Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-01-18
FRIDAY EVENING, JAN. 10 1867.
ROBERT L. LEE.

anything cOhCeibi"b '"''
10 history that has not been uttered be-
fore; vet at each recurrence OF the ami
yersary of his birth be looms up as one
Of the greatest men that has ever lived
and invokes the admiration not only oil
his own countrymen, but those OF other
nations who are acquainted with his life
He acquired the reputation OF gres'
soldier long before the time arrived when
his genius was to command the admlra'
ton of the world, and when 1t was
known that, through sense OF duty, be
WAS about to cast his lot with the peoI ID
of his native State, the geueral-in-ehlel
of the army he was detained to combat
called attention 10 the Unborn military
genius and the true greatness OF the man.
which subsequently shown with lustrf
which dszzled the world. He had pre-
yiously shown himself to be invnlnerablt
to temptation by following the dictates
of his conscience in rendering his services
to his own State.
The facts in connection with the civil
war are now matters Of history. Many
of them are reCapitalated annually al
reunions of those who survived thai
memorable conflict, while their great
commander has been viewed from every
stsndpoinl
Most great men have been many sided
and some writers have had the nerve to
por,ray their weaknesses or inconsisl-
ences. The biogrsphers Of Robert f..
Lee, however, have had nothing on
these lines 10 picture had they possess
Oh the inclination to set them forth.
Viewed from any standpoint there
bas been but one conclusion in him
yas blended true greatness With the
sincerity and careful walk oil the
true Christian His was life which
challenged the world, and no matter how
close he ia scrutinized there is nothing to
call forth condemnation or criticism. II
can be truly gaid that he was one OF the
ien of natures noblemeu in which nc
guile was found
There we're virtues in Robert +. Lse
sell)m apparent 10 the illusirlous OF this
world. Men of great genius are too
often prone to arrogance. They natural
" realize ;Leir superiority when ming
ling with the rank and file Of life, and
NJ times make themselves odiOus to those
upon whom nature has not been 80
lavish with her favors 1t Vas not 20
with Robert T.. Lee 10 the zenith Of
hIs dav his natural mood was pleasant
and gentle, and when confronted by
tremendous odds his patience, forbeaT-
ance and long suffering won for him the
admiration of all with whom be came in
contact. When he finally returned his
sword TO the scabbard after holding back
an oyerw helming army 30 long, he was
declared by friend and Joe alike to be the
greatest man Of modern times. While moi
wiell ling supernatural power be conld
not forever hold back the legions which
were being hurled against him, and the
fine came when it wfs necessary ia
abandon the struggle. Five years later,
when bis mundane mission was closing,
thos, who gathered around the expiring
chjefAiu realized that he bad achieved 8
far more important victory over the
mowers Of evil and bad left to poiterily
an uublemi sbtd name.
General Lees fame was not the re
suit of m accident, nor was it the out
come Of any aggressiveness on his part.
lie never pushed to the forefront, and
che famehe had acquired when he laid
aside mortality Tor Immortality bad come
10 him, his brilliant career having been
the evolution of man who had been
born great and one who hsd.wslked in
the paths of rectitude and in reliance
np0n his Creator throughout life.
Wars and political tuimoils often
bring forth men who enjoy an ephem"ral
limelght existence. Some shine bril-
lisnuy for a brief periol, but their
careers are as ereolites, and they are soon
forgotten. A few, however, like the suit
iect Of this article, become fixed stars 10
the galaxy OF the great.
AT the close of the war between the
States The name of Robert E. Lee vas
familiar 20 the civilized world He hsd
become one Of the most prominent figures
of the age. II was AT this period in his
life when his true greatness shone forth
in all its splcndor He did not pose
upon dress parade, but seemed to shnr
the universal uoioriety he had attained
aud sought the cool sequestered Vale O.
life instead of making n tour OF Tho
world or resoriing to any ether means Il
keep himself before men.
His fame was not on the market, ano
hy his post bellum department he set ar