The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20

and would like TO utter Rut - -,
attempt 30 20 do. 7 could not bring nv
SELF within the limits OF time I hova
pIerCIlDeo- IhoFe Interested in the dis
cussion or a well-wDrn theme mast
therefore. satisfy their curiosity nv r.,
perusal Of the printed page. Here ana
now I must hurry on.
Brought at Last to
Parting of the Ways.
II was during tho sixth decennii.rn of
tne century that the time came and peo-
PIE were compelled 20 make their cleo
uon; the modus vivendi was at an end
IVES the state sovereign. or was the
Nation sovereign? And with q shock OF
genuine surprise that any doubt should
exist on that head eleven States arraved
themselves on the side OF tho SovereiqntV
or the state and claimed the unquestion-
Ing allegiance Of their citizens: and I
mink II not unsafe 70 assert that no
where did the original spirit OF state
sovereignty and allegiance 90 the state
tnen survive IN greater Intensity and
more unquestioning form than IN Vir-
einia-the odd Dominion"-the mother
Of States and OF Presidents
But this Il VII be replied though
true or the ordinary man and citizen.
should not have been true OF the praai,-
ate of the military academy. the oncer
OF tho Army % the United states WIN
field Scott and George d. Thomas did
not 80 construe their allegiance. when
tie Issue was presented. they remained
true TO their nag and 20 their oaths.
Robert p. Lee. false 20 his oath and aav
was a renegade. The answer IL h-iof ara
10 the point. The conditions fn tho
several eases were not the same. neither
Scott nor Thomas was Ice j, was our
Boston Or Holmes who long ago de-
clared that the child'E education begins
about two hundred and fifty years before
u is born; and ~ IS quite impossible 20
separate any man ISL Of an pcrnnne
n fuli-blooded VlrRinian- from his prona-
tai traditions and living environment.
From them he drew his being. fn then,
he exists. Robert +. Lee was the en-
bodiment 81 those conditions. the creature
81 that environment VirRnlan ~
VirginianS His father was Light Horse
Harry Lee. a devoted 81 over %
Washington. but IN January. 1922. Light
Horsa Harry" wrote To Mr.. Madison.
80 consideration on earth could In
duce me 90 act a part. however graft
fyinE 20 me. which could DO construed
Into disregard of. or faithlessncFs 70. this
Commonwealth. and later. when IN i-ss
the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions
were under discussion. Light Horse
Harry exclaimed in debate. Virginia
r. my country; her VIII obey. however
Isrnentabie tho fate % which 81 may
subject me-"
Born IN this environment. ru-tured In
his hand against virginia was Ike asking
Montrosa or the MacCaiium More %
head a force desiged for tho subfccfion
Of the Highlands and the destruction q
the clans Where such stern election
IL forced upon man ag then confronted
Lee the single thing the falrmiuded ir-
vestEator has 90 take into account -
the Loyalty. the sins rindcdrees of tho
election. Was a. devoid ~ sclfsnuogs-
was II free from any baser and more
Eordd worldly motive mhiton pride.
jealousy. revenge or seif-llterest1 To
this question there can. in Gle case 1s
Ice. be bat one answer When. after
long and trying mental wrestling. ls
threw In lis fate with Virginia. les
knowingly sacrificed everything which
man prizes most-his dearly beloved
home. his means % support. his profess
sionsl standing his associates. "a bril-
liant future assured 20 him. Born slave
holder ia race az s.avs-holders. 10
was himself no defender. much less an
advocate 81 slavery. on the contrary ls
did not hesitate 70 pronounce IT in his
place "a moral and political evil" Later.
nc manumitted his slaves he did not
believe In secession. as right reserved
under The Constitution he pronounced Il
idle talk tu-. a. O. Nirgiuisn. be- also
added. IL the government Is disrupted
I shall return TO my native state. and
share the mlsar.es Of my people and
save IN defence will draw my sword on
none Next TO his high sense u all
legiance 10 Virginia was Lees pride N
his profession.
lie was a soldier: as such. rank ana tia
possibility Of high command ana great
achievement We're very dear 70 him.
HIS choice put rank and command be-
hind him. He quietly and silently made
the greatest sacrifice a soldier can be-
asked 20 make. With war plainly I'm
pending. the foremost place in the army
. rr.Nf ,
dered him: his answer was u law down
the commission he already held Virginia
had been drawn into the struggle: and.
though he recognized TO necessity for
the state OF affairs. in my own person"
lie wrote. Il had 10 meet the question
whether 7 should take part against my
native State; ] have not been bile 10
make up my mind 20 raise my hand
against my relatives, my children my
home" II may have been treason ID
take this position. the man who took 81,
utternR these words and sacrificing as
he sacrificed, may have been technically
a renegade to his haE-if you please.
false 70 his allegiance: but ne stands
awaiting sentence at the bar Of history
IN very respectable company. Associated
with him are. for instance. William 81
Orange. known as The Silent John
Hampden the original Pater Patriae;
Oliver Cromwell. the Protector Of the
English Commonwealth, Sir Harry Nane,
once Governor OF ssachusetts. and
George Washington. a Virginian Of note.
In tbs throng Of other offenders I am
also gratifed to observe certain Of those
from whom I not unproudiy claim de-
scent. They were, one and all. IN the
sense referred TO. false TO their oaths-
forsworn.
AS to Robert +. Lee. individually.
can only repeat what j have already
said-if In all respects similarly circum-
stanced. ! hope / should have been aliai
and unselhsh enough to have done ~
Lee did such an utterance on my part
may be "traitorous;" but I here render
that homage.
Same Question Not Put
to Massachusetts Man,
Tn MaSeacbuseffa pou-o,,1~ r ,o.,1s -.