence
and knock. Shall we not uoon unto
them They cry unto Us ana shall Nc
not hear Let US remember that it l.
far more kind to pin one flower upon
the lapel of the living. than To heap
a thousand WreathS upon the graves OF
the dead; that il is far more gOdlike tC
lothe the naked. feed the hungry and
minister to the suffering while they
live. than it is to erect monuments to
their memory and celebrate their an
w. Ap~a To~ -